Talks continue on Dreyfus estate

No agreements have been reached, but commissioner Don Miner said a meeting is planned Wednesday with Forest Service and Park officials to discuss part of the Dreyfus estate at Zephyr Cove.

County commissioners will get an update on the estate during their regular meeting Thursday in Stateline.

Officials have been discussing a land swap that would give Park Cattle Co. the land around the buildings, while the Forest Service would keep the rest of the property.

Miner says a straight land swap might cost Park as much as $10 million, and he is instead hoping the Forest Service will consider a land lease with the county. The county could then sublease to Park.

A lease could provide public access to the land while also increasing parking for the Zephyr Cove Marina and the county's Zephyr Cove Park, both adjacent to the estate, he said.

Miner and other officials accused the Forest Service earlier in the year of secretly killing plans to open the property to the public. The Forest Service acquired the estate land as part of a 1997 land exchange, while Park bought the building rights with assurances the Forest Service would support plans to open them for weddings, conferences and other special events.

County leaders encouraged Park because they want the revenues those special events would generate.

The property is separate from other Dreyfus estate holdings, also involved in a land swap, that are located near Sand Harbor, north of Zephyr Cove.

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