Madrona Manor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Madrona Manor |
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| Former names | Madrona Knoll Rancho |
| General information | |
| Type | Bed and breakfast |
| Architectural style | Victorian (Second Empire) |
| Address | 1001 Westside Road |
| Town or city | Sonoma County, California, near Healdsburg |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 38°36′17″N 122°53′07″W / 38.60472°N 122.88528°W |
| Construction started | 1880 |
| Completed | 1881 |
| Renovated | 1905 |
| Cost | $12,000 |
| Client | John A. Paxton |
| Owner | Bill and Trudi Konrad |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Floor area | 8,400 sq ft (780 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ludwig and Guerne |
Madrona Manor is a beautiful old Victorian house in Sonoma County, California, near Healdsburg. It's now a cozy bed and breakfast inn with a fancy restaurant. The restaurant is so good, it even has a special award called a Michelin star!
History of Madrona Manor
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In 1879, a rich man from San Francisco named John Alexander Paxton bought a large piece of land. It was about 260 acres (105.2 ha) big and cost him $10,500. He called his new property "Madrona Knoll Rancho." The name "Madrona" comes from a local tree called the Pacific madrone.
In 1880 and 1881, Mr. Paxton built a huge house on the land. It had 17 rooms and three stories. He would travel from San Francisco to his new home on the weekends.
Mr. Paxton passed away in 1888. His wife, Hannah, and some other family members inherited his property. After Hannah died in 1902, the estate was not well cared for. Later, in 1918, a man named D. H. Botchford bought most of the land and the buildings for $17,500.
In 1981, a new owner named John Harry Muir bought the property. It was much smaller by then, only about eight acres. He decided to turn the family home into a country inn. The Manor was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it's a very important historical building. It's also a special landmark in Sonoma County.
Bill and Trudi Konrad bought Madrona Manor in 1999. In 2006, there was a rumor that famous movie director Francis Ford Coppola might buy it. But the Konrads and Mr. Coppola couldn't agree, so the Konrads kept the Manor.
Staying at the Inn
Madrona Manor has 23 guest rooms and suites where people can stay. Some of these rooms are in the main house. Others are in the Carriage House, which was also built in 1880. There are also private cottages. The beautiful grounds are a popular spot for weddings. Many people from San Francisco and Silicon Valley come here for weekend trips.
The Restaurant
When the Konrads bought Madrona Manor in 1999, they hired a chef named Jesse Mallgren. He quickly became one of the best chefs in the area. In 2008, his restaurant at Madrona Manor earned a special award. It received a Michelin star, which is a very high honor for restaurants.
The inn also hosts special "Dickens Dinners" every year. These dinners happen in November and December. They include fun entertainment and traditional holiday foods. All the dishes are made with fresh ingredients from local farms.
