Historic Little River Inn

At Little River Inn, there has always been a special appreciation for family. After all, the Inn was built from the family home and five generations later, the same hospitality and warmth that greet visitors today echoes that of yesteryear.

History: The Finn, The Twin, and The Inn

Silas Coombs Sr. came to Little River in 1856. When he built his Victorian cottage for his new bride, he had no idea that he would be part of a five generation (and growing) legacy of friendship and hospitality that would become synonymous with the Mendocino Coast itself.

Neither did Ole Hervilla…

In the 1800’s, the Ft. Bragg area attracted many Finns. They enjoyed the rugged forests and rocky shoreline. Ole Hervilla’s family was just one of many. Ole Hervilla worked for five months on ‘The Skunk’ Train.  He also went into business with a friend to create the Windsor Hotel. Ole had high hopes for the Mendocino coast becoming a high class tourist destination. (He was smart).

READ ALL ABOUT THE WORLD FAMOUS SKUNK TRAIN HERE

The stories of Silas and Ole merged when Silas’ granddaughter Cora married Ole. (Cora was a twin). Together Cora and Ole established the Little River Inn. They transformed the Victorian parlor Silas built into a dining room and the conservatory to a bar where patrons could enjoy a cocktail and watch the whales. The Little River Inn was born!

The Famous Abalone of Mendocino

Abalone has always been a hallmark of dining at the Little River Inn. Ole ventured out weekly in his rowboat to collect abalone for his customers. This was a wee problem with the law since it wasn’t entirely on the up and up. It was all worked out eventually (Ole’s friends and customers were on the jury). You see, the Little River Inn and the family who ran it were and are great members of their local community.

These days abalone is still a staple on the menu but now it is farmed and 100% legal. (Still delicious and fairly local) You can collect abalone in the area during designated times of the year but since it is protected, if you are interested, best check into the current laws.

To give you an idea of how popular the abalone was, allow a side story. A group of California writers gathered at the inn frequently. They included Sinclair Lewis, Jack London, Mary Austin, and Gertrude Stein. This amazing and talented group sipped wine, dined on fresh abalone, talked literature, oh… and created The Abalone Song. (Oh yes, there is a fabulous song!)

Little River Inn Famous Patrons

The Little River Inn has hosted notables such as Jane Wyman and her then husband Ronald Reagan, Ted Danson as a substitute bartender for a benefit and more. Ole and Cora built a reputation of treating guests and employees as family so it’s not surprising to hear tales of when James Dean was filming East of Eden and tilted back in a dining room chair and put his feet up on the table, Ole gave him a lesson in manners telling him to get his feet of the table and behave like a gentleman. Julie Harris, another East of Eden star, happily pitched in as a waitress when one called in sick and Ole and Cora needed a little help. Patrons were delighted and surprised to find movie star waiting on them. The Little River Inn is special like that. 

Little River Inn Legacy

These days nieces, in laws, grandchildren, cousins and more are all part of the Little River Inn Legacy. The Inn boasts a golf course, a spa, and even a local yarn shop. The family serves almost as trustees of this unique place and it shows. Award winning dining and other modern amenities blend seamlessly with tried and true to give guests a unique and robust experience.

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Little River Inn Family Experiences

In the time of chain companies and social upheaval, The Little River Inn is a unique moment where you can reconnect to simple through family legacy and experiences. And create memorable moments of your own.

Stargazing Package

Our experience included their Stargazing Package. I cannot tell you how excited Sage was for this. When we checked in we were given our backpack full of adventure and she wasted no time getting into it. There was a map of current constellations, a flashlight, binoculars, a cozy warm blanket and a thermos full of hot chocolate! A-MAZ-ING!

The weather wasn’t super cooperative for us but that really didn’t stop us from enjoying the amenities. We saw what we could when the clouds parted and when the cloud cover was thick we still made good use of the binoculars looking out at the waves and the rocky coastline.

FIND OUT MORE ON THE STARGAZING PACKAGE HERE

Family Friendly Dining

The dining room at Little River Inn was everything we hoped for and more. It was so homey and warm, it truly was like being welcomed into a living room. We chatted with other guests at nearby tables. It was a throwback to a time when conversation was the norm and friends were made both with the waitstaff and fellow patrons.

A word on the food…we’ve never liked a ‘kid’ menu because we want Sage to experience more in life than grilled cheese and chicken fingers. We were so impressed with our meals both for supper and for breakfast! I HIGHLY recommend the butternut squash soup (Chef’s award winning recipe), the fish and chips, the beef, I mean, honestly, it was all brilliant. OH and the coffee… you know I’m a fiend and rarely do I find a restaurant coffee I enjoy. Well, remember when I mentioned Little River Inn was very community minded? They serve local coffee both as ‘coffee’ and as espresso drinks. One word. ‘Love’. Truly. I don’t even kid about this. Good coffee on vacation is a very serious matter. They nailed it.

Hiking and Beach Combing

Three beaches are all very near by. Big River Beach, Caspar Beach, and Van Damme State Beach. These beaches are rich with memories waiting to happen! We watched a seal frolic in the waves and admired abalone and other beautiful sea treasures.

Hiking can be found on The Fairy Trail, Jug Handle State Preserve, and Pygmy Forest. They all boast spectacular photo opps and beautiful simple quiet. Kids should run and play and these are great places to do just that.

The Skunk Train

Trains are just cool! Walt Disney knew it and so did Ole! The Skunk Train has it’s own rich history and stories to be shared. Since Ole got his start there, it’s a nice tie in for this particular travel experience with an extra little story for the kids. It’s a one hour peaceful ride through Fort Bragg and into the famed redwoods of California. We saw deer and other wildlife but mostly just drank in the beauty.

READ MORE ABOUT THE SKUNK TRAIN HERE

Dog Friendly Travel

Sometimes we travel with our certified service dog, Bailey. Little River Inn could not have been more accommodating to our four legged family member. Here’s the really cool part! You don’t need a certified service dog to stay with your pet at Little River Inn. They are SUPER dog friendly. Bailey was greeted with his own dog dishes, a blanket and towels s(ince the weather was a bit wet) and some treats just for him.

Bailey was so spoiled. He was so happy on the porch gazing out at the shores and bird watching. Little River Inn has grounds ideal for dog walking and has plenty of spots to help guests take care of doggy ‘business’. In addition Little River Inn boasts something we’d never seen before, DOGGY DINING! Separate from the main dining room is a small sitting room that houses one table suitable for a family and their pet! It’s private dining that allows guests to keep their furry friend with them at all times.

In Conclusion

In 1958 an elderly visitor came to Little River Inn from Maine. He was the son of the builder of the Inn, Silas Coombs’ good friend, George Philbrick.  The man’s name was Walter and he regaled Ole and others with stories of how George and Silas felled the redwoods and built the now Historic Little River Inn.

He remarked, “You have a wonderful place here, Ole, and you have preserved it well. My only regret is that I did not find it earlier, and made more frequent visits.” 

I concur.

Plan Your Visit

Ready for ocean views, cozy fireplace, jacuzzi bath, four star dining, and more? Yeah, me too. Little River Inn is a Coastal Classic and not to be missed.

Here are a few links to get you started but I also recommend you call. They have all kinds of unique experiences like Sleep With Crabs, Rustic Romance, Perfect Gift for Mom, and more revolving around seasons and holidays. A visit to Little River Inn is special and unique but they manage to find even more ways to make your stay even more meaningful.

Family Adventure package add-ons at Little River Inn

Stargazing package at Little River Inn

Little River Inn in general

Skunk Train’s Magical Christmas Train

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