East Shore Lake Tahoe Real Estate
- State
- Nevada
- Includes
- Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove, Skyland
- Character
- Sparsely developed; much of the shore is state park
- Tax
- No state income tax (for Nevada residents)
- County
- Douglas County
- Note
- Outside the IVGID district, so no Incline Village recreation privileges
- Best for
- Privacy, scarcity, and Nevada residency
Lake Tahoe’s East Shore extends from Incline Village through Glenbrook all the way to Stateline, NV. One of the most sparsely populated areas of the lake, the northern section primarily consists of State Park and Bureau of Land Management land. Located on the stretch along Hwy 28 is historic Thunderbird Lodge, open in summer for tours, and Sand Harbor, very popular for its spectacular beach in summer and for its Shakespeare performances at the beautiful amphitheater.
Once on Hwy 50, you reach the Glenbrook gated community, the oldest settlement at Lake Tahoe with fewer than 300 residents. Built around a pristine alpine meadow with dramatic views of Shakespeare rock, residents enjoy a large sandy beach with pier, a gorgeous private 9-hole golf course and restaurant, and miles of beautiful hiking trails steps from their doors. From Glenbrook down to Stateline you’ll find an array of intimate neighborhoods peppered down the shoreline, many with some of the most amazing views you’ll find on Lake Tahoe.
Further south, you’ll find Zephyr Cove that has a very good high school, several gorgeous beaches, good basic shopping and beautiful Round Hill Pines Beach. Here you can catch the paddleboat, MS Dixie, to cruise to Emerald Bay and tour the shoreline. Stateline, NV, is a where you’ll find the majority of casino resorts at Lake Tahoe along with beautiful Edgewood golf course and Edgewood Hotel, perfectly situated along the shoreline. There are very nice beaches, hiking trails and homes with lovely lake views on the hillside. The east shore offers a variety of property, and except for Glenbrook, it’s generally less expensive than Incline Village. Once into Zephyr Cove and Stateline, you’ll start to see an array of condo choices along with homes on and off the water.
What it is like to live on the East Shore
The East Shore is the emptiest stretch of Lake Tahoe, and that is the entire proposition. Much of the shoreline north of Glenbrook is protected public land, including Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park and Sand Harbor, so private parcels are concentrated in a few pockets around Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove and Skyland.
Glenbrook is the oldest settlement on the lake and is gated, with its own golf and beach. Zephyr Cove and Skyland run south toward Stateline, where the character shifts as you approach the casinos and Edgewood. It faces west, so it takes the sunrise over the water and goes into shade earlier in the afternoon than the West Shore does.
Living here means accepting distance. There is very little in the way of services, and most practical errands mean driving to Incline Village or down to Stateline. In exchange you get scenery and privacy that no other part of the lake offers.
What to confirm before you make an offer here
Scarcity is the point, so comparables are thin. Very few parcels trade in any given year, which means pricing relies on judgment and local history more than on a tidy set of recent sales. Be skeptical of any valuation that leans on a broad Lake Tahoe average.
One point catches Nevada-side buyers out. The East Shore sits in Douglas County and is outside the Incline Village General Improvement District, so it carries none of the IVGID recreation privileges that come with an Incline Village or Crystal Bay parcel. Different beaches, different rules, different district entirely.
Where a property sits inside a private community such as Glenbrook, confirm the association's rules, dues and any beach or golf rights, and whether they transfer on sale.
This page is general information rather than legal or tax advice. Confirm association terms with the association, and residency questions with your own tax adviser.
East Shore frequently asked questions
Compare this community in the Lake Tahoe communities guide, or read the lakefront buyer’s guide and California vs. Nevada comparison.
Weighing who to work with? How to choose a Lake Tahoe real estate agent covers the seven questions worth asking about any specific property.