This Lake Tahoe estate where ‘Bonanza’ was filmed just sold for $38 million
A Lake Tahoe waterfront estate at Zephyr Cove where the western television series “Bonanza” was filmed has sold for $38 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The property on the east shore, at 550 Sierra Sunset Lane, was one of highest-priced residential listings in Lake Tahoe at nearly $47 million, the Sacramento Bee reported in May.
The Nevada estate not only featured a 16,700-square-foot main house on 24 wooded acres in the Tahoe National Forest, but it came with a slice of Hollywood history, too. The property regularly served as the backdrop for the longest-running NBC Western television series, “Bonanza,” filmed in part along the Tahoe shores from 1959–1973.
Built in 2004, the eight-bedroom mansion features stunning lake and mountain views from nearly every room, nine fireplaces, oversized mahogany doors and in-floor hydronic heat under stone and hardwood floors.
The home offers a 378-foot sandy beach, with a private pier and buoy.
Settled on Marla Bay, the home’s exterior contains 400 tons of Montana stone. Inside, the amenities include two living rooms, a home theatre, game room with full bar, gourmet eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, wine room with seating for tastings, two offices, a home gym with full bath and sauna, crafts room, two laundry rooms and a master suite on the main level.
On the second story, each bedroom features an en suite bath and fireplace. There’s a two-bedroom guest house with full kitchen next to the main house.
An adjacent equestrian parcel had been available for $6.995 million, separately.
The sellers, George and Clare Schmitt, are avid thoroughbred breeders who raised award-winning horses on the property, including California and Kentucky Derby qualifiers, according to a Sotheby’s International Realty press release.
Lexi Cerretti of Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty held the listing, while Jean Merkelbach of Engel & Völkers represented the buyer.
There were 431 episodes of “Bonanza” during its 1959 to 1973 run. It’s NBC’s longest-running western show.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 12:40 PM.
