An inspired design makes the oversized European chalet fit for a family residence, short-term rental, bed and breakfast or retreat venue
Known as the bright, white snow castle overlooking the Truckee River, the Snow Haus has intrigued Lake Tahoe locals and visitors for over a decade. Extensive renovations have recently been completed and the Snow Haus is now on the market for $2.65M.
The Snow Haus was built in 2009 as the perfect escape for outdoor adventurers. The home has been a successful bed and breakfast thanks to its convenient location near the Truckee River and two ski resorts. However the unique stucco exterior, igloo-inspired interior and whimsical floor plan are what make this Bavarian home wonderfully intriguing.
The home sits on just over half an acre and features seven bedrooms, six and a half newly renovated bathrooms, a custom kitchen, a children’s bunk room, built-in closets, ample storage space and a massive oversized garage. Outdoor space is abundant with five decks, six patios, parking for up to six cars and a large outdoor sunken firepit with wraparound seating, making the Snow Haus a great spot to host friends and family.
The Snow Haus is filled with surprises, from its architecture to its decor. Upon entering the home, visitors are greeted by an enormous boulder surrounded by locally foraged quartz crystals. The massive timber beams on the ceiling are full-sized trees brought from Oregon which were milled and sandblasted on-site. A European artisan also hand-carved decorative embellishments into the wood. Hand-painted snowflakes adorn the bunk room floor and each patio features intricate fern outlines from leaves hand-stamped into the concrete. Commercial grade material was installed to sustain a living roof.
The layout of the Snow Haus features two private rooms with terraces and a separate master bedroom with an attached bunk room that has two bathrooms and a kitchenette. A detached wing accessible by a walkway leads outside to three additional bedrooms with private patios, making it an ideal short-term rental property. The home also has a lockable owner’s closet, a sauna and an additional 900 square-foot space in the basement ready for the new owner to customize to their taste.
The lot next door is also just over half an acre and included in the sale. It is easily buildable with a completed survey, roughed-out building pad, electrical and a sewer line. Both properties back-up to US Forest Service land not far from some of the area’s best backcountry skiing terrain. A short half-mile drive from the Snow Haus up Cabin Creek Road leads to a trailhead accessing the famed North Tahoe wilderness. Across the street from the house there are also two public trails leading to the Truckee River.
About the Snow Haus Renovation
Todd Gordon Mather was the lead architect and consultant for the last two years, seeing through the original design vision. Mather helped design the patios and is creating conceptual ideas for the 900 square-foot bonus room. Big Water Welding from Lake Tahoe redid parts of the waterfall in front of the home and fabricated a steel breakfast bar as well as custom railings. Streamscapes rebuilt the entire waterfall. Nevada Lathe and Plaster of Reno redid the outside stucco. Tahoe Rockscapes spent an entire summer on-site rebuilding all retaining walls behind the home and on both sides to address a drainage issue. Barazza Construction, Spadi Custom Homes and Mick Horn Construction assisted in bringing the Snow Haus to life. Blacktop Paving redid the entire driveway. Clastic Designs created the beautiful custom scribed slot drain sinks.
About the listing agent:
To schedule a viewing of the property or learn more, please contact Morgahn Grey at (530) 545-9407 or at MGrey@greybluerealty.com. Grey Blue Realty is located at 243 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City. For more information please visit greybluerealty.com or call (530) 580-5060.
Photos by Tahoe Real Estate Photography.
