A Historic Stone Retreat in the Heart of the Sierra
Stone Villa is a true family or group retreat. Possibly the first home built off Old Highway 40 in the 1920s, Stone Villa is one of the few private stone/rock homes in existence today. In 1957, Stone Villa was donated to the Oblates of Saint Joseph church by its original owners where it was used as a group retreat (St. Joseph's Villa) before becoming a private residence again. Stone Villa sits at the heart of Donner Summit, one of the Sierra's great year-round playgrounds, with adventure quite literally out the front door.
Stone Villa sleeps up to 12 guests plus 2 infants in the Pack and Plays, with 3 full bathrooms, a fully stocked gourmet kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, private infrared sauna, propane firepit, full karaoke setup, 85" home theater, and high-speed Verizon 5G WiFi throughout.
In winter, you're minutes from Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, and Soda Springs Resort, with Northstar, Palisades and downtown Truckee a short drive away. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers have Royal Gorge, the largest cross-country resort in North America, practically next door, plus groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails at Donner Memorial State Park.
In the summer, cool off with swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding at Donner Lake, two stand-up paddleboards, two inflatable tubes, and three Tahoe Regional passes for free parking for up to 3 cars at Donner Memorial State Park included, then round out the day with fishing, stargazing in the Sierra, and a soak in the infrared sauna.
Hikers can set out on the Pacific Crest Trail, explore the historic Donner Summit railroad tunnels, or trek to Loch Leven Lakes, Summit Lake, and the Mt. Judah Loop.
When the snow melts, Donner Summit becomes one of California's premier granite rock-climbing destinations, with classic crags just up the road for climbers of every level (guests can make use of several Organic bouldering pads and a hangboard at the property). Cyclists have legendary riding out the door too, the iconic Hole in the Ground Trail and Royal Gorge Rim Trail for mountain biking, plus a classic road climb over historic Donner Pass Road.
PREMIUM AMENITIES
Infrared Sauna Private infrared sauna in the lower level bathroom, perfect for après-ski recovery or unwinding after a day on the trails.
Entertainment Room Big couch (converts to sleeper) and electric fireplace with space for the entire family. The entertainment room has an 85" TV with surround sound system and a full karaoke setup with iPad, two microphones, JBL speaker, and KaraFun or Apple Music Sing. Nintendo Switch is loaded with hundreds of classic games and several Switch favorites (Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Just Dance).
Deck BBQ Area Napoleon Pro BBQ grill with sear station plus a Weber Searwood pellet grill and smoker on the deck. Please note that shoveling of the deck is not provided during your stay, so in the winter the deck and grills may be inaccessible.
EV Charging Level 2 NACS (Tesla) charger installed at the property, available for free for guest use. A J1772 adapter is provided on-site for non-Tesla EVs. Please note that charging times are limited to 12am-3pm.
Smart Home Features Schlage smart lock entry, smart thermostats, Sonos speaker, and Ring doorbell for seamless arrival and stay.
Propane Firepit Propane firepit at the back of the house, a relaxing spot to gather on summer evenings. Please note the firepit is not available during snow season.
LIVING SPACES
Living Room/Fireplace Room Queen Murphy bed built into the wall, with a wood-burning fireplace as the centerpiece.
Great Room/Dining Room Huge dining table with seating for 12 people (12 dining chairs plus bench seats for more people). 75" 4K TV with Roku and a modular sofa that can be turned into a sleeper.
Kitchen The kitchen is fully stocked with pretty much anything a guest could need or not need. Plenty of cookware, olive and avocado oil, spices, dinnerware, utensils, chef's knives, air fryer, toaster oven, rice cooker, stand-up mixer, handheld mixer, food processor, sous vide machine, molcajete, tortilla press, pizza pans, and more. There's also 3-person seating at the countertop and a dinette area that seats 3-4 more people. Full coffee station for pour over, drip, or stocked Nespresso machine.
WORK & WELLNESS
Workstations Remote or hybrid workers can use two workstations with Mac and PC keyboards and 4K monitors. The main floor workstation has a single 27" 4K monitor with a stand-up desk, while the upstairs workstation has a dual 27" 4K monitor setup. High-speed Verizon 5G WiFi throughout the home.
Fitness/Gym Area The fitness area is stocked with adjustable dumbbells and a weight bench for strength training, plus a yoga mat, fitness bands, and a suspension trainer for general use. Climbers can also use the hangboard and bouldering pads. All guests welcome to use at their own risk.
Instruments Guests are welcome to use the guitars, bass, and ukulele but please treat instruments with care and respect.
BATHROOMS
Primary Bathroom Heated floors and large shower stocked with shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and other amenities.
Main Level Bathroom Heated floors and shower/bath stocked with shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and other amenities.
Lower Level Bathroom Large shower and infrared sauna. Bathroom is stocked with shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and other amenities.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
Snow Tunnel & Mud Room The entrance to the home leads to a long snow tunnel where guests can hang up to 12 skis/snowboards and safely leave gear (bikes, rafts, climbing gear, fishing gear, etc.). This leads to the heated mudroom where guests can leave jackets, boots, and shoes.
Cleaning Standard cleaning fee covers normal turnover (bedding, surfaces, dishes). Additional fees may apply for excessive mess requiring extra cleaning time.
Guests Only the guests on the confirmed reservation are allowed on the property. Extra guests must be approved by the owner in advance and may incur additional fees.
Dog Policy Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Stone Villa! To keep our newly furnished home in great shape for every guest, we ask that you follow a few simple rules:
- Up to 2 dogs per stay, with a pet fee of $175 per dog
- Please list all dogs on your reservation when booking
- Keep dogs off the furniture and beds
- Clean up after your dog, both indoors and in the yard
- Please don't leave dogs unattended in the home for extended periods
- Guests are responsible for any pet-related damage
Directions/Parking Conveniently located off I-80 on Donner Pass Rd, Stone Villa is only a 3-4 hour drive from the Bay Area, about 1.5 hours from Sacramento, and about an hour from the Reno area. Guests should have proper winter tires or snow chains during snow season. 4WD/AWD is strongly recommended as this area can get several feet of snow in large storms. Driveway has parking for 6+ vehicles (3-4 vehicles in front of the house and more on the side and back). Please remember only confirmed guests are allowed to stay at the house. Snow plow service comes with 3 inches or more of snow. Snow shoveling service is not provided for areas like stairs and deck during stays.
The Primary Bedroom
Wake up to Sugar Bowl from bed. The primary is a light-filled retreat under vaulted ceilings, anchored by a king bed dressed in soft, hotel-quality linens, with big windows framing views of Sugar Bowl and the surrounding peaks. A twin daybed with a pull-out trundle tucks in alongside, so the room comfortably sleeps up to four, ideal for a family who wants to keep the kids close or a couple of extra guests in your group. Cozy, private, and set apart from the rest of the house, it's the room that makes the whole trip feel like a real getaway.
Bedroom Two
A restful second bedroom with a king bed, premium linens, and a window framing the trees. Vaulted ceilings and warm wood tones, set apart for a quiet night's sleep.
Bunkbed Room
Two twin-over-twin bunks sleeping four, ideal for kids or extra guests. Sturdy, comfortable, and finished to match the rest of the house.
- Sleeps 12 | 3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | 9 beds
- Fully stocked kitchen with premium appliances
- Coffee station
- Wood-burning fireplace
- Movie, karaoke, and game room with Nintendo Switch
- House instruments: guitars, bass, and ukulele
- Sauna and home gym with bench, adjustable dumbbells, TRX, yoga mats
- Climbing hangboard and bouldering pads
- Two dedicated workstations with fast WiFi
- BBQ grill and Level 2 EV charger (Tesla + adapter for non-Tesla)
- 3 Tahoe Regional passes (free Tahoe region state park parking)
- Covered bicycle storage with work stand, floor pump, and tools
- Two-zone heating throughout and heated bathroom floors
- Ski and outdoor gear storage in the mudroom and snow tunnel
- Minutes to Sugar Bowl, Boreal, and Royal Gorge
- 15 minutes to Donner Lake
Good to Know
Stone Villa sits along the historic transcontinental route over Donner Summit, where Amtrak's California Zephyr and Union Pacific's "Gold Run" rail lines run several times a day and occasionally at night. Most guests find the passing trains a charming part of the mountain experience, and we provide ear plugs for light sleepers.
