Emerald Bay State Park

Facilities and Activities

Vikingsholm
Vikingsholm is noted for its outstanding architecture and scenic location. It represents an era of gracious living. Days at Vikingsholm were not filled with one thrilling event following another. Instead, each day blended into the next in the relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. Mrs. Knight arrived each summer in mid June and stayed until the middle of September. She usually had a staff of approximately 15. A caretaker and his family lived on the property all year around. Four or five yardmen were hired locally each season to care for the grounds. The rest of the staff came from Mrs. Knight's winter home in Santa Barbara and consisted of her private secretary, personal maid, cook, assistant cook, pantry maid, serving maid, upstairs maid, chauffeur, assistant chauffeur, and laundry women. Mrs. Knight enjoyed entertaining and had a number of guests visiting during the summer months. At times, ten to twelve guests would be staying at Vikingsholm.

During the day guests enjoyed swimming, hiking, horseback riding, or trips around the lake by car or by boat, planned by Mrs. Knight. Gracious hospitality was continuously extended to guests. An example of such hospitality was the care of guests' automobiles. They were washed, serviced, and filled with gas shortly after arrival. If a guest drove his car on a trip around the lake anytime during his visit, even it is was only for a distance of 10 to 15 miles, the car was immediately washed and filled with gas upon its return.

We invite you to tour Vikingsholm. You may purchase tickets at the Vikingsholm visitor center. Tours begin at the front door of the mansion.

The Underwater Park
Emerald Bay was designated an underwater state park in 1994. It is the final resting place for many boats, launches and barges used on the lake. These date from before the turn of the century, during the heyday of Emerald Bay Resort and the time of the construction of Vikingsholm (1929).

Fannette Island, a sparsely timbered, brush covered upthrust of granite rising 150 feet above the water, and its small tea house (built in the same era as Vikingsholm) look much as they did in the early 1930s, when Mrs. Knight and her guests would be transported to the island by motorboat for a tea party. 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 the tea house a very rustic appearance.