Leta Benbow’s Guestroom Leta Benbow’s Guestroom: View of back terrace, stone bridge, tree tops. Gas fireplace, desk with outlet and vaulted ceilings. The room includes a luxuriously large bathroom with a soaking tub.

Jessie Benbow’s Guestroom Jessie Benbow’s Guestroom offers views of the back terrace, stone bridge, tree tops. Gas fireplace, desk with outlet and vaulted ceilings. The room includes a luxuriously large bathroom with a soaking tub.

Helen Benbow’s Suite Helen Benbow’s Suite overlooks the terrace and Pratt Mountain (direction of the golf course). Enjoy vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, and a desk with outlets. The suite includes a luxuriously large bathroom with a soaking tub.

Clara Benbow’s Suite A beautiful suite with vaulted ceilings, gas fire place, desk with outlet, and an oversized window faces the Rose Garden and Reed mountain. A second window overlooks the golf course. The suite includes a luxuriously large bathroom with a soaking tub.

Helen Benbow’s Suite Overlooks the terrace and Pratt Mountain (direction of the golf course). Enjoy vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, and a desk with outlets. The suite includes a luxuriously large bathroom with a soaking tub.

Burtis Benbow’s Suite Primary view to the west of the river and redwood grove, small window in bathroom toward oak tree. Double sinks in the bathroom, vintage copper soaking tub, vaulted ceilings, a desk with outlet, gas fireplace, and plenty of room in the oversized bathroom.

Arch Bridge The Benbow Historic Inn, a Garberville, California inn, is set amidst striking gardens in a relaxing setting along the Eel River. The rose garden features over 80 different varieties of this romantic flower, and the herb garden grows organic vegetables and herbs that are used in the restaurant. An old stone bridge arches over the water providing a serene backdrop for guests lounging on lawn chairs with a book or a glass of wine.

Eel River The Benbow Historic Inn, a Garberville, California inn, is set amidst striking gardens in a relaxing setting along the Eel River. The rose garden features over 80 different varieties of this romantic flower, and the herb garden grows organic vegetables and herbs that are used in the restaurant. An old stone bridge arches over the water providing a serene backdrop for guests lounging on lawn chairs with a book or a glass of wine.

Firepit No matter if looking for company, heat, conversation, or s'mores, the firepit at Benbow Inn keeps guests coming back.

Gardens The beautiful back lawn framed by the Benbow Bridge is the perfect backdrop for an elegant, classic outdoor lawn ceremony, while the patio terrace, located off the lounge, lobby, and dining room, provides ample room for a delightful reception or a quiet sun bathe.

Organic Garden Only the best locally grown produce, including items from the on-site garden, freshest local seafood, and choicest meats are brought to the kitchen of Benbow Inn. The Executive Chef guides the culinary team as they prepare each day’s selections. With seasonally rotating menus, the hotel features a blend of International flare and local farm-to-table freshness. The dinner menu is an eclectic variety of the best flavors, products, and styles from around the world. There is also a delicious dessert menu, with items including decadent cheesecake, pastries, and chocolates that are sure to please any palette.

Pool The pool, tub, and water park are a short walk from the Inn to the Benbow KOA. All guests staying at the Inn are welcome to use the outdoor pool.

Afternoon Tea Tea and scones are a complimentary service provided to hotel guests only from 3pm to 4pm in the upper Lobby.

Dining Terrace This perfect venue creates the backdrop for an unforgettable event. Whether a romantic wedding or inspiring corporate event, Benbow Historic Inn offers the finest combination of natural beauty and stylish settings.

The Lounge For a more casual elegance, the Lounge offers the same great menu and service in a “Gentlemen’s Club” atmosphere. Cuddle up in front of the fire in the leather loveseats or soak up the sun and redwoods on the front porch or patio. The talented team of mixologists has created wonderful cocktail menus of classic drinks, as well as local seasonal favorites.

Benbow Historic Inn Restaurant The Tudor style dining room with white table cloths and sparkling dinner ware is a glimpse into the simple elegance of the 1920s. With high ceilings, antique furniture, and a wall of windows to the patio gardens, the dining room provides a relaxing and upscale ambience. Service in the dining room reflects the meticulous training of the maitre d’. Gracious and unobtrusive, the dining-room staff help make each meal a memorable experience.

Benbow Historic Inn Restaurant Entree With seasonally rotating menus, the hotel features a blend of international flare and local farm-to-table freshness. The dinner menu is an eclectic variety of the best flavors, products, and styles from around the world. There is also a delicious dessert menu, with items including decadent cheesecake, pastries, and chocolates that are sure to please any palette.

Dining Terrace This perfect venue creates the backdrop for an unforgettable event. Whether a romantic wedding or inspiring corporate event, Benbow Historic Inn offers the finest combination of natural beauty and stylish settings.

Hotel Exterior Benbow Historic Inn, 2018 Historic Hotels of America Best Small Historic Inn/Hotel (Under 75 Guestrooms) winner, sits amid natural landscapes of the Northern California coastal region, where the indescribable beauty of Avenue of the Giants and world famous redwood groves are moments away. Opened to the public as Hotel Benbow in 1926, architect Albert Farr—designer of Jack London’s Wolf House—was commissioned by the Benbow family to construct a cornerstone property for the growing resort community. The hotel was an instant success and popular stop for motoring tourists along the newly completed Redwood Highway, including Hollywood luminaries Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy, and dignitaries Eleanor Roosevelt and President Herbert Hoover.

Benbow Inn Library Discover the original and historic rooms of the Benbow Inn, some of which include original doors with hand-painted designs by Eva Benbow. Originally designed by noted architect Albert Farr, this hotel opened to the public in July 1926.

Reception Desk Admire the Tudor Revival-style architecture present throughout the Benbow Inn. This historic hotel was one of the first hotels to accommodate travelers on the new Redwood Highway, and became known for its seclusion and elegant hospitality for both San Francisco travelers and the Hollywood elite.

Upper Lobby Benbow Historic Inn’s unique, enchanting atmosphere invites guests to relax, renew, and savor life’s pleasures. Surrounded by tree covered mountains and giant Redwood forests, its marvelous woodwork, stonework, and gardens make Benbow Inn the destination wedding spot or corporate retreat. When guests step in the Upper Lobby, they are taken back to the 1920s and 1930s, a step back in time. The Lobby is filled with old world grandeur and is a magical location for any reception. The use of the Upper Lobby requires a hotel buyout of its 65 guestrooms.

Historical Image Of Airplane The combination of seclusion and elegant hospitality also served as quite an attraction for the early Hollywood elite. Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, Alan Ladd, Charles Laughton, Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, Joan Fontaine, Basil Rathbone were all patrons of the Inn. Dignitaries such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover and Lord Halifax also enjoyed the Benbow hospitality. Guests enjoyed all the amenities of fine dining and luxurious rooms, along with the best of the great outdoors: riding stables, golf course, hiking trails, swimming, boating and fishing in the Eel river.

Historical Image Of Bridge And Canoe Over Eel River The Eel River is roughly 25 miles (40 km) long, meandering west to its confluence with the South Fork Eel at Benbow State Recreation Area.

Historical Image Of Car In Redwood Forrest Logging in the area became more corporatized at the start of the 20th century, with a generation of new “timber barons” controlling most of the operations. But as their companies matured and grew, the size of the ancient redwood forest diminished. After realizing that the forests near San Francisco had disappeared in a similar way, several members of the Boone and Crockett Club formed the Save the Redwoods League in 1918. Led by Henry Fairfield Osborn, Madison Grant, and John. C. Merriam, the group endeavored to save the remaining redwoods from further devastation. Many areas in southern Humboldt County soon became protected as reservations and other forms of public land, including the area that would become today’s Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

Historical Image Of Original Design For Exterior Benbow Inn has been one of the most popular destinations along California’s Redwood Highway for close to a century. Its history harkens back to the Benbow family, specifically nine brothers and sisters who had grown up in the surrounding environs of Humboldt County. The children of Arthur Benbow, those siblings were Joseph, Evangeline, Burtis, Clara, Helen, Jessie, Loleta, Walter and Robert. In 1924, the Benbows decided to purchase some 1,288 acres near the South Fork El River from Ernest Linser and a few other people. Together, they intended to develop a campground that their descendants could enjoy for generations. But as the neighboring Redwood Highway neared completion, the Benbows ultimately chose to erect a magnificent hotel close to the thoroughfare.

Historical Image Of Surrounding Countryside With Horses In 1924, the nine children of local landowner Arthur Benbow bought 1,288 acres from Ernest Lisner and a few other people. Hoping to develop the area into a family campground, the Benbows ultimately decided to construct a magnificent boutique hotel that would service the throngs of travelers heading north along the new Redwood Highway.

Historical Image Of River Bridge An example of a floating bridge crosses the Eel River near the Benbow Inn.

The Bellows Room With historic details and windows facing the beautiful southern view of Reed Mountain, this ideal venue provides a cozy and intimate space for receptions. Whether planning an Executive Conference or Social Engagement, the Bellows Room will impress all guests.

The Bellows Room With historic details and windows facing the beautiful southern view of Reed Mountain, this ideal venue provides a cozy and intimate space for receptions. Whether planning an Executive Conference or Social Engagement, the Bellows Room will impress all guests.

The Bellows Room With historic details and windows facing the beautiful southern view of Reed Mountain, this ideal venue provides a cozy and intimate space for receptions. Whether planning an Executive Conference or Social Engagement, the Bellows Room will impress all guests.