Brewery Gulch Inn Mendocino

Rising from the land on a windswept bluff-top overlooking the rugged Mendocino coast sits a remarkable cathedral of eco-salvaged redwood. Spectacular windows frame postcard views of the pines and the surf beyond.

Inside, the clean and contemporary Arts and Crafts style; the attention to detail; and the included meals incorporating locally-sourced, organic cuisine prepared by an accomplished executive chef wrap guests in a cocoon of comfort. Snuggle. Relax. Rekindle. This is the Brewery Gulch Inn.

THE HISTORY
Much of the wood used to rebuild San Francisco after the Great Earthquake of 1906 came from the North Coast. Lumber mills would be located at the base of most major rivers along the coast. The Big River, just north of the Inn, was no exception.

Most of the logging of the giant redwoods occurred during the summer months when the river current was not strong enough to float the logs to the mill. Along the Big River, remnants of 26 wooden dams can be found. Behind each dam was built a “log deck”.

As the log stack got higher, its weight pushed the lowest ones (called “sinker logs”) deeper into the river silt. When the winter rains would come, the dams would be dynamited and the logs released to float down to the mill. The “sinkers” were left behind. They remained at the bottom of the Big River for over 150 years.

In the last part of the 20th century, during an earthquake retrofitting project on the Big River bridge, these “sinker” logs were found deeply embedded in the silt. Perfectly preserved by the cold, mineral-rich ocean water, these 100-150 year old logs ranged up to 16’ in diameter.

Guiltless virgin redwood, 15,000 board feet of these logs were eco-salvaged from the mud and used as a major component in the 2001 construction of the present-day Brewery Gulch Inn. The effect of the mineralization of this redwood as it lay under the river is evident in the color variation of the paneling in the reception area.

The location of Brewery Gulch, part of the original 10 acre farmstead of Mendocino pioneer, Homer Barton, has spectacular views out over Smuggler’s Cove and borders 48,000 acres of unoccupied meadows and redwoods of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest. The inn can be seen on the left, and the original farmstead of Homer Barton can be seen on the right.

MEADOWVIEW SUITE
Relax in the comfort of Brewery Gulch’s most spacious accommodation. Coastal hues of warm grays and browns wrap your 560 square foot second floor suite (please note that our inn does not have an elevator) in a zen-like cocoon.

Relax by the fire with a good book in one of your leather club chairs and your favorite music on the en suite stereo, or curl up on the couch and watch a DVD from the inn’s large collection on your flat panel television.

This suite is perfect for families, friends’ getaways or small, private business meetings (please note that to reach the bathroom in this unit from the main room, you must first pass through the bedroom). The king bed in the bedroom can be reconfigured into two twins, just notify us at the time of booking.

OSPREY ROOM
On the southwest corner of the inn, step through your French doors onto a private balcony and take in the expansive ocean views, or slip into the two-person soaking tub of this 300 square foot corner room. With two leather club chairs and a romantic fireplace, this is a retreat you won’t want to leave.

MADRONE ROOM
Relax on the covered deck of this 300 square foot first-floor corner room and gaze out at a view of the cove framed by pines and fir. Snuggle with an alpaca throw in one of the comfortable leather club chairs in front of the fireplace and watch a DVD from the inn’s large collection. Soak in your two-person Jacuzzi tub before drifting off to sleep in the king-size feather bed.

PINE ROOM
The seafoam walls trimmed in white draw the ocean into this 240 square foot room and provide the perfect backdrop for a collection of framed black and white prints, a soft queen bed, and comfortable leather seating by the fireplace.

Relax in your large, two-person jetted tub and feel the stress of your daily life melt away. The large mirrored closet completes this offering. Please note that Pine is located across from our kitchen and guests may experience some sound transfer as our service staff begins preparing for breakfast around 7:00a.

HERON ROOM
Gaze out the French doors of this 240 square foot room, across your private balcony, to the whitecaps in Smuggler’s Cove. Relax with a good book by the fire in a comfortable leather chair. Restore your spirit.

SMUGGLERS COVE
Walls of sea grass and white accents surround you as you stretch out on your king feather bed, or send postcards to jealous friends from your writing desk.

The bedding in this 210 square foot retreat, that is located six steps above our second floor up a private stairway, can be reconfigured into twin feather beds (please notify us at the time of booking). If you are traveling with other friends or family members, our loft rooms have a connecting door between them.

DINING
Drawn primarily from local farmers and purveyors, morning and afternoon offerings for guests of the Inn are crafted to feature organically-grown fruits and vegetables; free-range poultry and livestock; and fresh-caught fish.

During mushroom season, local foragers bring their products by the kitchen door at the Inn providing us with the freshest mushrooms from the surrounding forests.

Breakfast at the Inn is a culinary experience not to be missed. Fresh pastries, whipped Belgian hot chocolate, artisan coffee, organic eggs, fresh-squeezed juices, and a wide variety of selections from the seasonally-changing, cooked-to-order breakfast menu are presented each morning.

Guests may choose to dine by the iconic fireplace in the Great Room with a view of the birds at our back deck feeder, or ensuite. And don’t forget to ask about the Inn’s most famous creation, their Millionaire’s Bacon.

Each evening, our executive chef prepares a selection of appetizers for our guests that is included with their stay. These selections are presented in room-specific Mendo Boxes crafted by local woodworker, John Myers, from the eco-salvaged redwood used to build the inn.

Guests will find any dietary restrictions addressed within. Many of our guests consider these appetizers enough for a light dinner.

FARM-TO-TABLE
Cuisine at the inn draws primarily from organic and locally-sourced products. In 2009, a heritage garden was planted in a garden plot provided to the inn by Ferrington Vineyards in the nearby Anderson Valley.

The bounty from this garden provides some of the seasonal fruits and vegetables used in the preparation of the acclaimed breakfasts and afternoon appetizers served to the guests. The coffee served at the inn is a special blend crafted by Thanksgiving Coffee, a local Mendocino roaster.

Coffee grounds and all organic kitchen matter, as well as used ashes from non-treated firewood is composted. All of the inn’s laundry products are scent and phosphate-free, and an in-house recycling program is in place to address non-recyclable and non-compostable waste.

THE GREAT ROOM
The heart and soul of Brewery Gulch, the enormous Great Room, is anchored by an iconic, four-sided glass and steel fireplace fabricated by a local shipbuilder. This gathering place is filled with light tumbling down from the central core’s three-story high skylight and flooding in from a bank of 13-foot high, redwood-trimmed French doors overlooking Smuggler’s Cove.

Guests can relax in a comfortable living room seating area with overstuffed furniture in the style of Gustav Stickley. Surrounding this area are tables of quarter-sawn oak where guests sample the chef’s creations.

A small library of books; an amazing 700+ DVD collection featuring classic, contemporary and foreign films; and an extensive selection of games can be found along the south wall of the Great Room.

A guest computer and printer with Internet access is located on a desk across from the reception desk. A large selection of coffees and teas, along with fresh pastries and fruit, can be found on the sidebar in the Great Room.

THE GROUNDS
The efficient drip irrigation system at the inn was installed by hand over a six month period with no machinery; tunneling was done under tree roots with a crowbar in order not to damage trees.

After fifteen years of planning and several years of permit work, the ponds that were envisioned as part of the property’s overall wetlands restoration were completed in 2005. The ponds are kept clean and are conducive to plant and animal life through a system of natural rock filters.

They require no chemical additives. The majority of the plantings surrounding the ponds are plants, grasses, shrubs and flowers native to this region. Throughout the grounds of the inn, no herbicides, pesticides or fungicides are used.

PRIVATE YOGA
Private yoga with local certified yoga instructor Sara Bassindale will help bring awareness to the natural rhythms of your body and nature through Meditation, Movement, Sound Vibration, and Breath. Sara uses techniques from Qi Gong, Tibetan Yoga, and Energy Medicine to activate, balance and nourish your entire body.

The style and flow of the class is adjusted to support each individual. She also incorporates the sweet sounds of Flutes, Chimes, Crystal and Tibetan bowls to help restore physical and emotional well-being. Accessible to all ages and experience levels.ls.

SHINSHIN
Originating in Japan, the practice of shinrin-yoku (or forest bathing) has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.

As a result, a robust body of scientific literature now exists on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Brewery Gulch Inn was among the first lodging properties in California to begin offering a Shinrin-yoku option to its guests.

Now, in partnership with local wellness experts, we have added Shinshin, an expanded, fully-integrated mind and body experience that incorporates our popular forest bathing with an herbal tea and health strategy session, as well as gentle, restorative yoga.

SOUND HEALING THERAPY
Sound Therapy is supportive of mental, emotional and physical well-being, helping to clear away blockages and synchronize your cells with a positive frequency.

A great way to reduce stress, anxiety, fatigue and experience deep relaxation while harmonizing your entire body. A 1-hour session incorporates some gentle breathing and laying down while listening to the sounds of Flutes, Drums, Gongs, Freenotes, Chimes, Tibetan & Crystal bowls.

ENVIRONMENT
From its inception, Brewery Gulch Inn was intended to be an environmentally-responsible steward of this amazing parcel of land. Our mission has been to create a restful retreat while enhancing and improving the existing ecosystem, increasing native habitat, encouraging bio-diversity, and regenerating the land.

The wood used in the construction of the Brewery Gulch Inn features 150-year old eco-salvaged, first growth virgin redwood timbers that were pulled from the mud and silt of Mendocino’s Big River. No salvage machinery, sandblasters, or other environmentally-damaging equipment were used to recover and mill these “sinker” logs.

Brewery Gulch Inn has been certified by the Green Hotels Association for our continuing efforts in protecting our environment. Our rooms have been painted and carpeted with low VOC products. The doors and windows are individually handcrafted and purpose-built to facilitate a natural air exchange, and gas-burning fireplaces are featured in the guest rooms.

Organic cotton towels, German low-flow showerheads and low flow toilets are found in our baths. In 2013, we converted 95% of the incandescent lighting throughout the Inn to state-of-the-art LED products.

Rooms: 10

Price: from 392 EUR per night

Source: www.brewerygulchinn.com