Humboldt’s Hidden Gem…In 1926, San Francisco Hotel heiress, Margaret Stewart, commissioned renowned architect Julia Morgan to build this country estate called Redwood Grove. The Estate was part of the Benbow family’s planned 1,290-acre resort community.
Julia Morgan, best known for her work on Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA, is California’s first licensed female architect and designed more than 700 buildings in California during her life work. She was an early innovator in using reinforced concrete for structural design, which helped launch her successful career. The “Redwood Grove” is a stunning example of combined Craftsman & Tudor styles which embrace her trademark references to nature through details such as gabled roofs, elegant stonework, stately wooden beams, and smaller details showcasing birds, stag, rosettes, and leaves featured throughout the home.
Redwood Grove offers private historical tours of the grounds and residences by reservation only. Tours provide an intimate opportunity to walk about the Estate through the gardens and interiors of the historic buildings. Your tour guide will offer a brief history of the area and the Estate, some background information on the amazing Julia Morgan, and showcase the historical details of Julia’s architectural impact on the property as you traverse the grounds and stairs while embracing the magic.
The privately owned 3-acre Estate boasts a year-round cutting garden perfectly sculpted to host a celebration, whether it be a wedding, family reunion, company party, or fund-raising event. Limited lodging on the property is also available for honeymoons, anniversary celebrations, vacations, and short-term stays.
Where: Just 3 miles South of Garberville in Benbow. Parking is available at Benbow State Recreation Area and Day Park. A short walk over the stone bridge and along the gated road will lead you to the 2nd gate entrance for 255 Benbow Dam Rd, Garberville, CA 95542.
More info: www.juliamorganredwoodgrove.com, 707.272.8668
