Jenner Inn

A historic collection of redwood cottages and riverfront suites built around a 1940s lodge where the Russian River meets the Pacific.

Jenner Inn occupies a historic four-acre plot where the Russian River estuary meets the Pacific tides, operating on a site with roots stretching back to the turn of the twentieth century. The property began as a lumber mill established by A.B. Davis in 1904, which supplied redwood to help rebuild Santa Rosa and San Francisco after the devastating 1906 earthquake. Following Davis's death in 1914, the mill closed, and the surrounding hamlet of Jenner-by-the-Sea slowly grew around the site. Seven of the original mill worker cabins and early village dwellings were eventually acquired and restored, forming the core of the inn. In 1948, after a fire destroyed the original hotel and post office, Swedish boat builders constructed a new redwood main lodge featuring distinctive galleon windows, wheel-beamed ceilings, and solid oak floors. This landmark building serves as the central hub and parlor for the property today.

The inn's evolution continued under Richard Murphy, who purchased the property in 1979 and spent decades assembling and restoring the historic cabins. In 2016, the Coyne family, known for restoring Sacramento's historic Delta King riverboat, took ownership and launched a comprehensive renovation of the accommodations. Today, the inn features 21 individually decorated guest rooms, suites, and cottages spread across nine distinct buildings. Each lodging has its own character: the Tree House is a rebuilt mill cabin with elevated views of the river, while the Mill Cottage is believed to have been the original home of the lumber mill manager. In the Jenner House, the largest building on the property, guests can book the Captain Will suite, a spacious upstairs retreat with a fireplace and private deck. Other unique options include the Waterfall Cottage, which sits near a seasonal waterfall and features a full kitchen, and the Monte Rio Suite, adorned with stained glass windows and a deep whirlpool tub.

Communal spaces at the inn are designed to foster quiet contemplation of the coastal environment. The main lodge parlor offers a cozy stone fireplace, while the surrounding grounds feature unpaved pathways winding through native ferns, wild blackberries, and manicured gardens. While modern updates like complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi have been introduced to the rooms, the property retains its peaceful, unplugged atmosphere, with many rooms intentionally lacking televisions to keep the focus on the natural soundscape. From the private decks of the riverfront suites, guests can look out over the water to Penny Island, watching the fog roll in over the headlands or spotting the local colony of harbor seals resting on the gravel bar at the river mouth.

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