The legendary mansion built by a casino magnate Bill Harrah in 1963 on Lake Tahoe hit the market at almost $26 million. A luxury estate, known as Villa Harrah, sits on a private pier in Glenbrook, Nevada.
It appears to be isolated but it is actually situated quite close to the busy casino nightlife and other entertainment, including restaurants, retail stores, and Heavenly ski resort. The property is located 12 miles from Lake Tahoe Airport and 50 miles from Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
The entry of the house is a stylish one. The house has modish staircases and a tall ceiling with large exposed beams. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
A large living room offering a large cozy L-shaped sofa set along with stylish center tables. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
A view of the living room from above, showcasing its stylish pieces of furniture along with the artistic wall design. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This living space boasts a large sofa set with a fire pit in the middle. The area overlooks the breathtaking view of the sea. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This sitting area offers a rustic seat facing the beautiful view of the sea through the glass windows. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The home’s great room also has this stylish billiards table along with two round bar tables with stools on the side. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The home theater features stunning wall designs and stylish carpet flooring. The room offers sectional sofa sets along with nice ceiling lighting. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
A focused look at the dining room featuring a rectangular dining table set with modern chairs. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
A view at the dining area during the sunset, overlooking the outside view through the home’s glass windows. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Another one of the dining areas in the home. This one has a wooden dining table and chairs set. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The kitchen boasts an island with a separate breakfast bar counter paired with classy bar stools. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The kitchen offers an attractive and thick countertop on both the kitchen counters and the island. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This kids’ bedroom offers two sets of bunk beds with a staircase in between them. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The primary bathroom boasts gorgeous walls and classy tiles flooring. It offers a walk-in shower room and a charming freestanding soaking tub lighted by a fancy ceiling light. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This primary suite’s personal bathroom offers a comfy couch and a powder desk on the side. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This empty room boasts stunning walls and a beautiful ceiling. The area’s lighting is just magnificent. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The home has large glass windows all over the place providing magnificent views of the surroundings. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
An outdoor dining area featuring a rectangular dining table paired with modern chairs. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The balcony is quite long and has modern railings. From the balcony, the sea and the mountain range can be clearly seen. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
There’s a custom swimming pool as well, providing a high quality place to relax inside the property. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
An outdoor view of the house from the swimming pool area, showcasing its wooden exterior. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
An aerial view of the home’s backyard showcasing its outdoor dining and the walkway leading to the property’s personal dock. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This view of the property boasts its gorgeous architectural design and the lovely landscaping surrounding it. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Another view of the house from the dock, showcasing the magnificent architectural design of the property. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The beach looks very calm and beautiful, while the property’s personal dock is just so clean. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Aerial view of the whole neighborhood boasting the properties’ docks and homes surrounded by the wonderful landscaping and the sea. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
For many years VIlla Harrah had been a famous party house and a Rat Pack hangout for such celebrities as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Liza Minelli, Tony Curtis, Shirley MacLaine, and others.
In 2012 the estate was purchased by the current owner for $12 million. In 2014, he started the renovation of the property which took him 3 years to complete and cost him almost $14 million. It included replacement of the walls in the living room with ceiling windows for the better view of the lake, creation of a spacious family bunk room with the sleeping capacity of 12 people, and remodeling the kitchen.
The renovation had significantly raised the price of the property, and it is currently at a value of $25.7 million. The property does not belong to the Harrah family anymore, and the current owner and seller have chosen to stay anonymous.
The original mansion was built with just one bedroom. Today, the 20,000-square-foot house features eight bedrooms and 7 full and 6 half bathrooms balancing comfort and style blended with a little bit of whimsy. The sink in one of the bathrooms, for example, is designed in the shape of Lake Tahoe.
There is also a glamorous great room with an impressive wall of glass and the magnificent view of the lake and mountains, a modern kitchen with grey elm and walnut cabinetry, intriguing private cinema, entertaining game room with a bar and pool table, indoor sauna and spa, and even a salt cave made of blocks of pink Himalayan salt. The primary bedroom has its own deck and a capacious lounge and enjoys sweeping views of Lake Tahoe.
The design of the house is also focused on high-end details that put an emphasis on the sophisticated interior of the house, including imported flooring inlays, steel and leather railings, and European oak floors. Outside, the residence boasts its own pier, multiple view terraces, and a private beach.
However, the most interesting thing about this property is its secret – an underground tunnel connecting Villa Harrah to a neighborhood tunnel system. The tunnel helped to access to other houses on the street and gave celebrities, visiting the estate, the ability to conceal their arrival and move discreetly from place to place.
Bill Harrah was one of the most well-known casino magnates and influential people in gaming history. He founded the world’s largest gaming corporation Harrah’s entertainment that is known today as Ceasars Entertainment.
