(This interpretive master plan, part of a site-wide master plan that also includes
recommendations for architecture, landscape architecture, and historic preservation, was
completed in November 2004. Alice Parman, Ph.D., was part of an interdisciplinary team
led by David Slusarenko of Slusarenko Architects, P.C. The client is Thunderbird Lodge
Preservation Society, Incline Village, Nevada.)
4.1
INTERPRETIVE MASTER PLAN
4.1.1
INTRODUCTION
Thunderbird Lodge is the only historic house museum on Lake Tahoe’s Nevada
shoreline. With a significant, visible, and contemporary story to tell, Thunderbird Lodge
has already become a popular destination for tourists and local residents, and is poised
to become one of the region’s leading attractions. Because of Lake Tahoe’s national
and international renown, Thunderbird Lodge has the potential for much higher
visibility, in the U.S. and worldwide.
The remarkable state of preservation of both buildings and grounds offers a matchless
opportunity for visitors to imagine the past. Restoration of the exterior and interior of the
Old Lodge, as well as interpretive programming and media, will reinforce this time
travel experience. Designed and built to the highest aesthetic standards, in a
breathtaking setting, Thunderbird Lodge is one of North America’s most fascinating
historic places. As the Lodge and its visionary creator become better known,
Thunderbird Lodge will come into its own as a quintessential expression of the
American sense of place.
The mission, vision, and institutional values of Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society
(TLPS) are at the heart of interpretive planning and programming for Thunderbird
Lodge Historic Site.
The Society is dedicated to preserving Thunderbird Lodge and the George Whittell
Estate, while interpreting this remarkable resource in its Lake Tahoe context. The
organization’s vision is to become a dynamic historic site that offers historical, cultural,
and environmental education to a geographically broad and diverse audience.
TLPS is committed to values of authenticity, stewardship, service, and sustainability.
The organization serves as a resource to the Lake Tahoe region through historic
preservation, environmental monitoring, and an active program of on-site and outreach
education.
4.1.2
INSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY
Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society is charged with preserving and interpreting a
priceless historic resource. Together, the Board of Trustees and the staff have explored
three very different options for fulfilling this challenging task:
4.1.2.1
Change the Function of the Facility
Since the Society was founded, TLPS staff and board thought that the answer to
maintaining the property was to realize income through events. A marketing program
with this in mind brought in a steady flow of income; yet there were significant costs.
The most serious expense was wear and tear to the buildings and grounds. This
private home was designed for use bynumber
a small
of people; the house and
grounds were built from fragile materials. Social events, usually involving alcohol,
create conditions that make safety of
both the resource and the guests a very real
concern.
In keeping with the TLPS mission of preservation and interpretation, Thunderbird
Lodge is moving away from a focus on events, and toward an emphasis on educational
tours and other interpretive programs.
During tours and other educational programs, staff and volunteers continually supervise
visitors. Tour routes and procedures maximize visitor and resource safety. TLPS still
schedules a large number of rental events in the course of the year; a sizeable
contingent of volunteers deploys throughout the grounds, monitoring and controlling
guest behavior and whereabouts.
As these policies show, TLPS is committed to preservation of an irreplaceable treasure,
the Lodge and grounds. Within this overriding mandate, board and staff are equally
committed to interpretation. They have considered two alternatives for conveying the
story of Thunderbird Lodge.
4.1.2.2
Interpretive Option A: Interpret Change through Time
Eccentric multi-millionaire George Whittell built Thunderbird Lodge in 1938, and lived
there, off and on, for three decades until his death in 1969. Financier Jack Dreyfus
bought the property in 1972. Although he spent little time at Lake Tahoe, Dreyfus left
his mark on the Lodge. Working with a local architect, he built a sizeable addition,
designed and furnished to 1980s tastes.
The Dreyfus Addition radically altered George Whittell’s original vision of Thunderbird
Lodge. Considered by many to be substandard in quality of both design and execution,
the addition is nearly twice the size of the Old Lodge. Its dominating presence on the
site is inescapable, and must be explained to visitors. Yet few members of the public
would pay for a tour of this undistinguished building alone. Tour guides must explain
the existence of the Dreyfus addition; but they know what visitors want to see and hear.
Their interpretation focuses on Whittell––especially on the years when Whittell, still at
the height of his powers, conceived and built the Lodge.
4.1.2.3
Interpretive Option B: Restore the Old Lodge to Its Period of Significance
TLPS has established 1936-1940 as the primary period of significance of Thunderbird
Lodge Historic Site. During these years George Whittell acquired most of Lake Tahoe’s
eastern shoreline, supervised construction of the Lodge, and took up residency there.
Whittell’s long involvement with Thunderbird Lodge and Lake Tahoe, from 1936 until
his death in 1969, provides a secondary focus.
Given this interpretive scope, the Dreyfus Addition becomes even more of an intrusion
on visitors’ experience of the site. Whittell conceived and produced this magnificent
estate, with the help of an outstanding regional architect and highly skilled craftspeople.
Masterfully integrated with the lakeside landscape, Thunderbird Lodge was one of Lake
Tahoe’s treasures. The Dreyfus Addition obscured the pleasing lines of the Old Lodge,
throwing the ensemble out of kilter. This effect is especially pronounced when the
buildings are viewed from the lake.
In 2004, a series of focus groups and a board planning session reinforced the Society’s
commitment to an authentic historic experience for visitors. An important consequence
was a recommendation to deconstruct the Dreyfus Addition, now in need of costly
repairs. This will restore the Old Lodge to its original modest footprint, and to its primary
and secondary periods of significance.
The consequences for interpretation will be momentous. Once again, the building’s
architecture will harmonize with the lake’s grand scenery and with the wild, largely
uncultivated look of the grounds. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the
Thunderbird Lodge and the Lake Tahoe of George Whittell’s day. To realize the full
potential of Thunderbird Lodge as an internationally significant historic site, restoration
of the original architecture is a necessity.
Unlike most of Nevada’s major museums, which are state-supported, Thunderbird
Lodge Preservation Society is a private nonprofit organization. This status offers
distinct advantages in terms of institutional and financial independence. Within the
inspiring guidelines of the Society’s mission and vision, board and staff can make full
use of their leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Through creative on-site and outreach
programming within a commitment to historic authenticity, TLPS has exceptional
potential to reach audiences and build support––regionally, nationwide, and even
internationally. Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society will engage a diverse, multiage audience with high-quality public history programming, grounded in respect for a
unique and irreplaceable cultural resource.
4.1.3
CURRENT AND POTENTIAL AUDIENCES
TLPS has operated a tour program since 2002, attracting some 10,000 people each
th
th
year. About 1,000 of these visitors are school children, mostly 4 and 5 graders. The
rest are mainly baby boomer couples, and intergenerational groups. About half of all
visitors are from Nevada. The other 50 percent come from 23 different states and at
least four foreign countries. Many are Californians––especially Bay Area residents.
Rental events (such as weddings and corporate meetings) have drawn guests from
throughout the U.S., and will continue to do so.
Moving away from an event-based revenue generation approach to a new financial
model based on mission-driven programming, TLPS will reach out to new categories of
organized groups and individuals with potential interest in visiting Thunderbird Lodge.
Among the leading target audiences are seniors and international visitors who tour the
Tahoe region in commercial bus tour groups. As the only historic house museum on the
lake’s eastern shore, Thunderbird Lodge is well-positioned to add a uniquely
memorable dimension to a scenic and recreational excursion. To accommodate these
visitors, TLPS will provide expanded restroom facilities and improved wheelchair
access, as well as some multilingual services.
Programming and marketing efforts will focus on two of Lake Tahoe’s most numerous
tourist groups: skiers and gamblers. Other visitors with special interests include RVers,
ecotourists, hikers and climbers, photographers, birders, and more. TLPS will actively
market standard tours and higher-price, personalized tours to these potential visitors,
through specialized publications and targeted web sites. These high-quality programs
will draw national attention to the unique resources of Thunderbird Lodge.
4.1.4
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION
Interpretation is grounded in the mission, vision, values, and institutional identity of
Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society.
According to Freeman Tilden, author of Interpreting Our Heritage, the aim of
interpretation is “to reveal meanings and relationships... rather than simply to
communicate factual information.”
Unlike the teaching and learning that take place in formal educational institutions like
schools and colleges, interpretation is largely participatory and interactive. The
educational experience at a historic site such as Thunderbird Lodge is concise, intense,
focused, and very personal.
Interpretation provokes attention and curiosity, relates concepts and facts to visitors' own
lives, and reveals key messages in unforgettable ways. Making use of a variety of objects,
experiences, and media, interpretive programs appeal to as many senses as possible.
Interpretive activities seek to engage visitors intellectually, emotionally, and physically.
Planning for accessibility improves the visitor experience for everyone. Interpretive
offerings respond to the multiple intelligences, diverse learning styles, range of ages,
and varied cultural and educational backgrounds of TLPS audience members.
4.1.5
TAKE-HOME MESSAGES AND INTERPRETIVE OBJECTIVES
The first step in interpretation is to identify the most important take-home messages to be
communicated to all visitors. Interpretive experiences, programs, and media will be
designed so that visitors come away with three big ideas in mind:
1. This place is magic!
2. It’s important to preserve special places like Thunderbird Lodge and Lake Tahoe.
3. George Whittell may have had more money than sense, but because of him, most of
Lake Tahoe’s east shoreline was preserved from development.
These take-home messages provide the conceptual framework for organizing the visitor's
experience of Thunderbird Lodge. Interpretive experiences focused on take-home
messages are intended to influence visitors' understanding, attitudes, and behavior. We
expect that after their visit, many museum visitors will:
4.1.6

want to learn more about Thunderbird Lodge, Lake Tahoe, and George Whittell.
- Purchase a book or other learning resource
- Participate in a TLPS education program or special event
- Become a member of TLPS

become more interested in and supportive of efforts to preserve Thunderbird Lodge
and Lake Tahoe.
- Become a donor

remain involved with TLPS:
- Make a return visit
- Become a TLPS member
- Volunteer time for TLPS
- Support TLPS with a financial contribution
- Encourage friends and family to visit Thunderbird Lodge
A FRAMEWORK FOR INTERPRETATION
The Old Lodge, outlying buildings, and the landscaped grounds constitute the Society’s
most valuable interpretive assets. When restored to its period of primary significance,
Thunderbird Lodge will offer a visitor experience that is rare in the United States.
Sophisticated travelers are familiar with historic properties in Europe, where a visitor
may explore the grounds, participate in a guided tour, and perhaps experience a
nighttime sound and light presentation. Thunderbird Lodge offers comparable
opportunities for a direct connection with the past.
The primary period of significance for Thunderbird Lodge historic site is 1936-1940,
with a secondary focus on 1936-1969. Design and construction of the lodge, George
Whittell’s long residence there, and the consequences for Lake Tahoe are the most
important storylines to be conveyed to all visitors.
The multicultural backgrounds of people who built Thunderbird Lodge, George
Whittell’s unintended but undeniable preservation of most of the lake’s eastern shore,
and the eccentricities of a colorful (yet representative) individual are elements of an
exceptional history lesson for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Guided by the take-home messages and interpretive objectives outlined above, TLPS
will convey the following themes and concepts in varied, mutually reinforcing
combinations. Interpretation will be delivered through tours and other educational
programs, graphic panels, and innovative, thoughtful media and methods. Information
will be layered to encourage questioning, analysis, and discovery. Appealing
introductory concepts and facts will engage history novices and first-time visitors; more
in-depth ideas and experiences will stimulate and reward history buffs, area residents,
and other more knowledgeable audiences.
4.1.6.1
Main Themes, Key Concepts and Facts
Theme #1: George Whittell made a difference for Lake Tahoe.
In all publicity, promotional literature, orientation programs, and introductory statements
by tour guides and program leaders, TLPS emphasizes two key facts that place
George Whittell at the heart of Lake Tahoe’s history:
 George Whittell built this extraordinary lodge with its outbuildings and grounds.
 He preserved the east shore of Lake Tahoe from development
Theme #2: Who was George Whittell?
As visitors tour the Old Lodge, outbuildings and grounds, they are invited to think like
historians. Through observation and analysis, they begin to wonder, speculate, and ask
questions about the man who created this extraordinary lakeside retreat. In continual
dialogue with interpretive guides, visitors glean pertinent information and begin to form
a mental picture of a complex and unusual person. These concepts and facts are linked
to visitors’ direct experience of the site. Among the ideas that may emerge in any given
interpretive program:
• Financial acumen
George Whittell was financially creative and astute. Whether on his own initiative or
because of sound advice, he pulled his money out of the stock market in 1928, just
ahead of the great stock market crash of 1929. His fortune in the 1930s would be worth
billions in today’s dollars. At a time when most Americans were suffering the effects of
the Great Depression, he bought a vast tract of land and created this high-quality,
expensive estate.
• Love of technology
Even in an era that ballyhooed all things modern, Whittell was a man ahead of his time.
He had a passionate interest in innovative technologies, from gadgets of all kinds to
fast cars, boats, and planes. A high-school dropout, he was an autodidact with an
intuitive grasp of mechanics and engineering.
• Personal development
George Whittell had a flamboyant, indomitable personality. A tall, strong, handsome
redhead, he pursued women, gambling, and drinking with enthusiasm. He loved to
drive the fastest and newest vehicles, and to employ the cutting-edge technologies of
the day. As a teenager he decided against a conventional life, and began rebelling
against his wealthy parents. He made the papers for daring rescues, during the 1906
California earthquake and later for a Lake Tahoe boat rescue. More often, journalists
reported on Whittell’s exploits as a playboy, and his expensive tastes.
Whittell served as an ambulance driver during World War I, managing to obtain a
commission in the Italian army, and the lifelong rank of Captain. During this European
sojourn he met the cultured, wealthy Frenchwoman who would become his wife.
Whittell began his metamorphosis from youthful playboy into a more mature rugged
individualist, a uniquely American type most characteristic of California and the West.
George Whittell was in his fifties when he brought the Thunderbird Lodge project to
fruition. Unlike the family estate in Woodside, California, which became his wife’s
domain, the Tahoe property bears Whittell’s imprint. The Lodge’s understated
architecture and interior décor, its rustic lines and materials, and its conveniences and
arrangement appear suited to Whittell’s preferences and lifestyle. Thunderbird Lodge is
Whittell’s legacy, along with the wild shorelines and hillsides along Lake Tahoe’s east
side. In contrast to Whittell’s reputation as a playboy and a hedonist, the Lodge’s
austere beauty reveals a more thoughtful side to his personality. Evidently, Whittell
appreciated his surroundings. Rather than seek to dominate the landscape, he created
a perfect architectural complement to an incomparable natural setting.
In old age, Whittell became a recluse, spending more and more time at his Lake Tahoe
retreat. He was in poor health, and lived essentially as an invalid, cared for by servants
who indulged his every whim. Although he originally had planned to develop his
lakeshore property, he came to value his peaceful solitude. Whether deliberately or as
an afterthought, George Whittell was responsible for preserving Lake Tahoe’s eastern
shore in its natural state.
• Love of animals
George Whittell’s deepest feelings were for animals. As a boy he spent time with a
circus, where he learned to be comfortable around wild creatures. Guests at
Thunderbird Lodge had to contend with Whittell’s pet lion, Bill. A baby elephant was
lodged for a time in a specially constructed barn. During World War II, worried about
the effect of rationing on his ability to feed his animals, Whittell donated them to a zoo.
By the terms of his will (later the subject of much contestation), Whittell left his estate to
the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Audubon Society, and
Defenders of Wildlife.
Subtheme 2A: Family and love relationships helped to shape Whittell’s distinctive
personality.
As they learn more about George Whittell, visitors may become curious about the
relationships that shaped his unusual personality. This level of information is more
appropriate for in-depth programs, publications, and interpretive media than for
introductory tours, although some points may arise in response to visitor questions.
• His relationship to his family of origin
Whittell’s paternal and maternal grandparents were self-made millionaires. When
Whittell’s parents married, they united two of San Francisco’s largest family fortunes.
George Whittell and his twin brother Nicholas were born to wealth.
Nicholas Whittell died of diphtheria at age three, making George the sole heir. Although
his brother’s death does not loom large in biographical studies of George Whittell, it
seems likely that the early loss of a sibling profoundly influenced the surviving twin.
(Visitors can be encouraged to imagine how this event may have shaped George
Whittell’s character.)
• Women in Whittell’s life
Whittell defied his parents’ conventional expectations by marrying two different women
from the demi-monde of entertainment. The first marriage, to chorus girl Florence
Boyere, was annulled by his parents. The second, to Josephine Cunningham of the
Floradora Sextet, ended in divorce.
Elia Pascal, a beautiful and well-educated Frenchwoman of independent means,
married Whittell after World War I. Originally a love match, their relationship became a
lifelong companionate marriage, grounded in friendship and mutual respect.
In his elder years Whittell was cared for by a series of servants, notably Mae
Mollhagen, his nurse and housekeeper, whom many considered to be Whittell’s
mistress. Her death in a car accident affected George Whittell deeply. He towed the
wrecked car to a spot above the Lodge, as a memorial to Mae. Another member of the
household staff, Ruth Casey, was a trained nurse who took care of Whittell during his
last years of life.
Theme #3: This unique place was developed by a cross-cultural team of
designers, craftspeople, and engineers, all employed by George Whittell.
Also based on direct observation, this set of interpretive themes, concepts, and facts
helps visitors make sense of a complex and extraordinary historic site. As they tour the
Lodge, grounds, and outbuildings, they can trace the development of aspects of the
estate, and get a sense of how George Whittell interacted with and influenced different
members of the construction team.
The architect, Frederick DeLongchamps, was recognized as Nevada’s finest; he was of
French Canadian heritage. Much of the ornamental hardware was designed and
produced by Italian metalworkers, through the Allied Arts Guild of Menlo Park,
California. Masonry was the province of Italian masons, as well as Native American
students from Stewart Indian School in Carson City. Cornish miners, veterans of the
nearby Virginia City mines, blasted and dug an extensive tunnel system. Norwegian
carpenters created hand-hewn beams and decorative wood elements, and painted
many of them in traditional Nordic hues.
Evidence points to some ideas and guidance provided by George Whittell, though his
workers had a lot of freedom to create and experiment. Whittell would frequently meet
with them in the early morning. They were beginning the day’s work, and he was on his
way to bed after a wild night.
Subtheme #3A: What goes on during a restoration?
As restoration work proceeds on the site, visitors will have the opportunity to observe
the work of construction crews, historic preservation specialists, metalworkers, masons,
and other experts. Interpretive guides will help visitors understand what is going on,
and why. Erasable whiteboards will provide updated information about what’s going on.
Theme #4: What was it like to live at Thunderbird Lodge in Whittell’s day?
During tours of the Old Lodge, grounds, and outbuildings, guides call visitors’ attention
to various features of the estate. Through open-ended questioning and other
interpretive techniques, they invite visitors to speculate about life at Lake Tahoe and at
Thunderbird Lodge from the 1930s through the 1960s. Guides follow up with anecdotes
and information that shed light on the experiences and perspectives of George Whittell,
his wife, his friends and associates, and his household staff.
With his insatiable interest in technology, Whittell equipped Thunderbird Lodge with the
newest amenities. Visitors can see a range of historic appliances and mechanical
systems, many of them restored to operating condition. These include an elevator,
radio, film projector, and rangefinder. In a remote, rustic setting of great natural beauty,
Whittell surrounded himself with the most advanced technology money could buy.
Visitors might be asked to compare Thunderbird Lodge with hideaways described by
fantasy novelists such as Jules Verne and Ian Fleming.
Security concerns and a desire for privacy led Whittell to install a variety of protective
devices. Guides demonstrate the operation of a warning siren, and outdoor speakers
that warded off intruders to the strains of Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You.” Visitors
take note of Whittell’s vault, blind doors, one-way mirror, electric eye motion detectors,
and hidden passageways and entrances.
Varying numbers and types of household staff lived in the Lodge’s servants’ quarters.
Guides tell visitors that accommodations for servants were actually more spacious and
more soundproof than the suites and bedrooms of George and Elia Whittell. Visitors
are encouraged to study the décor and furnishings of these basement rooms for clues
about daily life at the Lodge. Through quotes from oral histories and other accounts,
interpretive signage describes the experiences of people who worked for George
Whittell in the roles of cook, butler/handyman, maintenance person, and caretaker.
As visitors tour the Tea House, Tunnel, Boathouse, waterfront areas, and Club House,
they have an opportunity to learn about George Whittell’s reputation and actions as
host and party-giver. Watching the beacon and signal lights in action, visitors learn of
Whittell’s system for welcoming or discouraging guests. In the Boathouse, they see
images of the Thunderbird or that magnificent craft itself, and hear stories of how
Whittell transported guests from Crystal Bay to Thunderbird Lodge. (Intrinsically
fascinating and beautiful, the Thunderbird comes into its own as an interpretive artifact
in association with Thunderbird Lodge. Ideally, the boat would eventually become part
of the TLPS collection.) In the Tunnel and the Club House, guides offer carefully
distinguished fact and fiction about Whittell’s evening parties, the supposed
confinement of guests to rooms off the tunnel, and guests’ encounters with Bill the Lion.
Standing by the lagoon, visitors imagine George Whittell pulling at the oars of the small
rowboat that’s moored there. Here the guide asks visitors to imagine life at Lake Tahoe
th
in Whittell’s day. Reminding visitors that as recently as the 19 century Tahoe was the
homeland of Washoe Indians, the guide describes the clear-cut land, coming back with
second growth, that Whittell purchased at bargain rates. By 1935, Highway 28
encircled Lake Tahoe; yet traffic would have been lighter and quieter. The guide offers
facts and statistics to compare the Tahoe Basin then and now, in terms of resident
population, tourism, and economics. The region now faces the same challenges it
confronted during Whittell’s residence—ever-increasing development, a growing
population, and the consequent effects on the lake’s water quality and ecosystems.
Only the scale of these problems has changed.
The rejection of a proposed national park, the formation of TRPA, and the impact of the
Squaw Valley Olympics are key turning points in the region’s history. Visitors take away
the realization that key natural and recreational resources, such as Sand Harbor and
Chimney Beach State Parks and the Rim Trail, are part of George Whittell’s legacy to
Lake Tahoe. His land stretched from Cal-Neva to Zephyr Cove. Without this legacy,
Lake Tahoe would be a very different place.
Subtheme #4A: George Whittell tried to live off the grid.
Although the Lodge had electrical service, Whittell prudently planned for the estate to
have its own power generation capability. Special in-depth tours of technology and
infrastructure give visitors insight into how the hydro-powered technology was designed
to work. Knowledgeable guides describe Whittell’s attempt to live “off the grid” at
Thunderbird Lodge. They acquaint visitors with Whittell’s skills as a ham radio operator
and airplane pilot, and his interest in revolutionary new technologies, such as radar and
television.
Visitors who are able to negotiate steep trails can participate in a guided hike to view
vestiges of Thunderbird Lodge infrastructure on nearby land. For others who are
interested, a photo album documents these remnants. Visitors learn that when Whittell
built the lodge, water came from Marlette Lake. He built a 500-foot dam and reservoir
to handle overflow. Weir gates and a spillway can still be seen. When the dam was
breached by a thaw, Whittell built a second reservoir; the Forest Service recently
dismantled it.
Theme # 5: What happened to Thunderbird Lodge and surrounding lands after
George Whittell’s death?
Nearly three decades of controversy and negotiation ensued after Whittell died in 1969.
Financier Jack Dreyfus bought Thunderbird Lodge in 1972, and left his mark on the
property by building a large addition in 1980s architectural style. Although Dreyfus had
the opportunity to develop Lake Tahoe’s eastern shore, he left it in its natural state.
In 1998 Dreyfus sold the Lodge and the surrounding 140 acres to the Del Webb
Corporation, a home-building company from Phoenix, Arizona. At the time, the $52
million sale price was the most expensive purchase of a private residence in America's
history. A year later, Del Webb transferred ownership of the surrounding land, including
nearly one mile of pristine shoreline, to the United States Forest Service as part of the
a federal land exchange to acquire development property in Las Vegas. Del Webb
formed the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society to act as caretaker of the historic
buildings, and to provide public tours and educational opportunities for local residents
and tourists.
4.1.7
4.1.7.1
THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AT THUNDERBIRD LODGE
Transportation to the Site
To protect the fragile historic site and preserve the period ambiance of the Old Lodge
and grounds, TLPS requires visitors to park off-site. Leaving their cars at a safe,
convenient location in Incline Village, visitors wait in a welcoming interpretive center for
the shuttle bus that will transport them to Thunderbird Lodge.
Here they can relax on comfortable bench seating while viewing a brief preparatory
video or slide presentation. They can peruse seasonally changing graphic displays,
browse in a small retail display, and use the rest rooms and drinking fountain, before
boarding the bus.
To minimize the number of contemporary vehicles at the historic site, volunteers are
issued passes for the shuttle bus, and staff members are encouraged to carpool. At the
site, indoor parking and outdoor plantings screen the few staff cars from public view.
Visitors can also travel to Thunderbird Lodge by charter boat, embarking from one of
several participating lakeside resorts. Weekly paddle tours by kayak are another
popular mode of transportation. In each case, Thunderbird Lodge works closely with its
partner organization to ensure that visitors have a congenial and informative pre-visit
experience.
4.1.7.2
Pre-Visit Experiences
George Whittell played a crucial role in determining the fate of Lake Tahoe. His singular
personality and the surprisingly altruistic outcome of his apparently hedonistic life are
strange but true historical facts. Thunderbird Lodge has an opportunity to unfold its
interpretive storyline in exceptionally dramatic fashion.
A mini-orientation experience helps visitors understand the context of what they are
about to witness, while keeping the dramatic potential of the site visit intact. Because
the site can be accessed by bus as well as diverse boat tours, several small-scale
installations are desirable. Each mini-orientation center consists of a DVD-based
orientation video, and a compact, high-quality interpretive display. Where appropriate,
these elements are complemented by a small retail outlet.
On the shuttle bus or tour boat, visitors have the opportunity to listen to an audio-based
orientation narrative that places George Whittell and Thunderbird Lodge in the context
of Lake Tahoe’s history. Audible but not overpowering or intrusive, the program calls
visitors’ attention to sights along the way, and awakens their curiosity about the
upcoming experience of Thunderbird Lodge. The audio also includes messages about
respect for the resource and personal safety, as well as a general outline of what the
tour will cover and how long it will last.
Orientation experiences plunge visitors into the world of the 1930s, conveying a few
startling facts and posing provocative questions. Without revealing too much, these
programs help visitors get in the right frame of mind for their journey back in time. By
the time they get to the estate, visitors know that:
 the time period is the late 1930s;
 George Whittell, a wealthy San Franciscan, has built Thunderbird Lodge as his
second home;
 Whittell owns most of the land from Cal-Neva to Zephyr Cove, from the shoreline to
the ridgeline.
The video and interpretive panels feature glamorous images of George and Elia
Whittell and their amazing second home. Captions and quotes invite visitors to think
creatively about provocative questions:
It was 1938, the depths of the worst economic depression in U.S. history. How
could George Whittell afford to build such a lavish home and live there in such
grand style?
Today, Lake Tahoe’s eastern shore is the only portion of the lakefront that has
remained largely undeveloped. How could this have happened?
These and other key facts and stimulating questions are reinforced in the shuttle bus
and boat tour audios, through graphic panels at the shuttle stop and elsewhere around
the lake, on the TLPS web site, and in brochures and other promotional and
educational materials. By the time people arrive at the site, they are excited and
curious. Not only are they eager to see a one-of-a-kind historic home; they can’t wait to
hear the inside story concerning a very intriguing person, George Whittell.
4.1.7.3
Accessibility for All Visitors
TLPS board, staff, and volunteers are committed to the idea that planning for
accessibility increases interpretive effectiveness for everyone. The Society’s goal is to
ensure that all visitors feel welcome and have the opportunity to enjoy and learn from
this very special place.
Buildings and grounds at Thunderbird Lodge pose special challenges for physically
impaired visitors. To assist them, TLPS deploys a golf cart, portable ramps, and other
specialized equipment to help staff and volunteers provide meaningful, respectful
experiences for people with limited mobility. Blind visitors can listen to a specially
produced audiotape. Printed transcripts and summaries assist deaf visitors in
comprehending the guided tour. Trained volunteers offer pre-arranged, customized
tours for disabled visitors.
Informational pamphlets, including a map and tour overview, are available in key
languages (e.g. Spanish, German, French, Japanese) as an aid to non-English
speakers. Older and younger visitors are among those who especially appreciate the
opportunity to relax for a few moments while enjoying a cold drink and a light snack. A
small seasonal concession at a convenient outdoor location fulfills this need.
4.1.7.4
Guided Tour of the Old Lodge, Outbuildings, and Grounds
As visitors disembark from the shuttle bus or tour boat, a pair of guides greets the
group. Throughout the visit, one guide serves as lead interpreter, while the other takes
the role of “sweep,” watchfully ensuring the safety of both visitors and site resources.
Promotion and orientation have done their work. Visitors are bursting with excitement to
get their first real view of the grounds, façade, and interior of Thunderbird Lodge. The
tour begins either at the waterfall overlook or at the front door of the lodge, depending
on the number of tours scheduled at a particular time, or at the discretion of the guide.
Guides play a key role, helping visitors immerse themselves in Thunderbird Lodge and
the world of George Whittell. They are knowledgeable companions who encourage
visitors to explore and appreciate connections between past and present. Allowing the
Old Lodge, other buildings, and the grounds to take center stage, guides remain on the
sidelines, directing visitors’ attention to clues and encouraging them to observe,
question, and analyze as would a historian.
Guides also answer questions and share information, acting more as facilitators and
storytellers than as teachers. They give visitors time and space to fall in love with
Thunderbird Lodge and Lake Tahoe. Visitors can take a few moments of “down time”
during their tour to rest, contemplate their gorgeous surroundings, and immerse
themselves in the little known, yet strangely familiar world of the late 1930s. For many,
the experience will awaken or reinforce an ongoing interest in history, heritage
preservation, and cultural and environmental stewardship.
Each guide draws upon individual talents and expertise to create a personalized
presentation. Guides qualify through training, apprenticeship, practice, and by
continually demonstrating to supervisors that they can perform at a high level. No two
tours are exactly alike, yet each presentation includes key take-home messages,
concepts, and facts drawn from the Framework for Interpretation. All visitors to
Thunderbird Lodge come away with a common understanding of the site’s history and
significance, including knowledge of the fate of Thunderbird Lodge and Lake Tahoe’s
east shore after Whittell’s death. They understand the role played by Jack Dreyfus, the
essentials of the land swap that preserved the Lodge, and the mission of Thunderbird
Lodge Preservation Society.
4.1.7.5
Enhancing the Interpretive Context
The first indoor space that visitors encounter is the great room of the Old Lodge. An
unmediated encounter with an authentic 1930s home, whose interior and exterior are
furnished and equipped in period style, stimulates visitors’ imaginations and awakens
their curiosity. To make the most of this high-impact environment, indoor and outdoor
spaces are deliberately kept free of interpretive signage and other anachronistic
elements.
Instead, as guides create their personal versions of the tour, they can draw upon the
artifact collections for authentic objects to illustrate certain stories. Seasonally changing
artifacts reinforce the period look and feel by concentrating visitors’ attention on current
thoughts of Christmas, the tourist season, fall colors, boating and swimming, news
events and the like. Changeable objects also add a special dimension to thematic
tours. For example, visitors with limited mobility are appreciative of inclusion of objects
that speak to George Whittell’s disabilities at the end of his life.
Smells of wood burning in the fireplace, food cooking, and a lion’s musky odor add an
olfactory dimension to a multi-sensory tour experience. The only known home movie of
George Whittell, shown rowing his boat in the lagoon, can be projected at the touch of
a button onto the original pull-down screen in the Lodge’s great room.
Related artifacts help guides tell stories about the rich multicultural associations of
Thunderbird Lodge: Italian and American Indian masons who worked on the
landscaping, Cornish miners who carved out the tunnel, a French-Canadian architect,
and Norwegian carpenters who detailed the interiors. Stories and artifacts illustrate
George Whittell’s cosmopolitan outlook, and his lifelong companionate marriage with
Elia Whittell, a cultured, fashionable Frenchwoman. Message repeaters let visitors
listen in on snatches of conversation in different languages.
During rental events, TLPS makes an exception to the “no signage” rule. Strategically
located, portable graphic panels serve a dual purpose. They interpret the lodge and
grounds to rental users, encouraging them to appreciate and respect an irreplaceable
cultural treasure. At the same time, they establish boundaries and “no-trespass” zones.
During rental events, oversize albums flank the food and drink tables, inviting guests to
browse. Displayed on easels, the albums are filled with eye-catching historic photos
and memorable quotes.
Another appropriate venue for a layer of interpretation is the basement-level servants’
quarters. It’s important for guides to place these rooms in context for visitors, since few
people today are familiar with the concept of live-in servants. Unobtrusive panels with a
period graphic look, family photos, and oral histories tell of the people who lived and
worked at the lodge. The ensemble tells a well-documented “upstairs downstairs” story
that gives visitors a better understanding of George Whittell, his Tahoe home, and the
historic context of his long residence there. In a back room, visitors can view
changeable artifact displays, with informative labels and a few contextual images.
Visitors are free to look around the basement rooms on their own, using interpretive
resources to guide their explorations.
The Tunnel makes an unforgettable impression, and is best interpreted by guides. They
can help visitors prepare themselves for an environment that most will find intimidating
and stress-inducing. Those who are claustrophobic require extra support; some visitors
need to be escorted via an alternate route.
In the Tunnel, low-key identification signage helps stragglers and hard-of-hearing
visitors match the guide’s descriptions with particular features. On the grounds,
buildings and landscape elements are identified by period-style medallions, embedded
in the pathways along the tour route. So unobtrusive as to be almost invisible, these
markers become helpful reference points for visitors, once guides have pointed them
out.
Message repeaters also add a dimension of sound to outlying buildings. In the Club
House, background noises reveal a card game in progress, drinks being poured,
laughter. As they approach the Boathouse, visitors hear the roar of the Thunderbird’s
powerful motor starting up, the thump of ropes being cast off, and sounds of a fast boat
moving out onto the water.
As guides lead the tour group through the grounds, their questions, prompts, and
storytelling awaken visitors’ curiosity and appreciation of a magical landscape. Visitors
take note of authentic replicas of signs that were actually posted by George Whittell,
warning outsiders against trespassing and fishing on his property. Period artifacts and
authentic replicas add convincing real-life touches: a 1930s rowboat, a wheelbarrow,
masonry and gardening tools, an old ladder, a clothesline with period clothes hung out
to dry, fishing gear, and more.
During the outdoor portions of their tour experience, visitors are continually aware of
the sounds of waves lapping on shore, wind in the trees, and the calls of birds and
other wildlife. Against this constant, natural background, they might also hear a lion’s
roar or elephant’s trumpet at a key moment. Sirens, speakers, electric eyes, and signal
lights add more sound and sights to the mix.
Before leaving the grounds and heading to the Museum Store, visitors pause at an
unobtrusive, but informative graphic panel located in the vicinity of the restored patio.
As they gaze at a fabulous view of Lake Tahoe, visitors learn what happened to
Thunderbird Lodge and the estate after George Whittell’s death. Anecdotes and quotes
underscore the key roles played by Jack Dreyfus, the Del Webb Corporation, and other
individuals and organizations that contributed to the preservation of this very special
place.
4.1.7.6
Farewell and Departure
The overriding goal of the initial visit is to get visitors excited about Thunderbird Lodge.
Accordingly, the last stop of the tour is at the Museum Store. Here they can buy books,
videos, and other souvenirs; sign up for in-depth tours and other programs; purchase
memberships in Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society; or sign up to become
volunteers. Visitors who elect to become TLPS members receive part or the entire tour
fee as a credit on that purchase. For all visitors, the ticket is a take-home souvenir;
shaped like a bookmark, it features a beautiful historic photo of Thunderbird Lodge,
along with the TLPS web site address.
As they travel back to their cars by shuttle bus or tour boat, visitors listen to another
audio presentation. Linking the preservation of Thunderbird Lodge with the future of
Lake Tahoe, the narrator invites visitors to plan a return visit, participate in an
upcoming program, become involved with cultural stewardship, and stay connected
through the TLPS web site.
At the conclusion of the tour, a mini-retail outlet offers visitors a final opportunity to
extend their experience and go deeper into the subject matter, by purchasing a book,
video, or other souvenir.
4.1.8
INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS AND MEDIA
For most visitors, an introductory tour is their first experience of Thunderbird Lodge
Historic Site. This is the central component of a multidimensional educational effort. For
TLPS, interpretive and educational programs are key to attracting and retaining
significant new audiences and membership. A lively education program, with yearround options for people of varying ages and backgrounds, will attract many visitors to
the museum for the first time, and bring them back for repeat visits.
4.1.8.1
Public Programs
Thematic Tours
Staff and volunteers will develop thematic tours aimed at conventioneers and hotel
guests. For example, a technology tour would be of interest to engineers, scientists,
mechanics, and others. Architectural history and building construction methods might
appeal to people in those industries. Stockbrokers, financial planners, realtors, and
even land use planners could form appreciative audiences for a tour focused on
George Whittell’s unique approach to money management and finance. Families with
small children would appreciate an animal tour, complete with silhouettes and sound
effects.
Spanish-Language Tour
A special summer offering will be aimed at Latino families. A shuttle bus transports
them to and from Kings Beach. A Spanish-speaking guide begins their tour on the bus
and continues with them on the site. Special family rates apply, supported by grants
and sponsorships.
Sound and Light Show
In small towns and cities throughout France, people gather on summer nights on the
grounds of historic buildings to enjoy a unique form of cultural entertainment. Audio
narrative, dramatic dialogue and sound effects, synchronized interior and exterior
lighting, silhouettes, music––and the awareness of being on the very spot where history
happened––combine to create an unforgettable theatrical and educational experience.
The sound and light show takes place outdoors, and does not impact the building.
Picnic-style food service, restroom facilities, and music create a relaxed, familyoriented atmosphere.
The beautiful setting of Thunderbird Lodge would lend itself well to a sound and light
production. Because the grounds are minimally lit, walkways aren’t safe after dark. The
most user-friendly way to do a sound and light show would be to bring audiences to the
site by boat. Dramatic narration, complete with period music and live talent, would be
produced in recorded format. Participating tour companies would coordinate on-board
audio with on-shore lighting and sound effects. Professionally designed spotlighting
would illuminate buildings, grounds, and even the flowing fountain with drama and
style. Audiences would learn about George Whittell’s love of technology as they see
signal lights and hear security devices. Silhouettes of Bill the lion, Elia, George, and
Mae illustrate the storyline. (Illuminations might even capture a replica of Mae’s
smashed-up car.) The story of Thunderbird Lodge can be integrated into lake cruise,
with a presentation about Lake Tahoe history and ecology, similar to the audio
narration that bus tour patrons hear as they drive to and from the Lodge.
Programs for Target Audiences
Nearby ski areas, such as Diamond Peak, are potential partners in creating ticket
packages for winter visitors. This might include an après-ski opportunity, with
refreshments and a tour of the Lodge. Non-skiers can ride the bus to the ski area, drop
off their skier spouses and companions, then continue on to Thunderbird Lodge for a
tour. This outing might also include lunch in town and a visit to another historic
attraction.
Gamblers may be interested in a VIP sunset tour that departs by boat from Cal-Neva. A
tour guide would point out landmarks of interest, provide pertinent background on
George Whittell, then head for the TLPS visitor dock, guided by the “all clear” signal
light. An on-site tour would take visitors to the Lodge and through the tunnel to the Card
House. A standard guided tour by shuttle bus, departing at scheduled times from
various lakeside casinos, would be an option for people who want a break from the
casino environment.
In addition, TLPS will consider developing a high-priced personal tour option, available
by reservation for individuals, couples, and small groups. This program would enable
an amateur photographer or a group of serious birders, for example, to explore the
grounds in the company of a knowledgeable volunteer.
Lectures and Performances
Within the carrying capacity of the Lodge, educational lectures will be promoted to
broad public audiences. To alleviate parking problems, shuttle service will be provided
from a convenient Incline Village location. Grant funding and business sponsorships
will keep the cost of these programs affordable. Members will continue to receive
special benefits, such as free admission to these programs, and invitations to
receptions for the presenters. When an off-site interpretive center becomes available to
TLPS, audiences for public programs will increase.
A variety of programs will attract and engage new audiences with TLPS. This would be
a first step toward involving them as members, volunteers, contributors…even board
members. Possibilities include talks by architects, historians, ecologists, geologists,
and craftspeople about the lodge and grounds, Lake Tahoe, and George Whittell. An “I
remember when” evening would feature a panel of locals and summer residents,
interviewed by high school students; attendees could bring family photos to share and
identify. A reader’s theater or chamber theater group could present scenes from plays
of the late 1930s. A concert of popular music of the 1930s and 1940s, with a swing
dance demonstration, is another option.
Homeowners and architects who have built homes at the lake could give slide talks
about their “Tahoe Dream House.” With grant funding, TLPS might commission a oneman show about George Whittell, to be developed by a playwright who specializes in
historic interpretation. A gifted amateur could play the part.
Trail Walks
A system of trails, confined to the TLPS grounds to discourage trespassers, would lead
to points of interest throughout the grounds. A trail system could begin at an
amphitheater-like gathering place, either in a forested setting near the Gatehouse or in
a nearby flat area with a view of the lake. The road up to the site where Mae’s car once
stood offers an especially good view of the lake and Sand Harbor. A bench and low-key
interpretive panels would make this destination especially visitor-friendly.
Because of security and safety issues, volunteers or staff will accompany all visitors on
trail walks. Participants hike in summer and snowshoe in winter, exploring the natural
and cultural history of the site in relation to the entire Tahoe basin.
A tour might begin with archaeological and ethnographic evidence of Washoe Indian
life and early Euro-American settlement. As visitors climb from the Caretaker’s House
up to the cistern, they learn how people got their water and dealt with their sewage in
the 1930s, in contrast with today. As they catch sight of beautiful Lake Tahoe from a
succession of viewpoints, visitors gain an appreciation for the legacy of the man who
(however mixed and mysterious his motives) managed to preserve not only this site,
but also most of the Nevada shoreline.
Trail walks can be customized to match the interests and abilities of different age
levels. Some examples: family nature walks, environmental programs for teens, plant
walks and history tours with a Native interpreter, early morning bird walks, and photo
safaris.
School and Youth Programming
Teachers in self-contained classrooms are in the best position to organize field trips;
this fact tends to limit school-group audiences to the elementary grades. To maximize
the possibility that teachers will choose Thunderbird Lodge for what may be their sole
field trip of the year, TLPS publicity will demonstrate that school tours help students
and teachers fulfill several of the Nevada and California state curriculum standards for
the targeted grade levels. A committee of active and retired teachers will review the
current school tour program and recommend adjustments as needed.
People who enjoy working with children will be recruited as guides for school programs.
Specialized training will help them become even more effective with this audience.
Middle school and high school students are less likely to participate in field trips to
Thunderbird Lodge. Yet they and their families have the potential to be visitors,
volunteers, members, and contributors; and TLPS has the opportunity to contribute in
significant ways to their educational experience. For example, most school districts now
require students at the secondary level to participate in community-based service
learning projects. Scouts and other youth organizations are also on the lookout for
service projects. Short-term, labor-intensive projects that can safely be carried out by
teens will help TLPS forge ongoing relationships with organizations that serve youth.
Through a TLPS teen volunteer program, students will gain invaluable experience as
guides, office and collections volunteers, and operations assistants.
Working with the region’s top high school history teachers, TLPS may seek grant
funding to create an intergenerational oral history program. Students will interview
elders about Thunderbird Lodge and Lake Tahoe. The results will be shared on the
TLPS web site, and will greatly enrich guided tours and other programs.
TLPS may also partner with a regional newspaper to sponsor an annual essay contest
for Tahoe area high school students on a preservation/conservation topic. The winning
essay would be published in the paper, and the winner would receive a cash prize at
his/her school’s awards assembly.
A family camp is another possibility. Vacationers and locals alike would be part of
weekend and weeklong day camps that blend history with environmental studies. By
involving grandparents, parents, and kids with behind-the-scenes tours and volunteer
projects, TLPS will provide a uniquely memorable experience and will likely gain
lifelong supporters, as well. The presence of adult relatives helps ensure the safety and
respectful behavior of participating youth.
Collaborations with Colleges and Universities
Students at institutions of higher education––in the region and beyond––are eager to
participate in practicum and internship projects. Through continuing education
departments, college and university faculty could teach courses, seminars, and
workshops on site for professionals and interested lay people. Subject matter could
range from historic preservation and heritage tourism to architectural history and
interpretation. TLPS may collaborate with a college or university to offer Elderhostel
sessions on the cultural and environmental history of Lake Tahoe.
Community and Rental Events
Community-oriented events encourage local awareness of and love for Thunderbird
Lodge. TLPS will continue to offer holiday events and free familiarization tours for those
who work in the hospitality industry.
TLPS is now testing the approach of focusing more on tours and other mission-driven
programs, rather than on rental events such as weddings. It remains to be seen
whether the Society can generate sufficient revenue from programs and membership
development to limit events to the desired level of ten per year. Of these ten events,
only two are projected to be weddings; the remainder would be corporate events, in
collaboration with the Hyatt Regency and other resorts. Event rates will be high;
participation will be limited to 80 people per event.
Events will be managed in ways that advance the mission. For example, low-key
interpretation, including web site information referenced in event invitations, will
educate guests about the site’s value and fragility, and their role in helping to preserve
it.
Whenever possible, corporate events will relate in some way to the TLPS mission. A
session on creativity in business will doubly inspire participants, as they experience a
one-of-a-kind building and an extraordinary, equally unique landscape––all in the
spectacular natural setting of Lake Tahoe. A seminar on sustainability will emphasize
historic and contemporary solutions to perennial problems.
4.1.8.2
Interpretive Media
Design Approach
In keeping with efforts to restore the Old Lodge, buildings, and grounds to their primary
period of historical significance, exhibits and other interpretive media will be overlaid
very sparingly. Nothing will interfere with visitors’ direct and imaginative experience of
the architecture, landscape, and scenery afforded by this splendid site.
Within these parameters, interpretive installations will greatly assist visitors to imagine
the past. Design elements will reinforce the look and feel of the late 1930s. Examples
include the use of period typefaces, historic black and white images (to contrast with
the “living color” on view everywhere), clippings from period newspapers, and actual
magazines and books. Objects are chosen for their storytelling potential, and are
changed out seasonally (or more often). Historic technologies, restored to working
order, increase hands-on opportunities for visitors. Period music and news broadcasts
add an auditory dimension, along with ambient sound effects.
Interpretive Waysides
Installed at key locations around the lake, bilingual graphic panels will convey a variety
of substantive messages. In addition, they inform potential audiences that access to
Thunderbird Lodge is limited because of the site’s small size and fragility, and that
visits are by reservation only. Wherever possible, panels should be mounted in secure,
indoor locations to make them less expensive to produce.
Key venues and suggested topics:
 Sand Harbor, Chimney Beach: Thunderbird Lodge and the preservation of the
eastern shoreline
 Kings Beach, Cal-Neva: The Thunderbird, the Card House, and George Whittell
 George Whittell High School: George Whittell and the preservation of the eastern
shoreline
 Rim Trail: Thunderbird Lodge, preservation of eastern shoreline, George Whittell
 Gatehouse: No-fee orientation and access information
Orientation
A DVD version of the video and audio orientation programs will be sent to school
groups in advance of their visit. The audio orientation narrative will be illustrated by still
photos. A committee of master teachers will review the orientation scripts and suggest
modifications to suit elementary-age students.
A DVD with the same still photos––and an unmodified, adult-oriented narrative––will be
produced as a souvenir item for general visitors.
Publications and Media
Castle in the Sky, by Ronald M. and Susan A. James, has become a local best seller; a
second edition is now in preparation. TLPS plans to commission additional high-quality
books on Lake Tahoe. Some possibilities: a scholarly study of the life and times of
George Whittell; an architectural and social history of Lake Tahoe lodges, including
Thunderbird Lodge, co-written by a social historian and an architectural historian; an indepth survey of Lake Tahoe history, by a noted regional historian; an environmental
history of the Tahoe region with an assessment of its future prospects, by a respected
scientist.
A well-illustrated guidebook and beautifully produced video, available in the Museum
Store, will provide a comprehensive overview of the “story behind the scenery” for the
lodge and the grounds. A companion to Castle in the Sky, the video draws on historic
photos of the Lodge, George Whittell, his family and his associates. These are blended
with original, beautifully filmed footage of Thunderbird Lodge, the grounds and
outbuildings, and Lake Tahoe in all four seasons. The video offers an evocative,
comprehensive recap of a tour, and is enriched with additional insights that make
visitors hungry for more experiences at Thunderbird Lodge.
The story of George Whittell and Thunderbird Lodge combines fascinating history with
genuine drama. TLPS staff will be on the lookout for a qualified filmmaker to produce a
successful PBS-style documentary. The DVD would become a popular take-away item
in the TLPS gift shop. It’s even possible to imagine a Hollywood feature film, which
might star Whittell look-alike Nicholas Cage. The right producer (Robert Redford?)
might be inspired to champion a feature-length, historically accurate movie, to be filmed
at Thunderbird Lodge and other Lake Tahoe locations. (Imagine Citizen Kane with an
environmental message.)
4.1.9
TLPS AS REGIONAL LEADER AND CATALYST
This interpretive plan is the first step in an ongoing cycle:
Through market studies and audience research, TLPS staff will determine what
prospective visitors know and want to know about George Whittell, Thunderbird Lodge,
and Lake Tahoe; and what they would like to do and learn before, during, and after
their visit.
Innovative program planning, grounded in the best practices of comparable institutions
and informed by consultations with leading professionals, will culminate in public
offerings of pilot programs. Each program will be designed to advance the TLPS
mission and vision, and to convey the take-home messages outlined above.
An off-site interpretive center will greatly enhance the ability of Thunderbird Lodge
Preservation Society to offer a full range of public and membership programs, including
lectures and other presentations for large groups. The interpretive center will also add
invaluable pre- and post-visit activities to visitors’ experience of the Lodge tour.
Formative evaluation studies—including focus groups, face-to-face
interviews, and
follow-up surveys—will give TLPS staff a clear idea of the where program offerings are
strong and in what respects they need improvement.
Suggestions from visitors, guides, board members, and others will be part of the
creative mix that ensures that tours and other TLPS interpretive and educational
programs never become static, outmoded, or stale. Part of the dynamic environment
and evolving history of a surpassingly beautiful place, Thunderbird Lodge Preservation
Society will gain widespread recognition for responsible and responsive leadership.
TLPS will come into its own as an educational, cultural, and environmental catalyst for
all sectors of the diverse Lake Tahoe community.