Overview

Created by one of the most consequential industrialists of the mid 20th century, Henry J Kaiser, Fleur du Lac was one of the last Golden Era estates constructed at fabulous Lake Tahoe. The beautiful stone walls of this grand estate have witnessed family triumphs and tragedies, conversations and decisions that affected world history, dazzling parties with famous celebrities, academy award winning actors and directors creating a fantasy world for the smash hit movie Godfather II, Cold War international political intrigue, and more than a few twists and turns of personal and corporate fate. If only those walls could talk.... But now they can! In this comprehensive exploration of the rich history of this great American estate, authors Bob and Paula Boldt lead us on a journey through the time-arrow of Fleur du Lac history by telling true stories from behind the walls of the ""flower of the Lake."" From the time Washoe braves walked the land, through rustic early California land claim settlements, through the Golden Era of boat racing on Lake Tahoe highlighted by Henry Kaiser and Stanley Dollar, and through three subsequent owners' attempts to preserve the integrity and relevance of the estate, this story is perfect for fans of architecture, early boat racing, family drama, Horatio Alger stories, and political history. Come with us on this literary journey augmented by a treasure trove of vintage photographs and videos as the story lives on through an exclusive website accompanying this book.

Full Product Details

9798998836848

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

An engineer by training, Bob has had a life-long fascination with cars, boats and any mechanical device that exhibits beautiful design. He was drawn to Fleur du Lac by the remarkable life of its creator Henry J Kaiser, and the sheer beauty and mystique of the iconic Lake Tahoe Estate. After a career in banking and investments provided the means, Bob and his wife and co-author Paula became one of the lucky owners of a home at Fleur du Lac, and have even acquired one of the original Kaiser family wooden boats. This book was written as homage to the families that have made Fleur du Lac what it is today. Bob has been the CEO and CIO of organizations entrusted to manage some of the largest pools of capital in the world including the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, the State of California Public Employees Retirement System funds, and the endowment funds of the University of Texas System. After a lifetime of international business travel and numbers-filled spreadsheets, Bob now enjoys traveling for fun with his wife Paula, writing, photography, playing with his grandkids, and spending as much time as possible at beautiful Fleur du Lac. The second child of five in a young middle class, post-World War II family, Paula was raised to appreciate her country and to dare to chase dreams wherever those might take her; she lived in small towns in America while her father built dams for the Bureau of Reclamation. Joining forces with her husband Bob after they completed degrees (hers a BA in languages) at the University of Texas and moved to Chicago, Paula pursued a professional career in International Banking. Once the family relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, Paula abandoned her career to raise the family and become active in school and community leadership positions. Paula and Bob have for over 50 years aspired to embrace adventure, learn about, contribute to and enhance the communities in which they lived and travelled. While raising three daughters in the Bay Area, they summered regularly at Lake Tahoe embracing family time and a community of boaters and skiers. The first book on which they have collaborated, ""Fleur du Lac: Stories from Behind the Wall of the Flower of the Lake"", shares the fascinating history of the retreat which Henry Kaiser (the classic example of a man who acted upon his dreams) had built in under 30 days, as a celebration of the completion of Hoover Dam. Acquiring a home at modern-day Fleur du Lac, Paula and Bob tirelessly researched and explored the rich history (including uncovering the ""true"" stories of what took place) at Fleur du Lac; the result was a huge collection of fascinating stories and pictures that needed to be shared. Paula and Bob currently divide their time between Lake Tahoe and Austin, Texas, travelling, sharing time and chasing dreams, when possible, with their three daughters and six grandchildren.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available