The Sea Ranch Lodge Is Now As Lovely As Its Surroundings

The Sea Ranch Lodge in Sonoma County, California, recently got a facelift. But instead of a brilliant renovation, designers and architects have returned the property to its former modern, minimalist glory.

Perched between Route 1 and the Pacific Ocean, the serene meadow that separates the two invites hikers or drivers to stop by for homemade cakes, a glass of champagne or a full dinner overlooking stunningly beautiful surroundings.

The 500,000-square-foot property with captivating views of the Pacific Ocean is located on 53 acres of stunning Northern California coastline in Sonoma County (about 100 miles north of San Francisco). The lodge was originally built in the 1960s as the cornerstone of the original Sea Ranch architects’ vision of a modern, earth-sync community.

But the inn was neglected for a while, so a team including local general contractor David Helmer, architectural design firm Mithun, landscape design studio TERREMOTO, and interior design firm Charles de Lisle took on the task of revitalizing the restaurant, café, gift shop, bar and lounge. The building also includes a charming post office with old school mailboxes, and serves as the post center for a 7,000-acre community of 2,200 private homes.

Restore the best of the past

A primary concern of the team during the two-year work was the original architects’ focus on simplicity, modernity, and sustainability.

Inside, low lighting and comfortable furniture create a colorful, formal, modern, and minimalist space that reflects the windswept energy of rocky bluffs and the modern attitude of Northern California.

General Manager Christina Jetton (formerly of Ventana Big Sur) – given the convenience of her surroundings despite preparations for dinner service being out of stock – gave me a tour of the beautiful place. She explained how each panel was removed from the building’s exterior and replaced with new ones – and how the same would eventually happen to the other building on the property, which contains the actual residence and is expected to be completed in 2022.

“We are excited to honor the vision of the original developer and the original group of architects including Al Boeke, Lawrence Halprin, and MLTW (Charles Moore, Donlyn Lyndon, William Turnbull, Richard Whitaker) – stewardship, respect, and sustainability for The Sea Ranch and create a gathering place for all of the Ranchers. sea,” Jetton said.

An art gallery in the 1960s

Fortunately, Donnelly’s brother Lyndon, Maynard Lyndon, and his wife Lou stopped by the Lyndon Design Gallery during my tour. The couple founded several small design-related businesses and products over the nearly 50 years together.

As a group, we admired 92-year-old American graphic artist and designer Barbara “Bobbie” Stauffacher Solomon’s “super graphics” displayed in the bar and lounge areas. I created the big red arrow drawing of the original building, and for renovation purposes, workers moved the painstakingly cut panel through the panel upstairs so that it could be admired on the main floor.

For the bar, located in the middle of the inn, she created a new ultra graphic, which brings a surge of energy to the serene natural environment.

As part of a rotating six-month art exhibition, architect Donlin Lyndon’s drawings will be on display through January 2022, with more in the spring.

The quiet and intimate space is perfect for a sip, a snack, drinks and seasonal small bites. There is a huge fireplace in the center of the lounge, where you can soon enjoy jazz nights, winemaker events and local lecture series.

Upscale rugged food

Executive Chef Eric Piacentine, formerly of Big Sur Bakery (his fiancée Julie Rossi is the restaurant’s manager), heads up the dining room. It is open for lunch and dinner, providing “solid and fine dining” on the table. Dishes include warm goat cheese with pistachios and prosciutto, and local honey and figs as a starter. Homemade pappardelle pasta with fodder mushrooms and Sonoma duck with wild rice, beets and cranberries, and for dessert: local apple grafenstein and sweet and savory cakes with assorted dipping sauces (a nod to Chef Beninstein’s family bakery roots). Also look out for local and international wines and classic cocktails with botanical touches.

“With the history of The Sea Ranch and its location at the westernmost point of Sonoma County, I have always been inspired by this seemingly untouched part of California where land and sea became one part,” Biasentine said.

The café is the perfect place to pop in after a stroll for freshly roasted Sea Ranch coffee, aromatic tea, smoothies and smoothies, and a quick and healthy breakfast. (I had a delicious raspberry cake that I still dream about.)

The General Store at the Lodge sells supplies and miscellaneous items, from outdoor essentials to souvenirs for visitors, with an emphasis on local and sustainable vendors, authors, and makers.

The lawn can now be reserved for events in 2022. The 500,000 square feet floor area can accommodate 200 guests, and the cost will be $20,000.

The 7,000-acre Sea Ranch community includes 2,200 private homes clustered in intervals that feature cypress trees, undeveloped land, sprawling lawns, rolling hills, redwood forests, Douglas fir, nature trails, and ocean views across 10 miles of Pacific coastal cliff.