To be or not to be the new owner of Shakespeare Ranch, that is the question here. For those who like history, ranches, and Lake Tahoe, this property could be a dream come true.

History

This estate has much history– even though it has only had two owners since 1861. Its original name was Glenbrook, in homage to the property’s protected glen and the brook that flows through it.

Glenbrook’s first purpose lay in lumber: in the late 1800s, the property became the largest and most productive lumber operation in the Tahoe Basin. According to the official listing page, “When the mining rush in the Comstock ended around the turn of the century, the lumber and mill town gradually transitioned into a summer resort community…..[T]he first visitors to the area arrived by stagecoach and by steamer from the West Shore. In 1906, the Bliss family assembled the Glenbrook Inn which included buildings from the original Jellerson Hotel and Lakeshore House….. With railroad service from Truckee to Tahoe City and steamer service across the lake to Glenbrook, the Inn became the fashionable summer resort of affluent vacationers from around the country.”

Second owner brings love for the Bard

In a process some three decades long, the new owner and his family purchased not only the Glenbrook Inn, but also myriad parcels surrounding it, fashioning a compound. The new name, Shakespeare Ranch, came from a specific feature of the property: a “towering rocky outcrop, Shakespeare Rock, where early settlers claimed they could see the cameo profile of the ‘Old Bard.’” Over the past 25 years, the current owners have worked to acquire and restore historic structures, working closely with architect Marc Appleton to protect the aesthetic of the original inn.

Not only maintaining the property but also its purpose, the current owners have revived many old traditions such as rodeos dating back to the 1940s and horse-drawn stagecoach rides. They’ve also introduced more modern diversions in the 5,000 square foot “barn” (originally built in 1873), such as live concerts and comedy (Robin Williams, Jay Leno, Lionel Richie, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Kenny Loggins and the band America have performed), gourmet food (Emeril Lagasse has prepared meals here), golf and tennis.

Property features

Now, you could be the third owner of this grand lakeside ranch. Features to entice you:

• 133-acre property abutting over 400 feet of Lake Tahoe shoreline
• 397-foot shared pier with boatlift, five boat buoys, plus cabanas along the shore itself
• 17 guest homes and cabins featuring 25 bedrooms centered around a courtyard with gazebo
• Indoor pool with fireside dining and outdoor spa
• Wine tasting cellar
• An office suite, gym, and art room
• A catering area
• Horse stables with paddocks, and rodeo grounds with pens and bleachers
• A green house and vegetable gardens
• Golf course
• Tennis courts

Perhaps one of he more subtle, but very helpful features is the location itself. This land is on the Nevada side of Tahoe, so though just minutes from California by boat, offers Nevada tax benefits. But then, why would someone who can afford Shakespeare Ranch worry about taxes? The list price, after all, is $98M.

Read more: Tahoe’s Shakespeare Ranch makes dramatic appearance on the market