The Mystery Owner Of The Taj Mahal Boat

The Taj Mahal houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a private residence and a tourist attraction. It is one of the two most famous houseboats in Sausalito and is known for its architectural resemblance to the Taj Mahal in India. The houseboat was built in the mid-1970s by land developer turned winery and vineyard entrepreneur Bill Harlan. In 2023, the houseboat was damaged in a storm and sank, but it was successfully raised and stabilized. The long-term condition of the houseboat is still being evaluated. As of 2024, the houseboat has been sold to a Silicon Valley family, with John and Rhonda Luongo as the new owners.

The Taj Mahal houseboat was built in the mid-1970s by Bill Harlan

The Taj Mahal houseboat is a three-story floating home in Sausalito, California, that was built in the mid-1970s by Bill Harlan, a land developer turned winery and vineyard entrepreneur. Harlan was inspired to build the houseboat after visiting India and being fascinated by its architecture, specifically the Taj Mahal in Agra. The houseboat features a Kashmirian thematic overlay, with travertine marble floors, a wine cellar, a top-level solarium for meditation, a sauna, and a secret elevator. The cost of building the houseboat in the 1970s was over $2,000,000, which would be over $10,000,000 today.

Harlan acquired the houseboat after its original owner, retail magnate and San Francisco social fixture Prentis Cobb Hale, had to abandon the project before completion. Harlan introduced the Kashmirian theme by visiting the Vale of Kashmir in northern India and studying the sumptuously appointed residences afloat on Dal Lake. The houseboat is a miniature version of the Taj Mahal in India, with two onion-shaped fiberglass domes flanking its inscrutable facade, in departure from the Taj Mahal's single iconic dome.

The Taj Mahal houseboat is moored at the end of Johnson St. in Sausalito, just north of downtown. It has been a fixture on the Sausalito waterfront for more than 30 years and is one of the two most famous houseboats in the area. For most of the last four decades, it has been a private residence, although it was also used as a bed and breakfast inn for a few years.

In the mid-1990s, Harlan attempted to sell the houseboat, with an asking price of $2.5 million. There were reports that the houseboat was sold by Harlan in 1995 for as little as $850,000, but in a recent interview, he claimed that he retained ownership until 2007. Eventually, the houseboat was sold to a Silicon Valley family for somewhere between $795,000 and $1 million.

It was sold by Harlan in 1995 or 2007

The Taj Mahal houseboat was built by land developer turned winery and vineyard entrepreneur Bill Harlan in the mid-1970s. Harlan sold the boat in either 1995 or 2007, depending on the source.

In 1995, Harlan sold the boat for somewhere between $795,000 and $1 million. However, in a recent interview, Harlan claimed that he retained ownership until 2007. It is unclear who purchased the boat in either 1995 or 2007, as Harlan declined to identify the purchasers.

The Taj Mahal houseboat is a miniature version of the Taj Mahal in India, featuring travertine marble floors, a wine cellar, a top-level solarium for meditation, a sauna, and a secret elevator. It is moored at the end of Johnson Street in Sausalito, just north of downtown.

The houseboat was damaged and sank during a storm in March 2023

The Taj Mahal houseboat in Sausalito, California, was damaged and sank during a storm in March 2023. The houseboat, a well-known landmark in the area, had been a fixture on the Sausalito waterfront for decades. Built in the 1970s by land developer and winery owner Bill Harlan, it was inspired by the architecture of the Taj Mahal in India and featured luxurious amenities such as travertine marble floors, a wine cellar, a solarium, a sauna, and a secret elevator.

On March 21, 2023, a powerful ""bomb cyclone" storm hit the Bay Area, bringing strong waves, heavy rain, and intense wind gusts. The storm caused significant damage to the Taj Mahal houseboat, particularly to its windows just above the waterline. The waves and wind shattered the windows, allowing water to enter the boat.

As the boat began to take on water, salvage crews sprang into action, with 14 pumps running and divers in the water, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the sinking. The houseboat's owner confirmed that it was sinking and would need to be demolished. This was a devastating outcome for the community, as the Taj Mahal houseboat had become a beloved tourist attraction and a source of positive energy for visitors and residents alike.

In the aftermath of the storm, the houseboat was left with four feet of water inside, and its fate seemed uncertain. Local media reported that it would likely need to be demolished, and community members discussed possible plans to raise money and organise volunteer efforts to save it. However, no concrete plans for its restoration emerged at the time.

Despite the efforts to save the iconic boat, it eventually sank. It was successfully raised to the surface on April 10, and the water was pumped out, but its long-term condition was still being evaluated. The houseboat's future remains uncertain, pending further updates on its condition and potential restoration plans.

It was raised and stabilized, but its long-term condition is uncertain

The Taj Mahal houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a well-known local landmark. It is a floating home inspired by the architecture of the Taj Mahal in India, featuring domes, arches, and intricate details. Unfortunately, the houseboat suffered significant damage during a storm in March 2023, taking on water and sinking. While it has since been raised and stabilized, its long-term condition remains uncertain.

The houseboat was built in the 1970s by Bill Harlan, a real estate developer with an interest in Indian architecture. It features luxurious amenities such as travertine marble floors, a wine cellar, a solarium, a sauna, and a secret elevator. For most of its existence, it has served as a private residence, though it was also used as a bed and breakfast inn for a brief period.

In March 2023, the "bomb cyclone" storm caused small windows on the houseboat to shatter, allowing water to enter and causing it to sink. Local divers from Parker Diving Service successfully raised the boat, pumped out the water, and stabilized it. However, the long-term condition of the houseboat is still being evaluated. There were rumours of plans to demolish it, but no concrete decisions have been made.

The Taj Mahal houseboat is a unique structure that has captivated both locals and tourists alike. It is moored at the end of Johnson St. in Sausalito, just north of downtown. Visitors are advised to view it from a distance and respect the privacy of its residents. The houseboat represents a blend of Moorish and Mughal architecture, incorporating Indian, Persian, and Islamic elements.

The houseboat has changed ownership over the years, with Harlan selling it in 1995 or 2007, according to different sources. In 2024, it was reported that a Silicon Valley family purchased the houseboat for between $795,000 and $1 million. Despite the damage it has endured, the Taj Mahal houseboat remains an iconic part of Sausalito's waterfront culture.

The houseboat is moored at the end of Johnson St. in Sausalito

The Taj Mahal houseboat is a famous fixture on the Sausalito waterfront. It is a private residence and tourist attraction modelled after the Taj Mahal in India. The houseboat is moored at the end of Johnson St. in Sausalito, just north of downtown. Visitors can walk a few blocks north from the Ferry Pier or park near the intersection of Bridgeway and Johnson. As you walk towards the Bay on Johnson St. from Bridgeway, bear slightly to your right to enter the City parking lot. From there, you will see a wide wooden pier leading out into the Bay, with the Taj Mahal moored at the far end. A few other houseboats will be anchored to your left.

The Taj Mahal houseboat was built by land developer turned winery and vineyard entrepreneur Bill Harlan in the mid-1970s. Fascinated by Indian architecture after a visit to the country, he constructed a miniature Taj Mahal with travertine marble floors, a wine cellar, a top-level solarium for meditation, a sauna, and a secret elevator. The cost of building the houseboat was over $2,000,000 in the 1970s, which would amount to over $10,000,000 today.

There is some discrepancy in the reports of the houseboat's ownership history. While there are indications that Harlan sold the houseboat in 1995 for around $850,000, he claimed in a recent interview that he retained ownership until 2007. The houseboat has served as a private residence for most of the last four decades, except for a few years when it operated as a bed and breakfast inn.

In March 2023, the Taj Mahal houseboat suffered significant damage during a storm. High waves shattered small windows just above the waterline, causing the houseboat to take on water. Despite successful efforts to raise the boat and pump out the water, it was initially reported that the houseboat would need to be demolished. However, the long-term condition of the Taj Mahal is still being evaluated, and there is community interest in restoring this iconic structure.

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