Sugar Pine Point State Park
Also known as: Phipps Cabin - Hellman- Ehrman Estate - District
Why it's listed
Sugar Pine Point State Park, on Lake Tahoe's western shore near Homewood, preserves layers of local history within a district of about 10.5 acres. The oldest standing building is a roughly 15-foot-square cabin of hand-hewn pine logs, built in 1872 by William Phipps, the first permanent settler recorded on the western shore. An offshore Native American bedrock mortar site and old roads also survive. Later, banker Isaias W. Hellman acquired the land and had a three-story Victorian frame and stone mansion completed around 1903-04, along with a tank house and coach barn. By 1913 the estate was regarded as the finest private estate in the High Sierra. The Ehrman family, Hellman's descendants, used it as a summer residence until the State of California acquired it in 1965. The property was listed for its pioneer, Native American and estate-era associations and its architecture, and it now serves as a park and museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the area to Lake Tahoe's settlement history, from Washo habitation and settler William Phipps to the Hellman estate, which was considered the finest private estate in the High Sierra by 1913. The Phipps Cabin is described as a rare, well-preserved example of pioneer log construction. The mansion and outbuildings represent a later phase of summer estate life.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000401, listed March 30, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. S of Homewood on CA 89, Homewood |
|---|---|
| County | El Dorado County |
| Listed | March 30, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000401 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | William Phipps (Phipps Cabin, 1872) |
| Architectural style | Victorian frame and stone (Main House); rustic pioneer log construction (Phipps Cabin) |
| Areas of significance | Prehistoric, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the State of California and used as a park and museum; the Main House is described as in excellent condition, the Tank House in fair condition, and the Coach Barn in good condition. |
| Acreage | 10.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.05159, -120.11407 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000401.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16878704
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.