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.
An engineer by training, Bob Boldt 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.
