Enjoying Vikingsholm by foot, boat and car

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Even before there were roads, Emerald Bay was the location of one of the first lakefront homes at Lake Tahoe - but it wasn't the treasured castle, Vikingsholm.

Ben Holiday, stagecoach magnate and early-day transportation king, constructed a home there in the late 1860s. In 1880, Paul Kirby bought the land and built a number of cabins on a parcel of land where Vikingsholm now stands. The area was owned also by William Henry Armstrong who later sold it to Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. She imagined a beautiful summer home in the area that reminded her of trips to Scandinavia and the fjords.

Out of that love for Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe came Vikingsholm which was completed in 1929.

After Mrs. Knght's death in 1945, the land and "castle" were sold to Lawrence Holland, a rancher from Nevada. He subsequently sold it to Harvey West, a lumberman from Placerville, California. In the early 1950s, Mr. West, a noted philanthropist, negotiated with the State of California and said he would donate one-half of the appraised value of the land and Vikingsholm outright if the State would pay him the other half of the land value. These terms were agreed upon, and in 1953 the house and property were acquired by the state. In 1969, the federal government designated Emerald Bay a National Natural Landmark.

Now Vikingsholm is one of the most popular visitor destinations at Lake Tahoe. It is open to the public thanks to California State Parks and Sierra State Parks Foundation. While most people hike down the steep 1.5-mile trail to the castle on the water's edge from the parking lot on SR-89 (and the long walk back up), there are other ways people can enjoy, and tour, Vikingsholm.

A less steep 1.5-mile trail leaves from the Eagle Point Campground campfire center.

There are two roundtrip cruises based on the South Shore that take people over to Vikingsholm where they take a walking tour with Sierra State Parks.

Cruise Tahoe offers the trip on the 1950 wood cruiser Tahoe and tour, along with wine and light appetizers. The cruise will start running on June 24 and continue Sundays through Wednesdays from 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. until Labor Day. The cost starts at $135 and includes the walking tour (info here).

Camp Richardson also offers a three-hour tour complete with a "Mighty Sailor Man" and plenty of high-speed longboat action, plus the Vikingsholm walking tour. There are two trips daily, one at 11:00 a.m. and the other at 3:00 p.m. Kids are $69 and adults $99. More information here.

There are opportunities for an ADA tour where one can drive down to the castle in their own car, following a volunteer guide safely down the road. State Park volunteers provide the opportunity. The two-hour visit gives guests plenty of time to go to the visitor center, purchase a Vikinghsolm tour ticket, take a tour of the castle and enjoy the natural beauty of Emerald Bay. The $10 state park parking fee applies. Reservations are required with 48-hour advance notice. Call 530-525-3384 to make a reservation. (Volunteers are needed to assist with this program and can call the same number.)

Those walking or driving into Vikingsholm can take a tour offered daily from May 29 to September 30. Tours begin every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students aged 7 to 17 years and with valid college ID, active-duty soldiers, and seniors. Children under age 7 are free. Purchase tickets at the Visitor Center just past Vikingsholm. The Visitor Center is open daily during the tour season from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.