A $65 million waterfront residence is currently on the market in Lake Tahoe. Courtesy Scott Thompson
GLENBROOK, Nev. – A lakeside residence recently went up for sale for more than one pretty penny. If it fetches its asking price, it would make it the most expensive property sold in Lake Tahoe.
The Whispering Pines is listed at $65 million. A full offer would beat the highest selling property in Lake Tahoe so far, which is the Old Forge Wynn Estate, sold in October 2024 for $62 million. That’s after it was originally listed at $76 million.
The Whispering Pines resides above its own secret cove on about 5.5 acres of lakefront in Glenbrook, Nev. The listing touts an unparalleled lakefront sanctuary along a broad expanse of breathtaking shoreline.
“Sometimes, you only get one chance at perfection,” the listing reads.
Listing realtor, Jean Merkelbach, says those in market for this kind of perfection are buyers from a pool consisting of ultra-high net-worth individuals with a significant interest in luxury real estate. These individuals could include successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, professional athletes, investors, as well as prominent figures in the entertainment industry who are specifically looking for a prestigious and secluded estate. Another perk is its location in a desirable tax friendly state like Nevada.
The house went on the market on Feb. 25 and has already attracted significant interest from potential buyers.
The single family residence has four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, spanning 8,211 square feet along with a five car garage, pool, a golf course, sand volleyball court, and tennis as well as pickleball amenities. At its listing price, that makes it almost $8,000 per square foot.
It’s a handful of rare features that Merkelbach says make the property so valuable.
“It’s the privacy that you have there,” she explains. “You’re really not looking at other properties or other estates.”
The location on east shore, as opposed to Incline Village, allows for better sunsets, calmer waters and milder winters.
What also adds value are the relatively flat acres the property sits on, which Merkelbach says, “is very, very rare.”
The single level house was created by its owner, the late Wayne Prim, to capitalize Tahoe’s breathtaking landscape. “Every single room in the house,” she says, “was designed to have a view of the lake.”
What sets it apart from many lakeside residences is its pier-free view. The estate’s pier is located at a neighboring property through an easement, which means those residing in Whispering Pines won’t see it. “You’ve got this just stunning wide open view,” Merkelbach describes.
Prim purchased the property in the mid-eighties and completed building the home in 1989. The lawyer, and financier, known for his philanthropism, passed away on Feb. 22, 2024. His death was a catalyst for the sale of the home.
“Especially at Lake Tahoe,” Merkelbach says, “when you see some of these bigger estates coming available. It’s because of life changes like that.”
A neighboring property just over half a mile away could give the Whispering Pines a run for its money. The iconic Shakespeare Ranch is on the market for $188 million. However, buyers have the opportunity to purchase a variety of homesites and residences on the property starting at $9,950,000.
Merkelbach says these high dollar estates in the past would remain on the market on average for over a year. Currently the average is around 10 months. “It isn’t something that happens overnight.”
“That’s been the hallmark of this particular Lake Tahoe market,” she explains. “Nobody really has a sense of urgency. The buyers don’t have to buy and the sellers don’t have to sell.”