UNR needs $5.5 million more to purchase Lake Tahoe estate

UNR President Joe Crowley told regents on Thursday that $4.5 million in private donations has been pledged. Another $5.5 million is needed.

"I think we'll raise the money," he said.

The university, which wants to build a research facility on the estate along Lake Tahoe's east shore, faces a Sept. 30 deadline, though it has an option to extend that until Nov. 30.

The estate is part of a 140-acre parcel south of Sand Harbor that includes the castle-like Thunderbird Lodge built by multimillionaire George Whittell in the 1930s.

Del Webb Corp. bought the entire spread from the American Land Conservancy, and is negotiating a land swap with the federal government for public land the company wants to develop in Las Vegas.

If the deal takes place, the U.S. Forest Service would manage the 140 acres. UNR wants to buy the 12 buildings and lease the 6.5 acres where the buildings are located.

The 11,000 square-foot Thunderbird Lodge has 15 rooms. The estate also has a 2,500-square-foot boathouse, which is connected to the lodge by a 500-foot tunnel.

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