High Roller Tiki Lounge served its last Zombie Viking cocktail this month, closing its doors on Alisal Road in Solvang after nearly 20 years of pouring wine-based tropical drinks to locals and tourists alike. Owner Michael Cobb announced the closing on Monday, November 9, pointing to a mix of economic pressures that finally caught up with the longtime bar.
According to KTLA, Cobb cited the current economy, inconsistent visitation to the area, high gas prices and an unsuitable lease renewal as the reasons behind the closure. Cobb, who owned the lounge, is now determining his next professional move and has left Solvang for good, per the same report. He has also established a GoFundMe campaign to help fund the next phase of his life and is accepting donations through Venmo at @michaelcobb33.
The lounge had built a reputation in the Santa Ynez Valley for doing tiki differently. Unlike the rum-heavy drinks typically associated with tiki bars, High Roller built its entire menu around wine, as Noozhawk reported, noting that all the cocktails on the menu were wine-based. The bar also offered later hours and consistent live music in Solvang, and according to a statement on the lounge's wine club page, it had provided free live music for more than 17 years.
A Winery That Became A Wine Bar
High Roller's roots trace back to a move in 2020, when the business relocated from its Copenhagen Drive location to Alisal Road. As the Santa Maria Sun described it, with the move from Copenhagen to Alisal, the winery became a wine bar. That transformation set the stage for the tiki-themed concept that regulars came to know.
On the lounge's Vinoshipper page, the business said it was ending its “The List” and “Bettie Page” wine clubs after more than 19 years of providing unique and delicious wine to its members. The page attributed the decision partly to broader economic conditions, stating that wine, and alcohol consumption in general, are down globally and the economy is weak to say the least. The same posting said the business would continue to operate as a bar and would sell its remaining wine inventory online, though it's unclear how that timing lines up with the reported closure. Whether High Roller will reopen in some form remains unknown, though its website is expected to stay active for merchandise and wine sales.
Solvang's Tourism Numbers Tell A Mixed Story
The closure comes as Solvang grapples with a modest dip in visitors even as tax revenue from tourism has held up. City data presented at a summit and reported by the Santa Maria Times showed annual visitation declined modestly from about 5.3 million visitors in 2022 to roughly 5.0 million in 2025. Despite that drop, transient occupancy tax revenue rose from approximately $6.25 million to more than $8 million over that same stretch before settling at about $7.3 million in the current fiscal year, the outlet reported. January and February remain the slowest months for tourism in town, with spring and fall events helping smooth out the seasonal swings.
Solvang, often described as the Danish Capital of America, was founded by Danish immigrants in 1911 and sits in Santa Barbara County, about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The town has also drawn celebrity attention over the years; Dolly Parton once owned a 2,500-square-foot retreat there. It's the kind of tourist draw that has kept small businesses like High Roller afloat for years, even as margins tighten.
Other Local Bars Leaning Into The Trend
High Roller isn't the only business in the area riding — or in this case, exiting — the tiki wave. Just down the road in Santa Ynez, Pony Cocktails + Kitchen introduced tiki Thursdays in June, according to the Santa Maria Sun, encouraging guests to wear Hawaiian shirts and offering $12 happy-hour tiki cocktails all night. The timing underscores how the tiki trend remains alive in the Santa Ynez Valley even as one of its pioneering spots calls it quits.
Not every local business born out of economic hardship has folded, either. Sort This Out Cellars, another area business, began operations during the 2007-08 recession and has continued on since. For now, High Roller's story ends with its last cocktail poured and its owner weighing what comes next, leaving longtime patrons to wonder if the wine-soaked tiki bar will ever pour another Zombie Viking in Solvang.
