See Press Release for Grapevine Pruning Project - March 2005

article from Press Democrat by Ted Appel, May 16, 2003

The lodge has a long and colorful history.

Located between Santa Rosa and Calistoga, the lodge was first built in 1871 by Judge Albert P. Overton near mineral warm springs along Mark West Creek.

Visitors traveled by stage coach to stay at the lodge and enjoy the therapeutic effects of the mineral springs. In 1898, travelers paid $3.75 for a round-trip stage ride from San Francisco. Lodging rates were $2 a day.

After World War II, the family-style resort evolved into a roadhouse. 'There was always talk of girls and rooms upstairs and gambling, but nothing was proven,' historic and Press Democrat columnist Gaye LeBaron wrote in 1979.

In 1963, Czech restaurateur Rene Pavel purchased the lodge and turned the Western-themed steakhouse inn into an elegant French restaurant. Over the next 25 years, Sonoma County residents flocked to the lodge to dine on sauted frog legs, sweetbreads and capon.

Fire destroyed the lodge in 1979 but Pavel reopened the restaurant three years later and presided over the establishment until his death in 1987. A succession of owners followed and the lodge closed intermittently.

Now that the restaurant is remodeled, Hoff and Martin hope to build lodging facilities on a five-acre parcel across the road.

The parcel could accommodate a five-bedroom B&B and several small cottages, Hoff said. The new owners are exploring plans to build a pedestrian bridge over mark West Springs Road and a wine cave underneath the roadway.

-- reprint from the book Here Comes the Guide (copy available online at www.herecomestheguide.com )

It's impossible to miss Mark West Lodge - an enormous grape arbor which spans the entire highway lets you know you've arrived. Planted over 150 years ago, these gnarled vines grow up through the lodge's deck and, according to Ripley's "Believe It or Not," are the largest in the world. Once an important stagecoach stop between San Francisco and the Northwest, the Lodge is now a special event venue, wine bar, and gourmet deli. Entirely remodeled in late 2002, it has a new look that gives it old-fashioned charm.

When you enter the slate foyer, you're welcomed by a river rock fireplace, fashioned from rocks brought up from nearby Mark West Creek. A wall the color of butterscotch frames this rustic hearth, making the entryway even more inviting. Stepping into the rest of the Lodge, you notice the wide-plank Douglas Fir floors, whose rich amber patina adds warmth to each room. And as you explore the facility, both inside and out, you'll realize just how well this place is designed for events.

In the Main Dining Room, light flows in from everywhere: through five stained-glass panels aglow in an alcove at one end; through a bank of almost floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens; and through two skylights overhead. At night, Arts & Crafts-style chandeliers and sconces provide soft illumination. With the exception of the alcove, painted a luscious York Harbor yellow, the room is a cream-colored tabula rasa. To add your own decoration, bring in flowers that pick up the colors in the stained glass, or hang favorite photos from picture hooks along the ceiling molding.

Two other rooms, similar in decor to the Main Dining Room and adjacent to it, are available for smaller receptions, rehearsal dinners or cocktails. You can serve a buffet in one of them, dance in the other, or open the sliding wood panel between them to create a larger space. From both rooms, you have direct access to the patio and lawn, generating an easy indoor-outdoor flow.

The Wine Bar area is also a prime spot for cocktails or dancing. Here, as in several other spaces, the use of an accent color is very effective: the end walls are painted a deep grape and inset with stained-glass windows. Color aside, the room's claim to fame is that it opens onto the landmark Grapevine Deck. This is perhaps the only place in the world where you can sip champagne among eight enormous and historic grapevines.

The Lodge's most popular area may be the back patio. Sheltered on three sides by the restaurant, it's idyllic for an afternoon or evening reception. The open side of the patio faces an 80-foot stretch of lawn, bordered by a creek and enclosed on both ends by towering redwood trees. The trio of redwoods on the left forms a gentle half-circle where ceremonies are held. Couples tie the knot on a small flagstone patio, against a backdrop of the creek, a moss-covered rock wall and a live oak grove. If desired, a beautiful hand-crafted moveable arbor can be covered with flowers or greenery and used as an arch. A second ceremony site is just over a little bridge onto the other side the creek. Here vows are exchanged on an expanse of lawn, with guests facing the rock-lined creek and an array of native plants and flowers. Perk alert: the bride has her own dressing area - with a private bath, vanities and room for six - right next to the patio, so all she has to do to make her entrance is step outside.

-- from the book Beautiful Weddings & Events: California Wine Country by Judith Rivers Moore.

"Ambiance. Historical 150 years old grape vines twine across the redwood deck. The main banquet room is complete with douglas fir floors and enjoys reflections of stained glass. There are ceremony locations with valley oaks in view where guests may enjoy the natural beauty of three redwood trees and a winding creek from the terrace. Everywhere, there is a photo opportunity. This is an enjoyable stop on your wine tour journeys between Napa and northern Santa Rosa's wine country."