Nick's Cove, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nick's Cove
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Resort
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 Nick's Cove
Location in California
Nick's Cove
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Marin County |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
Nick's Cove is a special place in Marin County, California. It's known for its restaurant and cozy cabins where people can stay. You can find it right on the northeast side of Tomales Bay. This spot is about 3.25 miles (5.2 km) south of a town called Tomales.
The area is very scenic. Hog Island sits in the middle of Tomales Bay. On the other side of the bay is the beautiful Point Reyes National Seashore. The name "Nick's Cove" comes from Nick Kojich. He opened a seafood restaurant here in 1931, and it's still a popular place today!
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Nick's Cove
Who Lived Here First?
Long ago, the land where Nick's Cove is now was home to the Coast Miwok people. They were the first to live and care for this beautiful area.
Early Land Ownership
In 1835, the Mexican government gave a large piece of land called Rancho Nicasio to the Miwok people. This land was huge, covering about 56,807 acres (230 km²). Later, in 1850, an American Army officer named Henry Halleck became the owner of most of this rancho. He later became a general during the Civil War.
Croatian Settlers and Fishermen
Around 1900, people from Croatia started moving to the area. Many settled near Marshall, California, which is just a few miles south of Nick's Cove. These Croatian immigrants were often fishermen. In the 1920s, brothers from Croatia, the Markoviches, fished in Tomales Bay near where Nick's Cove would be.
How Nick's Cove Began
By 1930, there was a small building at the cove. It was used to pack smoked herring, a type of fish. Nick Kojic arrived in the area in 1920. In 1931, he decided to open a seafood stand in that old herring smokehouse.
When Prohibition ended in 1933, it became legal to sell alcohol again. So, Nick opened a bar there too! He called his new business "Nick's Cove." Besides the restaurant and bar, he also rented out small cabins to people who wanted to visit and stay by the bay.
Over the years, different families owned the business. The bar even burned down in 1950, but it was quickly rebuilt. Nick's Cove eventually closed down in the early 1990s.
Nick's Cove Today: A New Beginning
Rebuilding and Modernizing
In 1999, a person who develops restaurants, Pat Kuleto, bought the property. He worked with a chef named Mark Franz. It took them eight years to completely rebuild and update the whole place. This big project cost about $14 million! They faced some challenges, like a stream flowing under the restaurant's kitchen. They also found special California red-legged frogs, which are a threatened species, on the land. They had to be very careful not to disturb them.
Opening and Challenges
Nick's Cove finally reopened in 2007. It had a large restaurant with 130 seats and 12 fancy cottages for guests. However, this was right when the Great Recession started. This was a time when the economy was very difficult. With $13 million in debt and a tough economy, the business struggled to make money.
Pat Kuleto told his investors that the project had been a "complete disaster" and that they had lost all their money. Kuleto himself lost $5 million.
New Owners and a Fire
In 2011, a company called Highway 1 Hospitality LLC bought the business. Nick's Cove is still open and welcoming visitors today!
Sadly, in 2024, the boat shack at the end of the long pier was destroyed by a fire.
