The Thunderbird, his bespoke 55-foot (17-meter) mahogany and stainless steel yacht, was kept in the enormous boathouse. Whittell became increasingly reclusive over time, eventually abandoning his casino construction ambitions for Sand Harbor in favor of preserving his own hidden refuge and lifestyle. He built a small private airport on site, and even had an elevator installed to help with his treks up and down the winding roads that connect his various properties. The island's only hotel at the time was Thunderbird Lodge, which Whittell designed himself. It has 22 rooms around a central courtyard with palm trees and bougainvillea. There is also a restaurant and bar where you can order fish caught by staff members from Lake Tahoe nearby. In 1960, after several years of construction delays, Thunderbird Lodge opened its doors for business. It was immediately successful and soon became one of the most popular destinations in Nevada. The island property was sold in 1968 for $2 million to industrialist Charles Lazarus, who planned to build a large luxury hotel complex featuring shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. But the oil crisis of 1973 caused a decline in tourism and the project was never completed. After Lazarus' death in 1980, the property was willed to his daughter, who later sold it to another family member who still owns it today. Thunderbird Lodge is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful hotels in the world.