This is an extraordinarily beautiful place at Lake Tahoe and a must-see place if you're in the area! Vikingsholm is a beautiful estate built by Lora Knight, a wealthy heiress who (along with her husband) helped fund Charles Lindbergh's monumental solo flight across the Atlantic aboard the Spirit of St. Louis. Located on the shores of the world-famous Emerald Bay, Vikingsholm is located a easy-to-moderate 1.5 mile hike downhill on a winding dirt road from a lonely parking lot located on Emerald Bay Road. While the hike is not too steep or dangerous, you must remember that you will have to hike uphill after your visit. This is just something to keep in mind. There is a steeper 1.1 mile hike, but it is not the best option if you have bad knees or young children. The house was build during the 1920's. However, it is modeled after rustic Scandinavian architecture of the 11th Century (hence the name "VIKINGSholm"). It includes beautifully ornate wooden and stone details that invoke the period upon which the mansion is based. It is located on the shore just feet away from Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe. Vikingsholm is open for tours -- and this includes the house, interior courtyard and adjacent buildings. There are some incredibly beautiful waterfalls (you must see Eagle Falls) and trails behind the home, so make sure that you visit them too! TIPS: 1.) The drive from South Lake Tahoe to Vikingsholm is spectacular! Enjoy the views from the road...and be on the lookout for wildlife too. 2.) On your way to Vikingsholm, make sure to stop at Inspirational Point to snap some photos of Emerald Bay. It is one of the most photographed spots in the world. 3.) Parking is $10, but the trail begins from the end of the parking lot. 4.) There are some great photo spots near the parking lot, so don't leave without taking pics from the location! However, these might be risky if you have adventurous young children with you. If you have kids with you, be mindful of their safety. 5.) Vikingsholm tour is $10 for adults. If you don't care about seeing the interior of the house, you can still visit the outside, courtyard and waterfalls without a fee. 6.) If you are fearful of taking the hike, you can see Vikingsholm by boat. One of the most popular options is the Dixie II paddlewheel boat that departs several times per day from Zephyr Cove on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe. It enters Emerald Bay and takes passengers close to the shore and island. This is definitely a worthwhile excursion that you will remember for the rest of your life! read more

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came to the last tour of the day at 4pm. students/seniors were $15 and adult $18. 30min led by a tour guide. castle was currently under heavy construction, fenced all around which was a bummer for photos, and many rooms were blocked off + had to use poster in front to showcase instead. all rooms are gated off, walking in hallways and looking in type tour. wonderful tour guide, answered plethora of questions. gained insight on laura knight, history of emerald bay (great depression, selling land, island, etc). lasted 30min, def a one time thing for educational purposes bc was on the smaller side. groups range from 1-20 ppl. we had 2 other ppl in our group (6 total). tours run from 10:30am to 4pm every 30min. WHOLE GROUP must be present with receipt 5min before tour or u will be moved to the next one 30min later. they do not wait or run late! read more

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If you think you have trouble with the altitude, walking or health conditions I don't recommend it. But if you're up for a mile walk down hill and a mile up I recommend it. When you get to the bottom of the check into the visitors center to buy tickets for the tour. There's beach access to hang out also. read more

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Loved the beauty of the castle and where it's located. The trail wasn't bad at all, easy to moderate. Just one mile walk down with beach access. read more

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Great tip from previous Yelpers to arrive before 9AM to get a parking spot in the small lot! We got the 3rd to last spot I think! The hike to the Mansion is all downhill so not bad. The hike back to the parking lot was a bit of work, but we managed with our 8 year old, so it's do-able. Prices have gone up on admission so they can keep up with restoring the residence. Adults are $15, Seniors, Military & Children under 6 are $12. A tour guide/ docent takes you through to a few areas and talks about Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight and the history of Vikingsholm. We are then free to wander and check out the rest of the property. Many areas are roped off (which makes sense), but you can still see enough to get a sense of the space. We enjoyed the tour. read more

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This is such a gorgeous home. I really love the setting. Set right on the beach. No neighbors. I just wonder how this woman ever managed grocery shopping in her day. Before all the chain stores were here. Before all the tourists were here. And no road to drive her car down to the house. I guess she must have carried all the groceries down the hill. The home is very well built and the woodsy interior are beautiful They have a very nice walking tour throughout the house. read more

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Really cool house turned museum! Affordable. You have to hike down the hill a bit, not too bad, to get to it but it's worth it. Beautiful architecture, views right on the lake, trees and nature all around! read more

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Vikings in California? We were staying at Olympic Village in North Tahoe and left at 830am Wednesday for the drive to Emerald Bay. Four places traffic was stopped due to construction with flagman single lane controls. 27 miles and one hour later, we passed the Vikingsholm parking lot on the lake side, every spot taken in the lot, and on the side across the road . We drive another 200 yards down highway 89, past the construction on the overflow lot on the hill side of the highway, check with the construction worker who nods his head, and turn right into the hard to find Eagle Falls parking lot. It's only 930am, but we take one of the very few parking spots left, by the flush toilet bathrooms. Wife is drinking coffee each morning, and can only hold it for 2 hours maximum before wetting her pants and the car seat. We wander up to the vista half a mile away, for views of Emerald Bay, amid the stream from Eagle Falls. Stairs here and some climbing over boulders, but most people still in their sneakers. 15 minutes later we hit the road for the mansion, walking past the 35 vehicle parking lot, completely full, along side a wooden plank walkway to the highway. Crossing the highway is risky, with cars coming full speed around blind curves. Don't want to become road kill. 200 yard forced march uphill to the Vikingsholm parking lot, all 55 spaces filled. Kiosk sells parking tickets for $10, $9 for seniors -old farts like myself. Go past a sign that says $72 mandatory contribution to Governor Brown for vehicles without parking stickers. Next sign says no dogs and no bicycles -don't want to run over some old lady, while going 30 mph downhill around a curve. We take pictures at the vista at the start of the trail overlooking beautiful dark green Emerald Bay. 1 mile downhill walk to the mansion. The trail is a service road of gravel and dirt, with fleeting views of Emerald Bay through the heavy forests. Some ladies in low heels and others in sandals, and men in flip flops, who should know better. A few guys with toddlers on their backs and shoulders -don't trip on the occasional tree root! 15 minutes later we are at lake level and the bathrooms -another pit stop for the wife. Across from the bathrooms 100 yards away is the beach in front of the mansion, and pier for the tourist boat cruises crossing the lake. The mansion does not look that spectacular from the back. Just another wooden building in the woods. From the front, it looks awesome, with a circular stone turret corner one side, and a rectangular stone turret corner on the other side, with ornate Scandinavian trim. The lady who owned the place had the side of the building done in a circular turret because she had an expensive rug that was circular that needed to fit. What some women do! Down the road, is the visitor center, with tours going for $10 a head. Would you spend $10 on parking, and then $10 per person on a tour? I inherited my cheapskate genes from my tight fisted first wife. Should have brought a book to read, and let my second wife go on the 20 minute tour. The visitor center has all sorts of interesting history of the mansion, with black and whites, and even a film on the restoration process of the mansion. Who needs a tour? Ice cream sundries sold here. We head back to the parking lot. It's like the Grand Canyon -easy to come down, but much, much harder to come back up. 600 foot elevation gain over 1 mile, at 6000 feet elevation, much of it with no cover from the sun on this hot August day. 30 minutes later I'm breathing like Darth Vader, tongue hanging out, like I just survived a death march! read more

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Vikingsholm is a great place to visit, offering beautiful architecture and a fascinating story behind its creation (no Viking colony on Lake Tahoe, sorry). It seems like most people drive here but we arrived from the water, beaching the boat right in front of Vikingsholm during a day of exploring Emerald Bay and Fannette Island. Make sure to bring your camera as you'll definitely want to take pictures of this place! read more

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The views up to Vikingsholm were breathtaking. Unfortunately the day that we went, there was so much construction going on. I think they were repaving some of the roads, so they'd shut down one lane, and you'd have to wait your turn for the patrol car to lead your side of the road across the way. Cars were backed up for miles. Since this was my first time to Emerald Bay, I wasn't sure what to expect. Saw the sign for Vikingsholm so we parked, but didn't see any castles, so I was a little confused. The friendly employee at the parking booth and an officer who happened to be chatting with her told me that I could get tickets down at the visitor's center, which was a mile hike down by the water. I was a little concerned because I wasn't sure how my mom would do on a steep hike, especially since I didn't even prepare her for it in advance! The walk down wasn't too bad, though we did observe a few other older folks hiking back up to the parking lot and breathing heavily. But we figured we could take our time on the way back. Finally got down there just in time for the 2:30pm tour (which are only done in the summer months until the end of September). Paid $10 each for tour tickets. The castle was pretty but it wasn't as spectacular as I had expected (apparently I went on our Tahoe trip with too high of expectations or something??). Got to see some of the bedrooms around the castle, but I probably could have skipped the tour. I'm sure all the info we were told is easily found online. The trek back up wasn't easy for Mom. We had to stop a few times to breathe and get her heart rate lower. But it was doable and we were very happy when we reached the top. Took some great photos when we finally got back. If we weren't pressed for time, we would have sat near the water (there are picnic tables) for a while longer. Beautiful views. read more

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This place was worth the hike.. It was winter and half of the lake close by was frozen... I cautiously checked the thickness of the ice and made my way to the center.. and then told my wife to take a photo of my daring but stupid act.. uploaded a pic of the same.. Parking on the top is a bit tricky.. if you do not find a space, wait for one or come back later.. Since I could see the park official driving by now and then and placing tickets on cars which were parked on the road.. The hike is about one mile.. Going down is the easy part.. Coming back up is the hard.. Since its a steep climb back up.. Carry some water with you... as you will need it back on the way up.. The castle has a viking feel to it.. with all the sharp edges... The view is awesome.. read more

Vikingsholm Mansion - Museums Near Me - Tahoma, California

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If you had just one day and only one day to visit Lake Tahoe in the summer, what would you do? What would you see? What would you eat? My girlfriend and I faced this exact "first-world" problem recently when we decided to make a spontaneous day-trip to Tahoe. When researching activities in Lake Tahoe, you are going to get MILLIONS of different hits. And that's because the Tahoe region (spanning between California and Nevada), has been popularized time and time again as the perfect weekend getaway - regardless of whether you go in the winter to enjoy the slopes, or visit in the summer to bathe in the crisp and clean water. If you are planning your 9,000th trip to Lake Tahoe or your very first, Vikingsholm is definitely one of those hidden gems that might grab your attention. A 38-room mansion/castle along Lake Tahoe, Vikingsholm is a window into the history and architecture of the region. We ended up paying a visit on our 24-hour escape to Tahoe and we wholeheartedly recommend booking a tour at Vikingsholm! Vikingsholm mansion is located at the shore of Vikingsholm beach/Emerald Bay within Emerald Bay State Park. Even if you are directionally challenged like I am sometimes, it's pretty easy to get here. Depending on which direction you are coming from, just remember Highway 89. It's the only road that gets you to the state park. I'd really recommend coming EARLY (like at 8-9am), otherwise there will be NO parking. And though there's street parking all along Highway 89, the main parking lot (Vikingholm/trail parking lot) gets you closest to Vikingsholm/Emerald Bay. It's $10 for the whole day and you can pay either at the kiosk or through the parking vendor. Once you get down to the mansion, it's also another $10 to book a tour ($8 for students), and so I suggest spending more time exploring Emerald Bay to get your money's worth. After parking, you will have to walk about a mile from the lot down to reach the mansion. Though this may seem strenuous, it's totally worth it, because aren't the best things in life the ones that require work? Personally, I absolutely LOVED the little trek down to Vikingsholm mansion. It only takes about 15 minutes (maybe 20 going back), but you see and hear so much. Birds are chirping, mini waterfalls are flowing, and the rock formations are SO awe-inspiring. The really nice thing about Emerald Bay State Park is that there's PLENTY of signs everywhere to guide you where you need to go. Once you exit Vikingsholm Trail, you'll be pointed towards the castle and the visitor's center. The visitor's center is a little building that has small gifts and maps for tourists. This is where you can purchase tickets for the tour and ask the workers questions you may have. Luckily, tours happen every half hour, and so you don't need to worry about getting here at a specific time! If you have any remote interest in architecture or history, Vikingsholm mansion is a MUST-DO. Basically, the first half of the tour (15 minutes) consists of a guide giving you a whirlwind tour of the castle (e.g. basically a bit about the owner's upbringing, how/why the place was developed, the different rooms in the mansion, etc.). I really thought that our guide was super coherent and very detailed; usually, information like this flies over my head, but I remembered everything she said! And the second half of the tour is essentially free time for you to explore and grab photos. And boy was Vikingsholm mansion BEAUTIFUL! There's at least 9-10 different rooms you can go through (upstairs and downstairs), each providing a new glimpse into the early 1900s. It's so AMAZING how well everything was preserved. And I love the fact that each room was small, yet had so much character. I really admire the time and effort the park employees put in to keep the mansion in perfect shape; it's so aesthetically pleasing to the eye. My favorite part was definitely exploring all the living quarters and seeing how each differed. All in all, I have to say that Vikingsholm was definitely worth an "omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating. When you're in Lake Tahoe, I'm sure you will want to go swimming or skiing. But there's also more "off-the-beaten" path adventures that are waiting to be discovered. Vikingsholm mansion was truly a fun and casual little stop along our escape into Tahoe. It's quick, relaxing, and very informative. I totally recommend this to anyone! Have fun and prosper, read more

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Nice grounds and historical buildings. There are bathrooms, picnic tables and access points to other trails (Rubicon). Easy hike down a gravel trail. The hike back up wasn't as fun. Fortunately, the trail is shaded! Great views of the bay from the parking lot. . read more

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This is a popular tourist destination so finding a place to park can be a bit challenging depending on what time you arrive. The cost to park is $10. To get to the mansion you will need to walk a mile, downhill, along a well maintained dirt road. Along the way you'll pass by a number of small waterfalls. There is very little shade so be sure to bring water, sunglasses and a hat. You can purchase tickets along with snacks and souvenirs at the Visitors Center located a little further down from the home. There are bathrooms located at a separate location near the home. Ticket prices for Adults is $10, Children 7-17 years is $8 and kids 6 and under are free. The 30-min tour was informative. It was interesting to view the Scandinavian architecture and to learn about the history of the home and the owner. The castle is located within scenic Emerald Bay State Park. Exploring this area alone can be a trip in itself. After the tour I recommend walking a short 0.3 miles along the Rubicon Trail to visit Eagle Falls. The day I visited there was a ton of water flowing down the falls. Be sure to also bring along bathing suits for some water fun along the lakeshore. If you're feeling adventurous you can kayak to a small nearby island called Fannette and explore mini-me castle ruins. read more

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This is a beutiful hike. The tour of the castle was really nice. The story of the castle makes it even more amazing. Staff was amazing. Tour guides are super knowledgeable. read more

Vikingsholm Mansion - The view of finet island from the castle - Museums Near Me - Tahoma, California

While I didn't do the tour of house, I count my visit down to Vikingsholm as one of the high points of my Tahoe adventures. There is a small lot at the top but it fills up rapidly on weekends. I parked on the street and ended up walking just a bit further-no big deal. At the top of the trail down to the Visitor's Center, there are amazing views of Emerald Bay and plenty of photo ops. Take the trail to the left and enjoy the scenery of the woods, surrounding peaks and views through the trees of the bay. Once at the bottom, there is great signage pointing the way to Lower Eagle Falls. Do not miss these falls this spring-they are breathtaking. I've added some photos to my review of the Eagle Falls trailhead. You could feel the air get cooler as you approach the falls with mist in the air-just pure magic. I went in to the Visitor Center, where tickets are sold to browse (didn't take the tour this time) and noticed they sold some snacks and water in addition to the souvenirs. The surrounding grounds were lovely and then open up to Emerald Bay. All in all, even without taking the tour, there is plenty to do and worth the 2 mile round trip. The ascent back up wasn't too bad, if you're in moderately good shape. Yes, it's a full mile straight up but it's not terribly steep and goes by quickly. Great way to spend the afternoon, especially if you tack it on to a trip to Eagle Lake. read more

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This is a must for any Tahoe visitor. PRO TIPS: From the parking lot, take a few minutes and climb up the giant granite boulders above you. You'll have spectacular views of both Eagle Falls, Emerald Bay and Fanette Island. You'll need good shoes with traction for the hike. Flip flops and high heels are a no no. Pack WATER and snacks. There is no restaurant at the bottom, and the only thing they sell are crackers and energy bars. You can't grab a burger and fries down there. Locals like to say the hike is one mile down, but three miles up. I have never heard so much whining from people about going uphill. Just take your time and go slow, rest in the shade, and drink a lot of water. The elevation gain is about 500 feet, but for people who are out of shape and not used to altitude, it can be a very difficult hike uphill. It can take people anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes to make it back up the parking lot. It's a small, but beautiful little castle in one of the most scenic spots in the world. It's not fancy and it's not huge, but the history and story behind its creation is fascinating. read more

This is yet another spot my parents would take us kids to for an easy 2 mile hike and picnic. The house was built by a woman who said the bay reminded her of the fjords of Norway. The small 16x 16' castle on Fanette Island was her tea house! The house has nice intricate celtic detail, the stable buildings have grass growing on the roof which is very Scandinavian( I am scandinavian) and when the house was being built she said do not cut down one tree to build this house. So as a result the trees are inside the property or part close to the walls. I like this area becasue there is a nice beach where lots of people come and tie up their boats and hang out all day because the Bay is calm and not so windy as the rest of the lake. There are GREAT trails that head through here like the Rubicon hiking trail and Bays Head. Up at the road you can park and hike uphipp 1 m ile to Eagle falls and Lake. This little lake is AMAZING, clear, and surrounded by cliffs. Just beautiful and romantic all in one. A great place to hike up to and take a book and picnic and chill all day. The best part about it, DOGS ALLOWED! All of Tahoe's hiking for the most part, dogs are allowed. But Vikingsholm is a must do, when you are in Tahoe as a tourist. read more

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This is a very interesting house and fun to learn the history. The tour is pretty short. It's only about 15 minutes and then you are turned loose for the remaining 10-15 minutes to explore the house. read more

This place was recommended to me but so incredibly hard to find even though it was right in front of my face. It was the end of winter. So much snow. Lots of people. A small parking lot too small to hold all the people trying to visit this breathtaking location. I heard bits and pieces but didn't look up the entire story though it sounds fascinating. It was a bit eerie to see by myself but I won't spook you out with details. Let's just say I took pictures and got out of there quickly. Next time will take people with! read more

Wow...this is just amazing. Emerald Bay is one of my favorite areas in Tahoe...what a gorgeous spot! The house was built with granite for the site...and no trees were harmed in the process! This is very rustic, and much smaller than your average "castle", but I loved all of the neat Scandinavian furnishings. The view from the bedrooms was just awesome. We had a parking problem, and did not go the "short route" so it was an all afternoon affair...what a fun girl trip! Do bring your own food, all that is available in the Visitor center is water, jerky and trail bars...which were very good, and stuck with us for the 1.7 mile hike back to the car! read more

We didn't take the tour but took the walk down. Whew! #1 Do it in the early morning, you'll find free parking on the road and it's cooler (Tahoe was warm this week). #2 Do NOT do this walk if you are not physically fit or close too, I saw a few people going down when we were coming up, I'm not sure how they were going to make it back up. It's one mile DOWN, then one mile UP UP UP! Don't take a kid that isn't going to make the walk or that you don't mind carrying back up the road, it's a steep one and there is no ride back up. #3 We started the Eagle Falls walk, but heard there wasn't much water so we didn't do, it's only 1/4 mile from the castle. The beach is nice, must be a popular place for locals who want to make the hike, we saw people going down with coolers, watermelons etc! The water around Emerald bay is a no wake zone, so it's calm, warm and quiet. You can get to the island by boat, kayak etc. you can't swim there! I'm sure the tour is neat, they run it in July/August only. We read a book in the cabin we stayed at about the history, quite interesting, read up on it before you go! read more

An absolutely stunning Scandinavian-style mansion nestled in the midst of towering trees, with a killer view of placid Emerald Bay and Fannette Island. The woman who made this place a reality had a truly romantic eye for detail. To visit the shuttered mansion near the shore in the late fall felt like entering another world- the leaves on many of the trees were turning into gold or yellow or ocher, and combined with the deep green of the pines and the earthy brown stone of the mansion, it was rather breathtaking. Like most reviewers have attested to, the hike down and the hike up are different experiences. You'll know exactly what physical shape you are in after you've completed either portion, but keep in mind that the destinations are totally worthy of the extra sweat! So here's the fun tip for finding parking at this place on the weekends- go a few hours before sunset, when most of the early-rising tourists are driving back to South Lake Tahoe to gamble away their savings into the evening. You'll find a prime parking spot, fewer people around, AND the visual thrill of seeing Fannette Island glow with the setting sun. read more

Vikingsholm Mansion - Museums Near Me - Tahoma, California

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Vikingsholm is cool to visit just because it's a neat part of history. It's a story of an old lady with money that had her son-in-law design a Scandinavian summer home for her. There's a parking lot. $10. Pay at the trailer or if no one is there, there's the honor envelope system where you put your money in the envelope and put it in a designated slot and display the tear away part of the envelope on your dashboard. It's a mile hike down the Vikingsholm trail. It's a gradual decline on a dirt path with lots of gravel and becomes a paved path towards the end. All I kept thinking about on the way down was how much it's going to suck going back up. So, it's nice that there are benches along the way to take a break at. There are restrooms near the visitor's center. The no electricity or running water type of restroom. You buy your tour tickets at the visitor's center and it also houses a walk through of history of the original owner and the making of Vikingsholm. (I went through and viewed it and it was pretty much the same info repeated back to me when I later went on the tour). $10 for adults. $8 for students. Kids? I don't know. Our tour guide was Gay. Nice lady. She gave her shpeal in the beginning of the tour and walked through some parts before we were able to walk around on our own in the main home and around the courtyard. Rooms are roped off but you can view them. I witnessed a woman lean a little too far past the rope and it set off an alarm. Gay and another guide was around if you had any questions about Vikingsholm. They give you insight as to what spending time there would be like. Tours are only available from Memorial weekend until the end of September. 7 days a week from 10:30am-4pm. While you're down there, you should rent a kayak and row over to Fannette Island where Mrs. Knight had a Tea House built. Only remnants of the Tea House is left but it's another thing to see while you're there. read more

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The mansion and visitor's center were closed since it was October. The walk down was easy - about a mile down. Then we walked to the Lower Eagle Falls - that was about a half mile. Up man made stairs, up through a nice trail. Don't think you can go through with strollers or someone who has problems walking. But I did see a Diva with Knee High leather boots on - should of taken a pic of that! hahah The Falls were gorgeous! I thought at any moment that a near was gonna come up and eat me! (I'm a City girl!) The hike back up was a bit of a pain for me - I get Altitude Sickness. It is a trek back up - all up hill back to the parking lot. But I kinda got my second wind when a this old couple was gaining up on us! haha But it totally took my breath away! But the views were fantistic and it was nice to go outdoors and be one with nature! There is a beach at the base where the vistior's center is and looks like a good place to chill out with the family! read more

Vikingsholm Mansion - Secondary Base of the Falls - Museums Near Me - Tahoma, California

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After 20+ years of traveling to Lake Tahoe, we finally braved the crowds and descended down into Emerald Bay State Park. One of the many activities we engaged in was to take one of the tours of Vikingsholm. At first, we weren't sure whether it was a good idea ... we had 3 children varying in age between 5 and 8. To our tremendous surprise, the tour guide was informative but succinct (the actual talking portion of the tour was just 15 minutes long). The remaining 15 minutes was made available to tour participants for self exploration ... and what a GEM this place is! A MUST SEE!! read more

Word of advice, if you want to save $10 in parking fees just park up the highway and spend those $10 on the Vikingsholm tour. It is definetly worth it to go back in time and learn some history. The tour is short, but you get to walk around and take pictures, and our guide, Nancy was awesome!! read more

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Although it's a mile hike down from the parking lot, entering Vikingsholm and learning about this historical spot is all worth it! Take the Nifty 50 Trolley there or drive there early to get good parking. Be sure to also check out Eagle's Fall while you're down in Emerald Bay. Also kayaking out to the Tea House is something you won't regret either! read more

Vikingsholm Mansion - Museums Near Me - Tahoma, California

LOVED this place! Definitely worth the $10 tour fee. Our tour guide, Gay, was friendly and interesting. Tip: Park up the highway a bit to avoid paying an additional $10 to park in the lot. read more

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Oh my. Visited this place on September 18th, 2013 at 12:30pm. Go early...parking is hard to come by. You have to drive around the lot a couple times till someone leaves. Take into consideration im not athletic but I do enjoy going for hikes to get out. It was a mile hike down a steep mountain, which was easy peasy nice and cool. I went on the tour, the guide was very knowledgeable about the house and the owner, very pleasant woman. We got to take the last 10min to walk around on our own and take pics! Awesome :) The hike up was extreme lol very steep and not for the faint of heart. Took us 30min. And I was huffin and puffin...but after it felt GREAT . I recommend this GORGEOUS place to couples, families, and athletic elderly. Have a blast!!!! And take lots of pics!!! read more

Such a fantastic bit of history in such a beautiful place! The hike down is a beautiful mile. The tour itself is short & informational and then self-guided. Once you are down there there are kayaks to rent and a beach to okay at with both sun and shade. Mind the hike back UP, though. Between the altitude change (for most visitors) and the steep(ish) incline, the trek back up might be hard for some people (and their hips lol, but not)... still totally worth it once recovered. Drink plenty of water! read more

Definitely a hike down and minimal parking but totally worth it! Beautiful house and splendid staff.

Vikingsholm is a beautiful and unique home. The walk towards the mansion was about 15 minutes downhill and we walked with a 9 and 6 year old. It was a very scenic walk with many tall trees. The house is gorgeous even though we weren't able to take the tour since we came during the off season. The walk back up was quite a bit uphill but very manageable, even my kids were able to do it. The downside of this place was that parking was a mess. There was no space at the parking lot and there were tons of cars parked on the side of the road with many pedestrians. We got lucky and just waited a few minutes in the parking lot for someone to leave. Another disappointment was that the only restroom was at the mansion and it was pretty terrible. read more

This was my second visit...the first was about 10+ years ago and I must say I enjoyed it even more as an adult. The tour is $5/p.p. and not too long...my 5-month old enjoyed it thoroughly as well. You can really tell how much effort has gone into the restoration and maintenance of this beautiful property. Sad to think that the Forestry Dept. was going to knock it down years ago...apparently 4 other buildings were destroyed before historians stepped-in. If only $250K would buy such a beautiful spot today! read more

We just had a fantastic day today which started with a nice hike to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay. We read the reviews first and were expecting a tough hike (we brought our two boys along (ages 5,3). The walk down was easy, got to the castle in about 20 mins (about a mile). The tour was OK - small castle with interesting history. The hike back up was a bit rough with the kids complaining and stopping every 2 mins. We ended up putting the 3 yr old in the Kelty and helping our 5 yr old up the trail. Tips: there's no food to buy here so make sure to bring a picnic lunch. Great picnic tables right on the beach next to the castle. Bring some swimwear to jump in the lake! Worth the hike and $16 for two adults. Our boys were free. If you have time on the way back- stop by the Truckee River Rafting Co located in Tahoe city. Rent a raft and float down with drinks and snacks- great way to finish the day. read more

People with lots of money do wacky shit. LIke build "Scandinavian Style" mansions on a lake. Now I've been to Scandinavia many times now and none of the houses or castles look like this. It's actually a weird Frankensteining of Scandinavian aesthetics combined with some Tahoe chic. Doesnt mean it's not still interesting however. Definitely hard to beat the views and the cove that it's hidden in. read more

One of my favorite places in Lake Tahoe to bring a picnic. It's a great hike down but pretty steep with a zig zag trail built to help. The house itself is an interesting tour and fairly inexpensive. There's many tables and benches to relax and enjoy the beautiful waters of emerald bay. The hike up can be tricky but again the trail zig zags and there are benches to stop and rest. There are no trash cans so you have to pack up your trash to take with you when you leave. Also, the parking lot and hwy parking fill up fast so be prepared to walk. read more

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Very disappointing. So for starters make sure you have plenty of water with you, and expect a steep hike down and up of a mile each way. Freaking brutal, yea Im lazy, I will never do this again. At the top, the parking lot, IF you can find parking it is $10. But do not count on this. You will most likely have to park about a mile away from the parking lot because most of the road is do not park zones. In the parking lot I asked the lady in the little building about the military discount for tour tickets and she said I have to go to the kiosk behind me and pay in the machine. I pushed every single button... nothing about tickets. I went back up to her and said it was for parking only. She gave me an odd look. I told her that online it said military get a couple dollars off on the mansion tours but the kiosk is parking only and I asked if they were even doing tours. She said we have to go down to the visitor center and buy tickets for the tours. We said ok and started walking down. Wow, brutal. Especially when we were walking back up, people with kids had to stop every few hundred feet since it was almost 100 out, yuck. There are a few mini waterfalls you can pour water over yourself. Anyways. We got to the bottom to see the place doors and windows all covered up and sign saying closed for the season until Sept 30th. We went over to the visitor center to get something to drink. Guess they had just stocked it because the gatorade wasn't cold. I asked her about the tours and she said that they were open and giving tours, but we missed the last one. So we walked over to the "Mansion" and saw some people getting a "tour". They paid full price for a so called tour, to be walked around the outside being told "That room in that window belongs to..." So they paid full price, not to go in but to be told who lived in what room. Ridiculous. read more

Just adding my compliments to a great set of reviews already. I love the hike down, and to walk along the beach. Great to imagine what it was like in its heyday. Took the tour of the home, and talked to the ranger in detail. She was a guest there often as a 5-8 year old, so her stories are amazing. Lovely setting, very serene, nice! There are other hikes also in this pristine forest. The hike to Eagle Lake is always one of my favorites. Take a picnic lunch, your best companion and head on up. Sitting on the rocks or meadow there looking at the magnificent granite peaks is breathtaking. Highly recommended. read more

I love Vikingsholm Castle. I imagine myself staying there over a long, cold, dark winter in total isolation with books, brandy and a nice warm fire to keep me company. Wouldn't that be something? On the practical side, I've mostly visited Vikingsholm Castle in the Winter, and have never had to pay for parking before. It was a bit of a shock when we arrived in August, to find that in addition to having to pay $8 per head to tour the castle, it was $10 to park the car. Ouch. Welcome to Kalifornia. I suppose I should be used to fees and taxes by now. Nonetheless, we enjoyed a great hike down (and up...prepare to sweat!). The castle tour was great, and the renovations they've done have the Castle looking pretty darned good. read more