Madrona Manor

Madrona Manor is a Victorian-era Wine Country bed and breakfast inn near Healdsburg, in Sonoma County, California, United States, featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Madrona Manor
Former namesMadrona Knoll Rancho
General information
TypeBed and breakfast
Architectural styleVictorian (Second Empire)[1]
Address1001 Westside Road
Town or citySonoma County, California, near Healdsburg
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38°36′17″N 122°53′07″W
Construction started1880
Completed1881
Renovated1905[1]
Cost$12,000[2]
ClientJohn A. Paxton
OwnerBill and Trudi Konrad
Technical details
Floor count3
Floor area8,400 sq ft (780 m2)
Design and construction
ArchitectLudwig and Guerne[1][3]
Website
www.madronamanor.com
Madrona Manor
Area7.92 acres (3.2 ha)[1]
NRHP reference No.87000573[4]
Added to NRHPApril 2, 1987
Restaurant information
Established1981
Head chefJesse Mallgren
Food typeCalifornia cuisine[5]
Rating (Michelin Guide)
ReservationsYes

History
The Carriage House

In 1879, John Alexander Paxton, a wealthy San Franciscan, bought 260 acres (105.2 ha) of land in the Dry Creek Valley area for $10,500.[1][2] He named this property, just west of Healdsburg, "Madrona Knoll Rancho"[6] as the word "Madrona" is the local term for an Arbutus species, notably the distinctive small tree Arbutus menziesii. In 1880–1881, he built a 17-room, three-story gabled mansion on the property, to which he commuted on weekends from his work in the city.[7]

Paxton died in 1888, leaving 1/4 of his estate to his sister-in-law Mary McClellan, 9/16 to his wife, Hannah McClellan Paxton, and 3/16 to his second son, Charles. He disinherited his eldest son, Blitz, due to disappointment. After Hannah died in 1902, the estate was neglected. Charles died in 1910, leaving Blitz to administer the property. He subdivided the land, and sold 218.32 acres (88.4 ha) along with the buildings to D. H. Botchford in 1918 for $17,500.[1]

In 1981, the property (then down to eight acres) was turned from a family residence into a country inn by new owner John Harry Muir.[8] The Manor was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 2 April 1987.[9] It is also a Sonoma County Historic Landmark.

Bill and Trudi Konrad purchased the Manor in 1999.[9]

In 2006 it was briefly reported that Francis Ford Coppola had purchased the mansion,[9] but a few weeks later the Konrads announced that they could not reach an agreement.[10]

Lodging

The inn has 23 guest rooms and suites,[9] some of which are in the Carriage House (also built in 1880) and private cottages.[11] The grounds are a popular location for weddings[12] and weekend getaways from San Francisco and Silicon Valley.[5][13]

Restaurant

Muir had used his children as chefs,[8][14] but in 1999 the Konrads brought in Jesse Mallgren to run their restaurant.[15] Since then, he has become one of the area's finest chefs,[16] culminating in the restaurant being awarded a Michelin star in 2008.[17]

Begun during Muir's ownership, and continuing to the present day, are the annual "Dickens Dinners."[16] The November and December dinners feature entertainment along with traditional holiday dishes made with local seasonal ingredients.[18]

References
  1. "National Register of Historic Places—Nomination Form". National Park Service. 2 April 1987. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  2. Dwyer, Jeff (2008). Ghost Hunters's Guide to California's Wine Country. Pelican Publishing Company. pp. 166–167. ISBN 978-1589806047.
  3. "Landmark Victorian Mansion". Madrona Manor. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  5. Misuraca, Karen (2010). Quick Escapes from San Francisco: The Best Weekend Getaways. Globe Pequot Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0762754045.
  6. Doppenberg, Jean Saylor (2005). Insiders' Guide to California's Wine Country (7 ed.). Globe Pequot Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0762736881.
  7. Bauer, Linda; Bauer, Steve (2008). Recipes from Historic California: A Restaurant Guide and Cookbook. Taylor Trade Publications. pp. 85–86. ISBN 978-1589793484.
  8. "John Harry Muir Obituary". The Press Democrat. 11 October 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  9. Mason, Clark (23 June 2006). "Coppola buys Madrona Manor". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. Fricker, Mary (17 August 2006). "Madrona Manor sale is shelved". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  11. Wright, Anne E. (2000). Best Places to Stay in California (6th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 500–501. ISBN 978-0618005321.
  12. Broadwell, Lynn (1991). Here Comes the Guide (2nd ed.). Hopscotch Press. p. 261. ISBN 978-0962515521.
  13. Meyers, Carole Terilliger (2009). Weekend Adventures in San Francisco and Northern California. Carousel Press. p. 247. ISBN 978-0917120213.
  14. "People: Winery and vineyard appointees". Wines & Vines. via HighBeam Research. 1 August 2001. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  15. "A Wine Country Restaurant: Jesse Mallgren, Executive Chef". Madrona Manor. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  16. Cox, Jeff (27 November 2009). "Dickens of a dinner". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  17. Harlib, Leslie (23 October 2007). "3 Marin restaurants bask in Michelin rating limelight". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  18. Peterson, Diane (10 December 2008). "Dine like Dickens". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
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