Examples of this craftsmanship are evident in the buildings, tunnel, walls, steps and fountains. Thunderbird Lodge represents a high level of expertise in building crafts, stone masonry, iron work and wood work. The siting, design and materials of the buildings, landscape features, walls, paths and driveway are a result of this design philosophy. The Thunderbird Lodge is an example of an approach to architectural design that is intended to be in harmony with its setting.

In addition to the main house, there is a Card House, Caretaker's Cottage, the Cook/Butler's House, an elephant barn, the Admiral's House, the Boathouse with adjoining 600' tunnel, and Gatehouse. The Thunderbird Lodge is one of the last and best examples of a great residential estate on Lake Tahoe from the period in which prominent San Francisco society built homes on the lake. The additions were added to the original design of the property. In 1985, Dreyfus added to the Thunderbird Lodge by building an entertainment room addition connected to the original lighthouse as well as a two-story wing atop the original deck of the garage, both of which are connected by an enclosed, glass bridge. Dreyfus later sold most of the land to the Forest Service and Nevada State Parks. After Whittell's death, Thunderbird Lodge and adjacent 10,000 acres of property were purchased by Jack Dreyfus of Dreyfus Investments. However, as Whittell grew older, his interest in animals, nature and privacy far outweighed his desire for more money and he held on to much of the property until his death in 1969.

At the time, Whittell owned approximately 40,000 acres and 20 miles of Nevada shoreline at Lake Tahoe and had plans to develop the land into high-class summer properties, a ski resort and a $1 million hotel-casino. Construction of the Thunderbird Lodge was begun in 1936 by a man named George Whittell, Jr., or as he was more commonly called, the 'Captain'.

Thunderbird lodge