Vikingsholm turns 90; Fundraising efforts underway to preserve and protect the castle

In a fjord-like setting at Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay State Park, the 38-room Vikingsholm castle is a rare masterpiece of Scandinavian architecture. Many have photographed this spectacular site from one of the many tour boats on Lake Tahoe, or after walking along a path down to the shore from the road above.

Vikingsholm was originally built to be the summer residence of Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, a native of Illinois. Impressed by her architect nephew Lennart Palme’s Nordic-inspired home in New York, Mrs. Knight traveled to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland to research ideas for her Lake Tahoe house. Together with Palme, Mrs. Knight visited old wood churches and ancient stone castles before construction on Vikingsholm began in 1929.

The castle is now 90 years old and the Sierra State Parks Foundation is launching the 90 for 90 Vikingsholm Forever Endowment campaign to preserve the historic mansion for another 90 years and beyond. 90 Founding Members, with donations of $1,000 or more, can be the leaders that ensure this National Historic Landmark will remain the guardian of Emerald Bay forever.

Their goal is to raise over $2 million to ensure a minimum return of $100,000 per year restricted to preservation of the historic mansion. As with all endowments, only the interest is spent, the principal on the endowment is never touched, ensuring ongoing funding forever.

For more information and to become a Vikingsholm Forever Founding Member today, contact Sierra State Parks Foundation at 530-583-9911, or www.SierraStateParks.org.

To celebrate, Sierra State Parks Foundation will also be holding a 90th birthday event on August 24th at 5:00 p.m. at Vikingsholm with light refreshments. Guests will be able to drive down to the castle to enjoy a tour, catered reception with fine wine, followed by a special presentation featuring Dr. Helen Smith. The evening will end with cake and a bubbly toast (tickets here).

"Vikingsholm is an iconic Lake Tahoe destination with National and State cultural significance. It is up to us to make sure she lives on forever", notes Heidi Doyle, Executive Director of the Sierra State Parks Foundation.

To check out the other events at Vikingsholm this summer and at other Sierra State Parks locations, visithttps://sierrastateparks.org/events/.