2025: A Big Year for Restoration at Vikingsholm Castle
In 2025, three major restoration projects were completed concurrently at Vikingsholm. Built in 1929, this iconic landmark has endured nearly a century of harsh Sierra winters and seismic activity. To safeguard its legacy for future generations, these restoration projects stabilized and preserved key elements of the National Register-listed property.
These projects included:
Turret masonry stabilization
Brick chimney repairs
Morning Room restoration
The turret stabilization included repairing the existing stone veneer, excavating and reinforcing the foundation with concrete-grade beams, and improving site grading and drainage.
On the chimneys, the exterior brick and cement plaster were patched to address cracks, while the chimneys underwent repairs, including brick restoration, repainting, and flashing replacement.
The Morning Room restoration addressed damage sustained after the 4.2-magnitude earthquake in the Lake Tahoe basin in May 2021. The most notable feature in the vaulted room is the intricately painted ceiling and walls, inspired by historic motifs from a 1928 trip to Scandinavia. The earthquake caused significant shifting, leading to cracks in the masonry and plaster. The restoration included reinforcement of masonry blocks, repairs to cracked and missing plaster, and the restoration of the original paint motifs.
"The Sierra State Parks Foundation has spent countless hours and dollars on restoration and preservation projects and plans at Vikingsholm over the years, and we are extremely excited that these critical projects were completed this summer. Vikingsholm is one of the finest gems of California State Parks and Lake Tahoe, and these projects were vital to ensure its long-term stability,” states Michael Myers, Executive Director of the Sierra State Parks Foundation.
The California State Parks Deferred Maintenance Program and Proposition 68 (Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018) provided the funding for these critical repairs and restoration efforts. The Sierra State Parks Foundation has played an ongoing and critical role in the preservation and restoration of Vikingsholm over the years by commissioning studies and reports and providing funding for restoration and preservation projects, and providing funding and support for State Parks curatorial and restoration staff.
Sierra State Parks Foundation continued to operate interpretive tours during the ongoing restoration work in 2025, and tours will resume in May 2026, starting Memorial Day weekend and operating until September 30. For up-to-date tour information, visit the Sierra State Parks Foundation page for Vikingsholm.
While it was important that these projects were completed, there are a variety of ongoing restoration and maintenance needs at Vikingsholm. The Sierra State Parks Foundation continues to work with California State Parks to identify these projects and sources of funding to complete them. Additionally, Sierra State Parks Foundation created a permanent endowment for Vikingsholm, as we look forward to the perpetual needs of this unique resource. Donations to the endowment can be made here.
