Howard Creek Ranch Inn

Welcome to Howard Creek Ranch Inn. We are delighted to welcome you as our guest, and wish you an enjoyable and memorable stay. Whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, our staff is prepared to serve you with the highest degree of professionalism and hospitality.

In this directory you will find detailed information about our Inn’s amenities and guest services.

This directory also includes valuable information about nearby points of interest and exciting things to do, and the fine offerings of our local businesses.

Thank you for staying at Howard Creek Ranch Inn. We look forward to welcoming you back!

Sincerely yours,

Your Innkeepers,
Charles (Sonny) & Sally Grigg

• HOWARD CREEK RANCH INN •
40501 North Highway 1
Westport, CA 95488
707-964-6725

ADA Accommodation

Howard Creek Ranch Inn is committed to providing accessible facilities for guests with disabilities. If you encounter barriers during your stay, please contact Sally. We will happily store any medication that needs to be refrigerated.

ATMs & Banks

Fort Bragg has the closest ATMs and Banks, which is about 18 miles from the Ranch.

ATM Network, Inc. (ATM)
321 N Franklin St, Fort Bragg, CA

Chase Bank
120 E Alder St, Fort Bragg, CA
707-961-4444

Wells Fargo Bank (ATM)
660 S Main St, Fort Bragg, CA
707-961-0275

Bank of America (ATM)
Hwy 20 & Hwy 1, Fort Bragg, CA
800-622-8731

Community First Credit Union
120 N Franklin St, Fort Bragg, CA
707-962-0232

Beach Access

The beach is just a short walk from our property.

Cell Service

Your cell phone will probably not work in the valley, but should connect on the bluffs.

Check-In/Check-Out

Check-in time is 2:00pm or later. If you would like to arrive in the evening, please call and let us know. It is not a problem, but we do need to know. Check-out time is 11:00am. In the event of a late check-out, please make arrangements with Sally in advance.

Complimentary Coffee

Complimentary coffee is available in most guest rooms.

Complimentary Hot Breakfast

Please join us for a hot breakfast every morning at 9:00am. Selections change daily and may include juice, tea, coffee, milk, fruit, bread, muffins, bagels cereal, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, pancakes and waffles. We are happy to cater for vegetarian, vegan, low fat and celiac diets. Please let us know prior to your stay if you have any special dietary requirements or allergies.

Credit Cards

For your convenience we accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover credit cards.

Emergencies

In case of a police, fire or ambulance emergency, dial 911. Both Innkeepers have also been trained in first aid.

Forget Something?

If we have them, we will give or lend you other items you may have forgotten or left behind.

Front Desk

You may contact the Sally by dialing 707-964-6725. There is a phone located by the front door and on the coffee table in the Farmhouse Living Room.

Hiking

There is excellent hiking on-site and nearby. Of course, there is the beach right here and three miles of bluff just west of the ranch. Take the path off the South Driveway. Explore the on-site mountains or just walk around the 60-acre farm.

We have added a hiking trail. The trail goes up the hill and through the redwoods in a loop with stunning mountain and ocean views. Walk in complete privacy. Walk to the South Entrance, go up the mountain, take the first right, then just follow the trail.

Among the animals seen on the property have been bobcat, deer, fox, elk, mountain lion, whales, seals, sea lions, elephant seals, numerous birds, otter, coyote, porcupine, weasel and bear.

There is a 60 mile long wilderness that begins a couple of miles north of us. Access to the Sinkyone Wilderness (The Lost Coast) is north 10.39 miles, left at MILE POST 90.88 onto a 6 mile dirt road to Usal Beach, where there are trailheads. The journey is nothing short of spectacular.

Only a few miles north of us is the beautiful Redwood Forest. Stroll through
old-growth redwoods by a stream. Go north, follow Highway One inland 5 miles, look for a sign on the left – Mendocino Redwood Picnic Grove.

East of the ranch are 7,500 acres of Nature Conservancy. The combination of trees, the Eel River and complete privacy is very sweet. Go south one mile to Branscomb Road, east 9.1-ish miles to Wilderness Road, turn left, go four more miles, and the road ends in the Conservancy. Hike through the Redwoods or swim in the Eel River. Dogs are not allowed.

Take water and food to all places. We have hiking books at the ranch. There are also many other excellent hiking spots on the Mendocino Coast and we will be happy to help you find your personal preference.

Hot Tubs

Some rooms have hot tubs and there is a jacuzzi tub in the Carriage House.

Housekeeping

We want you to be comfortable. If you need something such as clean towels or sheets, just ask us in the morning!

In-Room Amenities

For your convenience most guest rooms come equipped with a coffee maker, refrigerator and microwave oven. If you would like an iron and ironing board, hair dryer, extra bedding or towels, please let us know.

Internet Access

We are pleased to offer complimentary Wi-Fi in the Carriage House Living Room.

Password: barnwood

Keys

If you lose your key, please notify Sally immediately. We will gladly provide you with a replacement.

Kitchen Access

If you need extra refrigerator or freezer space, please ask us.

Laundromat

Lucy’s Laundry
124 S Main St, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
707-964-1713

Lost & Found

Please contact us at 707-964-6725 regarding any items you may have lost or found. Howard Creek Ranch Inn is not responsible for lost items.

Luggage Assistance

If you need help, please ask us to assist you with your luggage.

Messages

The Front Desk will also notify you if any messages have been left for you.

Medical Care

Mendocino Coast District Hospital
700 River Dr, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
707-961-1234

Mushrooms

While hiking in the wintertime, be sure to look for the incredible profusion of mushrooms that grow in many places along our trails, especially under the shady trees. You will see colors ranging from white to orange, and many sizes from small to dinner plate sized!

Music & Song

Many nights we have music that you can participate in.

Pets

Pets are permitted by advance reservation only. There is a charge of $10 per dog per night, plus tax. We are one of the few Inns on the Mendocino Coast that accept dogs. We love dogs, and have one for ourselves. We hope you are not offended but there are a few rules. Most of these rules are just common sense, but it only takes one bad experience to create a lot of rules. Thanks.
NEVER leave your dog in the room unattended. When you leave please take him/her with you.
Please don’t let your dog roam unattended and keep him/her on a leash when outside of your room. Sorry, but your dog is not allowed in the common areas of the Farmhouse or the Carriage Barn.
Do not let your dog chase the sheep.
We have plenty of old towels to lend you to wipe off your dog. Please clean dirty and/or wet paws, at least, before letting your dog in the room.
We would really prefer that the dog not be allowed on the furniture especially the bed. If it’s likely that the dog will get on the furniture, please let us know so that we can provide you with coverings. Animals claws can ruin the quilts.
When your dog poops, please pick it up and put it in the barn dumpster by the North Exit.

Quiet Time

Quiet time begins at 10pm.

Reservations

See your Innkeeper or call 707-964-6725 for future individual or group reservations.

Cancellations

If notice is given seven (7) days prior to the day of arrival or we can rebook your room, you will get a full refund minus 3.5% of the deposit. If you cancel within a week prior to your reservation, and we cannot rebook your room, you will be charged for the full amount. Refunds will not be given because you realize upon arrival that we are an old farm, in an isolated country location.

Deposits

One half of the total is needed in advance to hold your reservation. We accept cash, checks, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover.

Extra Person Charge

There is an extra charge of $20 per person over two people per room. Requests must be made in advance. Lower rates are available during slow times at Sally’s discretion.

Restaurant – The Old Abalone Pub

Located in Westport, dial 707-964-3688. Days and hours vary by season. Ask your Innkeeper for current hours. Click HERE to view other dining options in the Fort Bragg area.

Rollaway Beds

A limited number of rollaway beds are available on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Sally to request one. Note that not all rooms can accommodate one.

Smoking Policy

All of our rooms are smoke-free. Smoking is permitted outside.

Thermostat

Each room has heat. Wood, gas and electric, control your own temperature. For more information, see your Innkeeper.

Telephone

Emergency: Dial 911.
Outside Calls: Dial the number. There is no charge for calls made within the United States.

Safety & Security

Traveler Safety

Every room has at least one exit.
Check for the exits and become familiar with their locations.
Several fire extinguishers are located around the property.
Don’t start a fire in any other location other than the fire pit or wooden stove.

Earthquake Safety

If you feel any shaking:

Run outside.

-or-

Drop, cover and hold on: drop down to the floor as soon as you perceive an earthquake has started; drop down before the earthquake drops you down. Then seek shelter under a desk or table. Crouch down on your knees so that you can move with the table. Hold on to the table leg(s) so you can keep the table over you.
If there is no nearby desk or table, sit on the floor against an inside wall, away from windows, tall furniture or bookcases. Draw up your knees, bend your head toward your knees. Protect your head and neck with your arms.

Tsunami Safety

If you are at the beach or near the ocean and you feel the ground shake or see rapidly rising or falling coastal water levels, move immediately to higher ground and stay there until local authorities say it is safe to return. DO NOT wait for a warning to be announced. If the tsunami is caused by a remote earthquake or volcanic eruption, you will be alerted by a siren, radio or television broadcasts, local first responders and/or an alarm at the hotel.

Often the first wave may not be the largest. The danger from a tsunami can last up to 12 hours after the arrival of the first wave. Tsunamis move faster than a person can run, and can be 30 feet high or higher; sometimes much higher. Never stay near shore to watch a tsunami come in. There is a phone tree Tsunami warning system. Your Innkeeper will let you know.

History of Howard Creek Ranch

Howard Creek Ranch is named after Alfred Howard who came to California when he was 12 years old. Alfred and his father rode to the ranchland on horseback in 1867. He later bought out his father and acquired many hundreds of acres through land grants after the Civil War. Alfred originally named the creek Stoney Creek, but everyone else called it Howard Creek and the name stuck, of course.

The farmhouse was built of virgin redwood and consisted of two houses back to back with a third similar structure on the East side (probably holding wagons, tack and other horse related gear). This mimicked a style frequently seen in Maine. Many of the earliest settlers of the Mendocino Coast were from the Maine coast. The farmhouse was finished in 1871 and many additional large buildings were rapidly built with massive redwood beams. Hundreds of men hurried to the Mendocino Coast from the gold fields to help with the logging of the newly discovered redwood forests.

The land was rich in gigantic redwoods. One tree would furnish enough wood for one or more houses. The earth was also rich for growing crops, and livestock thrived. The terrain was lovely with hills and valleys. Creeks were jumping with king salmon and trout. The forests were alive with game.

The biggest problem was isolation. A trip to town took days and was quite an ordeal. It was extremely difficult to move anything in or out of the area. The first settlers rode horseback along the beaches at low tide. To go anywhere required a sure-footed horse and an intrepid horseman or woman. After the first dirt roads were developed, the stagecoach was right behind. While not an official stagecoach layover, many a traveler stayed the night at Howard Creek Ranch.

The Howards were some of the earliest settlers to the Westport area. The Howard Creek Ranch Farmhouse is probably the earliest structure still standing. Many men flocked to the coast after it was discovered that redwood could be chopped down with a great deal of muscle, 16-foot long handsaws, and a “steam donkey”. The redwoods were milled on site and moved with the help of a steam fueled train on a narrow gauged train track, and shipped to San Francisco from a little “dog-hole” port, not really a port, but landings, where ships would drop anchor and pick up lumber via cables and chutes.

Howard Creek Ranch moved its redwood to Union Landing a mile or so north of the ranch and a little spit of land that stuck out into the ocean further west than the surrounding area. This landing would fill up with lumber, including railroad ties as they were in great demand to help build the transcontinental railway. All this was hopefully accomplished before a storm would smash the ship into the many large rocks in the area. Life was rugged and risky. One good storm could wipe it all out.

Alfred Howard married Missouri Lavina Cook and they had seven children, the first four dying before five years old. All were of course born at home. There is a gravestone in the family plot in Westport, where one of their young sons is buried and the gravestone quotes his last words “Look Ma, I can see the angels coming.” Definitely a tearful time. Despite all of the tragedies, their last three children survived and prospered.

Lucy Howard, the eldest surviving daughter, wrote her name in her upstairs bedroom windowpane in the wave of the glass. She had become engaged to Edson McFaul, a neighbor boy from “Union Landing” down the road. The glass pane has survived over a hundred years and can still be seen in “Lucy’s Room.” However, her 2-year-old great great grandson did almost destroy it during a recent visit with his exuberant banging.

Many young ladies tested their diamonds by writing their name in the window glass (which at the time was quite expensive and precious). If it worked, their fiancé had given them a real diamond ring, if it did not write in the glass, they themselves had received glass.

Many of the earliest California history books labeled an extraordinary number of new settlers as coming from Missouri, as that was the last place they had been prior to setting out for California. However, the high percentage of people coming from Missouri was misleading, but Missouri Lavina was definitely from there and left her mark on the construction of the Howard Creek farmhouse with the addition of wraparound balconies. This added a wonderful feature to the New England style structure.

Life was hard on the land. Many, many men came to the west to make their mark, but for years, Mrs. Howard was the only white woman to live in this area (according to her diary). This, of course, leads one to ask if there were Native American women here and how they interreacted, but we have no answers. At one time there were 60 men employed on-site in various aspects of logging and ranching.

In the early years, the Howard’s were completely self-sufficient. They grew their own food, sold potatoes and peas as crops, raised cattle for beef and milk, cut redwoods and milled and sold lumber.

In 1909 the Howard family sold to the Thompson family who were from Washington County, Maine. The Howards were buried in the Westport Cemetery. The Thompsons were also industrious and added many more hundreds of acres to the ranch. They continued redwood milling with a bunkhouse in the canyon, which also contained a mill and various outbuildings and a narrow gauged train track that ran from the mill to the landing on the bluff with a spur through the old, enormous locomotive barn where the engine could run in for repairs.

The Thompsons raised short horn Durham cattle and Rambouillet Shropshire sheep. Ira had accumulated 1500 head of sheep when he sold them in 1925. One year he made the local Beacon newspaper by the quantity of wool he sheared and sold. There was definitely a lot of money to be made in wool production in the 1920s, but it was also an ordeal to shear that many sheep. Now there is no market for small quantities of sheep wool.

Ira’s brother Les had a blacksmith shop at Howard Creek starting in 1910 and that made the ranch almost self-sufficient. Ira Thompson was a true wheeler and dealer. He bought the old Gordon Place (now De Haven Valley Farm) and added that to his holdings which by then equaled around 2000 acres. The Thompson family held on to the land until 1971 when a large real estate development company purchased it. There is a small hillside Thompson family cemetery that is used by fishermen to triangulate their location by the white of the fences.

Charles (Sonny) Grigg arrived in 1972 and found the buildings incredibly rundown, but thankfully not altered much since they were built. Virgin old-growth redwood is incredibly durable and long lasting. He became the caretaker and chanced to meet Sally Lassalle who was visiting the area in 1973. They fell in love and bought the original homestead area in 1974, plus sixty acres, and turned it into an Inn in addition to continuing ranching. The rest was divided into large acreages. The three miles of ocean frontage was given to the California State Park system to hold for the people of California to protect it for them always so that all could enjoy the magic and wonder of the incredible coastline and its magnificent beaches. Sally and Sonny’s story is an incredibly long colorful one in itself. Thank you for visiting us.