SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Amundson family is asking for the public’s help in removing the original MS Dixie barge from Lake Tahoe. The keeper of the barge, James Amundson, recently passed away, and now it has to be removed due to current regulations, according to the family. James devoted much of his life to caring for the vessel and serving the Tahoe community after dismantling the MS Dixie and creating a fireworks barge.
In the midst of their loss, the legal and financial obligation to remove the barge has fallen to his three children. This responsibility is unavoidable, deeply emotional, and extremely expensive.
The cost of safely extracting, transporting, and disposing of the vessel is overwhelming to the family and not something they can shoulder alone.
A Beloved Part of Lake Tahoe’s History
Long before she became part of a fireworks display, the original MS Dixie was one of Lake Tahoe’s most cherished passenger vessels. Launched in the 1970s, she carried generations of locals and visitors across Tahoe’s iconic blue waters. Families celebrated milestones aboard her, visitors experienced the magic of the lake for the first time, and locals proudly pointed her out as a symbol of Tahoe tradition.
She was more than a boat.
She was a shared memory.
The Amundson Family’s Lifetime of Stewardship
The Amundson family has been a quiet but constant presence behind this piece of Tahoe history. For years, they maintained, operated, and protected the original MS Dixie, taking on the responsibility of preserving a vessel that meant so much to the community.
When the MS Dixie reached the end of her life as a passenger ship, the family refused to let her story end. Instead, they gave her a second life, renaming her the Fram, in honor of Roald Amundsen’s legendary exploration vessel. This decision was driven by respect for history and love for Lake Tahoe.
From Historic Ship to Fireworks Barge
As Lake Tahoe’s Fourth of July and Labor Day celebrations grew, the community needed a safe and stable platform to launch the annual fireworks show. Once again, the Amundson family stepped forward.
At their own expense, they converted the original MS Dixie into a fireworks barge, a complex and costly undertaking that required engineering, retrofitting, and ongoing maintenance. For years, this barge made the Lights on the Lake Fireworks shows possible, creating one of the most cherished traditions in the region.
Those fireworks have brought tens of thousands of people to Tahoe each summer and fall. Hotels fill, restaurants thrive, local businesses benefit, and families gather along the shoreline to celebrate together. The economic and emotional impact on the community has been enormous, and the original MS Dixie played a central role in making it all happen.
A Community Fundraiser for the Amundson Family and the Original MS Dixie
This fundraiser is dedicated to supporting the Amundson family, longtime stewards of the original MS Dixie, as they face the required and costly removal of this historic vessel from Lake Tahoe. After decades of preserving a beloved piece of Tahoe history and serving the community, the family now carries the full financial burden of removing the barge from the lake. This fundraiser is a sincere call to the Tahoe community that has gathered around her for decades, asking for support as we work to responsibly close this final chapter.
How You Can Help
This fundraiser exists to help the Amundson family meet this obligation and responsibly close the final chapter of the MS Dixie’s story. They are trying to raise $65,000 and every donation will go directly toward:
- The mandated removal of the barge from Lake Tahoe
- Environmental compliance and transportation costs
- Ensuring a respectful and responsible conclusion for a historic vessel
If the original MS Dixie ever brought you joy, pride, tradition, or a sense of community, this is an opportunity to give back. Please consider donating, sharing this fundraiser, and standing with the Amundson family during this difficult and emotional time. Together as a community, we can honor James’ legacy, respect the history of the MS Dixie, and protect the future of Lake Tahoe.