Northern California’s Tomales Bay, a long, narrow inlet located along the scenic West Marin coast, has long been known for its natural beauty and abundance of outdoor pursuits, vineyards, creameries, and oyster farms. The Lodge at Marconi, a historic fixture in the area for decades, is now open and welcoming guests after a multi-million-dollar renovation under the astute vision of Oliver Hospitality. The upscale, modern coastal retreat is located on 62 sprawling acres off Highway Route 1 within Marconi State Historic Park, offering guests immersive access to the region’s intoxicating woodland setting.
Inside the newly opened retreat, an artistic and lively reception lounge has an intimate lobby with a check-in desk that also serves as a coffee bar, serving drinks and pastries from establishments such as Route One in Tomales and Stellina Pronto in nearby Petaluma. The grab-and-go market features local provisions, such as beer, wine, and artisanal local fare. The interior design of New York-based Home Studios provides a residential environment with a camp-esque aesthetic, creating a unique layout of a collection of communal rooms rather than a formal hotel lobby. With cozy lounge seating and banquettes centered around a focal fireplace, guests are encouraged to use this space to work, relax, and connect.
For those looking to stay a while, the Lodge at Marconi’s 45 Accommodations offers a variety of comfortable rooms and suites. The room designs, also by Home Studios, are a master lesson in the Third Bay Tradition architectural style, with custom furniture, organic materials, and a saturated color scheme that serves as a natural connection to the rugged environment. on the beach outside. In-room amenities include plush linens, pillow-top mattresses, waffle bathrobes, plant-based Born Bathing bath products, workspace, and more. But there was no TV to be seen, a deliberate decision made in keeping with the lodge’s commitment to Marconi to provide a peaceful and restorative environment.
The central hub of the property is an outdoor courtyard with a gas fire pit for guests to gather and socialize. It, along with the landscaping throughout, was designed by landscape architect Anooshey Rahim, principal of Bay Area-based Dune Hai, who sought to honor the historic landscape and maintain much of the existing vegetation. The site also includes 3.5 miles of trails overlooking Tomales Bay and a meadow ideal for recreation and lawn games. There are eight versatile indoor and outdoor event spaces on site, including the reimagined Redwood Dining Hall, which features a mid-century cafeteria style that includes a spacious interior of indoor dining, a full bar, and a large wrap-around deck.
On top of the existing curated menu of local educational activities for guests to book, which include bioluminescence kayak tours, fungi ID hikes, wildlife field tracking, and oyster farm tours and tastings, the Lodge at Marconi will launch additional facilities as part of its next phases, including an elevated spa and wellness center.
The Lodge at Marconi is poised to anchor this amazingly unspoiled destination for generations to come.
