Timber Cove Resort

A classic 1960s A-frame lodge perched on a wild Sonoma Coast bluff, featuring mid-century interiors and Benny Bufano's landmark peace sculpture.

Timber Cove Resort has anchored its 25-acre coastal bluff since 1963, when architect and original owner Richard Clements Junior designed the structure as a place of meditation and artistic retreat. Inspired by the organic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, Clements constructed a dramatic A-frame lodge utilizing massive redwood timbers and local stone to seamlessly integrate the building with the rugged Sonoma Coast. The property was a frequent sanctuary for legendary photographer Ansel Adams, a close friend of Clements, who spent hours on the bluffs capturing the interplay of fog and ocean. Rising 93 feet above the cliffs at Ninive Point is the resort's defining landmark, Benny Bufano's 'The Expanding Universe' sculpture. Also known as the Bufano Peace Statue Monument, this towering mosaic-clad obelisk was commissioned by Clements to serve as a beacon of tranquility visible for miles along the coastline.

A comprehensive mid-century modern renovation led by designers Robert and Cortney Novogratz alongside Gensler Architects breathed new life into the 46 guest rooms and common spaces. The redesign successfully preserved the original rustic-modern bones, maintaining the great room's soaring beamed ceilings and monumental stone fireplace while introducing playful, retro-chic elements. Guests will find custom mid-century sideboards, retro Smeg refrigerators, and personal record players paired with a curated vinyl library in the lobby. The rooms, which include eight premium suites, feature warm wood paneling, sliding barn doors, and private balconies that look directly out to the ocean or the surrounding pine forest. The Great Room acts as the social heart of the lodge, where deep leather chairs and a chevron-striped wood bar encourage travelers to trade stories over board games and local Pinot Noir.

Dining at the resort centers around Coast Kitchen, an on-site restaurant that pairs expansive Pacific views with a seasonal, organic menu sourced from Sonoma County purveyors. The culinary program highlights coastal ingredients with dishes like halibut crudo in citrus broth, tender octopus, and locally caught seafood. For intimate gatherings, the private dining room, Coast Commune, features a twelve-foot table handcrafted by a local artisan from a single salvaged redwood trunk. Outside, the resort's outdoor living room provides a casual space for fireside drinks, billiards, and ping-pong against the backdrop of crashing waves. Beyond the immediate grounds, trails wind through the cliffside meadows where harbor seals can often be spotted in the rocky coves below, completing a sensory experience that honors Clements' original vision of coastal harmony.

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