Until the end of September, visitors can enjoy tours of Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay. The first tour of the day starts at 10:00 A.M. and the last tour at starts at 4:00 P.M. All tours are guided tours and take approximately one-half hour. The tour fee is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for youths 6 to 17. Children under 6 are free. The maximum number of people on a tour is 30.

There is limited parking at the Vikingsholm parking lot, off highway 89 at Emerald Bay.  The charge for parking is $7.  The earlier in the day you arrive, the easier it will be to find parking.

To get to Vikingsholm, visitors take a relatively steep hike, that is approximately one mile each way, down to the Vikingsholm, itself.  (see hike video below)

Once you arrive at Vikingsholm, you'll find restrooms, picnic areas, firepits, additional hiking trails, camping and a beautiful Emerald Bay beach.  If you arrive by boat, there is a free pier for loading and unloading.  There is no docking at the pier. 

From the beach at Vikingsholm, you'll have a unique view of Fannette Island.  According to the State of California, Fannette is the only island to be found in all of Lake Tahoe. A sparsely timbered, brush covered upthrust of granite that rises 150 feet above the water, Fannette Island was not always known by that name. During the past 100 years it has been known as Coquette, Fannette, Baranoff, Dead Man's, Hermit's, and Emerald Isle. Fannette was the name that finally stuck.

Geologists know that Emerald Bay was gouged out by glaciers thousands of years ago. So why did Fannette Island remain? It is believed that the island is a resistant rib of granite rock which was overridden by the glacial ice.

The stone structure on top that looks like a miniature castle is the "Tea House" built at the direction of Mrs. Lora Knight during the same time that Vikingsholm was constructed, from 1928-29. After being transported to the island by motorboat, Mrs. Knight and her Vikingsholm guests would occasionally be served tea at the Fannette Island teahouse. A small fireplace in the corner and a large oak table and four oak chairs in the center of the 16 by 16 foot room gave it a very rustic appearance.