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Modern mountain retreat near Lake Tahoe asks $4.7M

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Designed by San Francisco architect George Homsey—one of the original Sea Ranch architects

By Megan Barber
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A stone, copper, and timber house sits in a forested area. At the center is a concrete outdoor fireplace with patio chairs in front of it; to the left a dining area wing features windows while to the right the house features two stories and a large master Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty

From the hills of Vermont to the Rocky Mountains, there’s something magical about a cabin in the woods. But in ski towns across the country, many new homes ignore the coziness of mountain architecture and instead embrace an over-the-top, sprawling aesthetic that has more in common with a Los Angeles McMansion than a woodsy retreat.

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Every so often, we find a modern mountain chalet that hits the right balance—like this five-bedroom, five-bath lakefront property on Fallen Leaf Lake, a small alpine lake just south of Lake Tahoe. The home was constructed in 2000 and designed by famed San Francisco architect George Homsey, one of the original Sea Ranch architects and designer of many BART stations.

Despite totaling a spacious 4,059 square feet, this stone, wood, and copper listing is divided into a main residence with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and two detached cabins with a private bedroom and bathroom each. Instead of the oversized, taxidermy-filled living rooms found in other luxury mountain properties, the home’s spaces are well-proportioned, able to hold a good-sized family while still feeling intimate.

Snug wooden nooks abound—all with views to the trees and water outside—and the home also features four fireplaces, bay windows, vaulted ceilings, and hardwood floors. Outside, amenities include two private docks, an outdoor fireplace, a sandy beach, and an expansive deck off of the main house. This is a luxury listing that packs in the perks while still feeling like a home.

Love what you see? 661 Fallen Leaf Road is on the market for $4,725,000.

The living room features skylights and large windows on the left, with timbered walls, hardwood floors, and a stone fireplace on the right. Multiple oversized couches and chairs provide seating.
A living room features skylights and windows on one side, and a cozy stone fireplace on another.
A kitchen features a large wooden island in the center, with a twig-inspired light fixture and vaulted wooden ceilings above. Open shelving, large windows, and a stainless steel fridge round out the amenities.
The chef’s kitchen with tall ceilings and a spacious island.
A nook-like dining room features vaulted ceilings, large windows, and a round wooden table with seats for eight.
An intimate dining room takes advantage of forest views.
A stone patio off the second floor of the house features green and metal patio furniture for dining and lounging. Trees, a lake, and snow-covered mountains sit in the background.
The spacious stone patio takes advantage of lake views.
Two Adirondack chairs and a small table with a wine bottle on it sit in front of a concrete and timber fireplace.
The outdoor fireplace is a focal point.
A dock stretches out onto a lake, with trees and snow-covered mountains in the distance. Two red Adirondack chairs sit on the dock.
The listing includes two private docks and a sandy beach.

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