Historic Lodges in California
Oldest hotels in California
West Coast & Sierra Nevada Mountains
While the well-known explorers Lewis and Clark were both freemasons and the first white men to walk across the continent; We are not interested in ‘Masonic Lodges’ of the West Coast. Nor any Worshipful Masters that came after.
The most interesting Historic Lodges of California are the ones located deep within nature, surrounded by grandeur and real wild beauty. The historic hotels in which we list have been accommodating guest for over 100 years.
Ideal locations, from rustic mountain cabins to impressive beach resorts, gold country inns to a desert oasis – this is Total Escape, California off the beaten path.
California Deserts
Amargosa Hotel
Amargosa Opera House
Death Valley Junction, CA
760-852-4441
Historic mining location; Mojave Desert, east of DVNP
The Inn at Furnace Creek
Inn at Death Valley
The Oasis at Death Valley
Furnace Creek, California
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley, CA
Palms and poolside resort with luxury, opened in 1927
Southern California Mountains
The Julian Hotel
Julian Gold Rush Hotel
2032 Main Street
Julian, California
800-734-5854
760-765-0201
East San Diego Mountains
Oldest continuously operating hotel in Southern California
California Cities
Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave
Coronado Island, CA
800-468-3533
619-435-6611
West of downtown San Diego
Wooden Victorian Beach Resort, facing the Pacific
Oldest lodge on the West Coast, established 1888
U.S. Grant Hotel
326 Broadway Avenue
San Diego, CA
800-237-5029
619-232-3121
Downtown, directly across from Horton Plaza
The Mission Inn
3649 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA
909-784-0300
The Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills, CA
Biltmore Hotel
The Biltmore
downtown Los Angeles
Chateau Marmont
8221 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323-656-1010
West Hollywood iconic, since 1927
The Fairmont Hotel
San Francisco, CA
The Queen Anne Hotel
1590 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-441-2828
A grand Victorian built in 1890
The Queen Mary
Historic Cruise Ship
Long Beach, California
Port of Los Angeles, busy harbor w/ seaside village
Sacramento Hostel
925 H Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-668-6632
Victorian in old town; built in 1885
Santa Cruz Hostel
321 Main Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-423-8304
Victorian cottages w/ gardens
Stanford Court
905 California Street, Nob Hill
San Francisco, CA 94108
866-576 5550
accommodating guests for over 100 years
Upham Hotel
1404 De La Vina Street
Santa Barbara, CA
805-962-0058
Victorian in downtown; built in 1871
Sierra Nevada Mountains
The Ahwahnee Hotel
Yosemite Valley, CA
559-252-4848
granite walls of Yosemite Valley
Bridgeport Inn
US Highway 395
Bridgeport, CA
760-932-7380
Eastern Sierra
built in 1877
Bucks Lake Lodge
16525 Bucks Lake Rd.
Bucks Lake, CA
530-283-2262
established in 1929
burnt down in 2010
rebuilt/reopened 2013
Camp Nelson Lodge
Camp Nelson, California
559-542-0904
Western Sierra Nevada
near Giant Sequoia National Monument
Cary House Hotel
300 Main Street
Placerville, CA 95667
530-622-4271
landmark 1857 hotel offering free breakfast
Clair Tappaan Lodge
19940 Donner Pass Road
Norden, CA
530-426-3632
Hostel on Donner Pass w/ PCT access
built in 1934 by the Sierra Club
Dardanelle Resort
Highway 108, Sonora Pass
209-965-4275
established in 1923
burnt down in 2018
working on rebuilding 2021
Elwell Lakes Lodge
6200 Gold Lake Forest Hwy
Gold Lake, CA
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
530-836-2347
lodge and cabins, built in 1920
Evergreen Lodge
Groveland, CA
800-935-6343
West of Yosemite National Park
Hwy 120 (CA SR 120)
88 cabins w/ historic mountain lodge,
built in the 1920s
Fern Creek Lodge
4628 Boulder Dr.
June Lake, CA
760-648-7722
800-621-9146
Georgetown Hotel & Saloon
6260 Main Street
Georgetown, CA
530-333-4428
in operation since 1856
Glacier Lodge
Big Pine Creek
Big Pine, CA
Eastern Sierra
lodge burnt down; cabins remain
Gold Lake Lodge
Gold Lake, CA
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
Granlibakken
725 Granlibakken Road
Tahoe City, CA
800-543-3221
530-583-4242
Tahoe ski resort, since 1927
Groveland Hotel
18767 Main Street
Groveland, CA
209-962-4000
Gateway to Yosemite; built in 1849
Imperial Hotel
14202 Old Highway 49
Amador City, CA 95601
209-267-9172
built in 1879
Kings Canyon Lodge
67751 East Kings Canyon Road
Kings Canyon National Park, CA
559-335-2405
built in 1937
destroyed in wildfire 2015
Kit Carson Lodge
32161 Kit Carson Road
Kit Carson, CA 95644
209-258-8500
Silver Lake @ Carson Pass Hwy 88
Lakeshore Resort
Huntington Lake, CA
West Sierra National Forest
established in 1922
Montecito Sequoia Lodge
63410 Generals Hwy
Sequoia Kings Canyon NP
Recreation Camp w/ small lake
877-282-1440
Murphys Historic Hotel
457 Main Street
Murphys, CA
800-532-7684
209-728-3444
Gold Rush Country
Historic National Hotel
Bed and Breakfast
18183 Main Street
Jamestown, CA
209-984-3446
800-894-3446
Gold Rush Country
since 1859
National Hotel & Restaurant
18183 Main Street
Jamestown, CA
209-984-3446
800-894-3446
Gold Rush Country
continuous operation, first built in 1859
The National Hotel
211 Broad Street
Nevada City, CA
530-265-4551
Oldest continuously operating hotel in California, built in 1852
Rainbow Lodge
at Royal Gorge
Interstate 80, west of Donner Pass
Sierra Nevada
Rankin Ranch
Working cattle ranch w/ cabins & meals
Caliente, California
661-867-2511
Kern Co. / Southern Sierra Nevada
stagecoach stop 1870
Saint Bernard Lodge
44801 Highway 36 East
Mill Creek, CA
530-736-6188
Lassen National Forest
built in the 1920’s
Silver City Resort
Mountain Cabins
Mineral King, CA
Southern Sequoia National Park
historic cabin community
Sonora Inn
160 S Washington St
Sonora, CA 95370
209-532-2400
Gold Rush Country
built in 1896
Strawberry Lodge
17510 US Highway 50
530-659-7200
Kyburz Pass
Eldorado National Forest
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
629 Sugar Bowl Rd
Norden, CA
530-426-9000
Donner Pass
opened in 1939
Tioga Pass Resort
Tioga Pass, Hwy 120 (CA SR 120)
East Yosemite National Park
Oldest resort in Inyo National Forest, established in 1914
(ongoing construction)
The Union Hotel
1915 Main Street
Quincy – La Porte Rd
La Porte, CA
530-675-2860
Plumas National Forest
established in 1855
Truckee Hotel
10007 Bridge St.
Truckee, CA
530-587-4444
Donner Pass
established 1873
Washington Hotel
15432 Washington Rd
Washington, CA
530-265-4364
W of Donner Pass
established 1857
Wawona Hotel
golfing on mountain meadows
Wawona, California
South Yosemite NP
Highway 41 (CA SR 41)
in operation since 1918
Northern California
Benbow Historic Inn
445 Lake Benbow Drive
Garberville, CA 95542
707-923-2124
Mendocino US 101
Blair House Inn
45110 Little Lake St
Mendocino, CA 95460
707-937-1800
1888 Victorian
Highland Dell Lodge
21050 River Boulevard
Monte Rio, CA 95462
707-865-2300
Russian River
Wooden Retreat w/ Restaurant, since 1906
Inn at Schoolhouse Creek
7051 North Highway 1
Little River, CA 95456
707-937-5525
Mendocino Coast
coastal farmhouse, built in 1862
Joshua Grindle Inn
44800 Little Lake Rd
Mendocino, CA
707-937-6022
1879 Victorian
Klamath River Lodge
34395 Highway 96
Orleans, CA 95556
707-499-0901
fishing lodge built in 1930’s
Tallman Hotel
9550 Main Street
Upper Lake, CA 95485
707-275-2244
Clear Lake
built in the 1870s
Village Inn at Childs Meadow
Village Inn at Highlands Ranch
41500 Highway 36E
Mill Creek, CA 96061
530-595-3383
Lassen National Forest
resort established 1864
original stagecoach stop
Fire Lookouts: 100 years
Many US Forest Service Fire Lookout Towers and Cabins inside California are considered historic, many being built prior to 1940. Most are closed during winter months and generally open April-December. Check with local ranger station to verify access and for reservations.
>>> find all California National Forest Cabin Rentals and Fire Lookouts
Crocker Guard Station
Plumas National Forest
constructed in 1912
Big Meadows Guard Station
Sequoia National Forest
constructed between 1933 – 1935
Forest Glen Guard Station
Shasta Trinity National Forest
built in 1914
Girard Ridge Lookout
Shasta Trinity National Forest
constructed in 1931
Harvey West Cabin
Eldorado National Forest
constructed in early 1930s
McCarthy Point Lookout
Lassen National Forest
constructed in 1936
Robbs Hut
Eldorado National Forest
constructed in 1933
Sly Guard Cabin
Eldorado National Forest
constructed in early 1940s
