Distance: 1. This lookout point sits on top of the mountain ridge a couple of hundred feet up and is always one of those views that make me feel so very alive to see in person. Rated 4.0 /5 based on 2 customer reviews 4.0 Save Add Review Get Directions Add Photo. Mrs. Knight commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect and her nephew by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. Vikingsholm Castle. Book your tickets online for Vikingsholm, South Lake Tahoe: See 775 reviews, articles, and 528 photos of Vikingsholm, ranked No.7 on Tripadvisor among 48 attractions in South Lake Tahoe. The home is open daily for tours in the summer months from June to September. A visitor's center adjacent to the main building is available for further information and the sale of tour tickets and other items. Open to the public to enjoy forever, as it should it be. The length of guest’s visits ranged from a one night stay to an entire summer. Fortunately many of Mrs. Knight’s original furnishings remain in the home today. The home is open daily for tours in the summer months from June to September. People probably thought she was crazy. This also means staying on trail, not partaking in destructive water sports and respecting the land so Lake Tahoe is beautiful for everyone (including you) for future visits! You can purchase your tickets from the small visitor center just past the mansion at the end of the trail. She usually had a staff at Vikingsholm of approximately 15. It has a grass roof, stain-glass windows and even a little tower that really looks like a castle. The Fresh Ketch. During the summer months, embark on the challenging hike to Vikingsholm and enjoy a guided tour of the house. And it will keep climbing for a while. Furnishings were carefully chosen by Mrs. Knight to enhance and carry out the Scandinavian theme. If you are coming from Sacramento, like most visitors, all you need to do is take Highway 50 North of the city. Vikingsholm is located in South Lake Tahoe on the California (western) side of the lake. They visited Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Meals were sumptuous and occupied a good part of each day. I’m told by followers on Instagram that you can paddle over and look around the island. The early bird gets the parking spot, or the empty hiking trail, or the good spot on the beach! Nope, not a typo.Sitting at the bottom of beautiful Emerald Bay is a real castle—Vikingsholm Castle. Your email address will not be published. Getting to Vikingsholm Castle. It’s closed in the winter, which makes sense (who in their right mind is trying to go hiking or hanging out on a beach during a Lake Tahoe winter?!). The castle tours are currently cancelled due to covid. Through church affiliations Mrs. Knight had become acquainted with the William Henry Armstrong family, who owned 239 acres at the head of Emerald Bay. During the day guests enjoyed swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and trips around the lake, by boat or car, planned by Mrs. Knight. It’s hard to spot from above, but the ruins of this little tea house are easier to see from the Vikingsholm beach. Beaching of boats is allowed in the bay from dawn until dusk. which isn’t hard because many trailheads and beaches have trash cans for you. You can tour historic Vikingsholm Castle seven days a week throughout the summer. It transferred a lot of hands, eventually being sold to Lora Josephine Knight in 1928. Keep reading for my must-know tips, photos and other fun history facts about this castle! This is a great chance to see 11th-century style Scandinavian architecture up close without flying to Europe. Downhill to get to castle. The Vikingsholm parking lot is about 9 miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89 and it isn’t very big! In 1915, they purchased a home in Santa Barbara, but had little time to enjoy it together since Mr. Moore died in 1916. All tours are guided and take approximately one-half hour. Its location is not publicly accessible by car. The Vikingsholm Castle is in one of the most photographed places in the world, Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe. Tucked near the beach is the Vikingsholm Castle – it’s a bit hidden by trees but eventually, you’ll spot the castle tower peaking out. Mrs. Knight (right) with Lennart Palme and family. I’m so excited to share this with you! You can safely swim here if you want to bring swimsuits (there’s a bathroom near the visitor center you can change in!). It is now a part of the Harvey West Unit of the Emerald Bay State Park. After a few … The Washoe people usually spent summers on the lake and winters in the foothills or valleys of the Sierras. Vikingsholm is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States. Get there early for a better chance of snagging a parking space, and bring cash to pay for parking. Head to the parking lot which is across the road from the Eagle Falls Hiking Trail and campground lots. over a year ago Problem with this answer? You can’t see it from the road above as you drive into Emerald Bay, but tucked on the shore & hidden among trees is the Vikingsholm Castle. You’ll find a beach and dock there to park your boat or kayak. Highway 89 at Emerald Bay, CA; View Map Go To Site. Directions: How To Get To Vikingsholm Castle & Vikingsholms Trailhead Address: Emerald Bay State Park Lot on Highway 89 (most Google Maps will recognize “Vikingsholm Parking lot” if … Small, was a corporate lawyer who accepted two brothers, James and William Moore, into his law firm. It only took a few years to construct this castle which she then used as a summer home for over 15 years. “Selma” the clock, one of the most striking pieces, stands in the hallway. For the latest information on tour schedules, parking, special events, and directions to Vikingsholm, please visit: Vikingsholm Tour Information. To get to the mansion, take Highway 89 to the lake’s southwest shore. For perspective, we foolishly tried to do the Vikingsholm trail hike around 4pm on a Sunday afternoon. The lot was SO packed, we spent 20 minutes circling around with no luck. This is one of my favorite easy Lake Tahoe hikes! The hike back up is a true workout only because you gain a lot of elevation in a short amount of time. In the early 1920s, Lora Small Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker from St. Louis. Comment or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll try to help! The estate was sold to Lawrence Holland, a rancher from Nevada. 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