Old Crocker Inn

"California Heritage Council Honors Old Crocker Inn for Restoration [Press Release]

(PRWEB) July 3, 2005 – The California Heritage Council has recognized Old Crocker Inn, Cloverdale [Sonoma County, California], for the renovation and preservation of the historic Crocker summer home in the hillsides above the Alexander Valley vineyards.

The award was presented at a dinner June 23 in San Francisco.

The Old Crocker Inn began as the family hunting grounds of Charles Crocker, founder of the Central Pacific Railroad and one of California's "Big Four." The grand Crocker lodge, built in 1906, has served over the years as hunting lodge, dude ranch, private home, and restaurant, but fell into significant disrepair in recent times. Fully restored, the lodge now serves as the centerpiece of a 5-acre bed & breakfast retreat.

The California Heritage Council was founded in 1959 and works to save places and buildings which have given quality and distinction to the cultural life of California. It honored six projects this year. Previous award recipients include San Francisco City Hall, Stanford University's Bing Wing of the Green Library, the Petaluma Historical Museum and Library, and the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

Michel & Susan Degive purchased the Crocker property in 2003 and continued the restoration that had begun 2 years earlier. They opened the Inn with 3 guestrooms in March of 2004, and then continued restoration through that year with 8 rooms now complete. Michel and Susan are also researching and documenting the history of the property and especially hope to discover photos of the old "covered-wagon " bar that was destroyed in 1960.

Care was taken to preserve the home in as close to its original condition as possible. The 5,000 square-foot main lodge includes a lobby with the original natural rock-faced fireplace, a large dining room restored to it's restaurant heydays, and guest rooms decorated to pay tribute to Charles Crocker's cronies: Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Collis Huntington.

About Old Crocker Inn
The Old Crocker Inn is a bed & breakfast inn located in the Alexander Wine Valley of Sonoma County California. Michel & Susan Degive, owners and innkeepers, graciously invite guests to recapture the warmth of the past in the comfortable luxury of the Old Crocker Inn. For more information, please visit the website.

Distribution Source: PRWeb
Date: Sunday, July 03, 2005"

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