Pope Estate

The Pope Estate is a wooden mansion with shingle-clad exterior in South Lake Tahoe that sits on a large property. Beside the main house stand several support buildings including servant quarters, kitchen structures, a dairy, barn, and boathouse.

Lloyd Tevis, a former president of Wells Fargo Bank, built this property in 1884 as a summer home. The estate was designed to serve the wealthy Tevis and Pope families during their time at Lake Tahoe.

The rooms are furnished to show how wealthy families lived in the late 1800s, with separate spaces for owners and household staff. Walking through them, you see how different groups in the house had very different daily routines.

Visit during regular opening hours when guided tours are available to explore the entire property. Wear comfortable shoes since the grounds are large and you will walk between multiple buildings to see everything.

The grounds include an arboretum with a natural waterfall, pond, and gazebo that once served the family's private retreat. Many visitors focus only on the house and miss this hidden garden landscape at the edge of the property.