The Brewery Gulch Inn - A Mendocino Bed & Breakfast in Mendocino CA. A California Bed and Breakfast in Northern California

About the Brewery Gulch Inn

Innkeeper Guy Pacurar high atop the Water Tower you can see as you arrive on Hwy 1

The History
Logging in Mendocino in the 1800s depended on the Big River for transporting the giant redwood trees to the mill. Most of the logging occurred during the summer when the current was not strong enough to float the logs to the mill. Twenty-six dams were built on the river, and behind each dam was built a log “deck”. As this stack got higher, its weight pushed the lowest ones (called “sinker logs”) deeper into the silt. When the rains came, they opened the dams and floated all but the sinkers to the mill. Those abandoned logs lay undiscovered for the next 150 years.

Over a century later, during a construction project on a nearby bridge, the “sinker” logs were found deeply embedded in the silt. These perfectly preserved 100-150 year old logs ranged in diameter up to 16 feet. Virgin growth and guiltless, this redwood was eco-salvaged from the mud and used as a major component in the construction of the present-day Brewery Gulch Inn. The location, a part of the original farmstead of Mendocino pioneer, Homer Barton, has spectacular water views and borders hundreds of acres of unoccupied meadows and state-protected forests. The inn was purchased by current owner Guy Pacurar, pictured at left, in 2007.

Brewery Gulch Inn
and the Environment

Our Mission
From its conception, Brewery Gulch Inn was intended to be an environmentally-responsible coastal retreat. Its mission has been to enhance and improve the existing ecosystem, increase native habitat and bio-diversity, regenerate the land and create a restful retreat that showcases the fruits of this labor.

The amazing ponds and gardens of the Inn

The Wood
The wood used in the construction of Brewery Gulch features 150-year old eco-salvaged, first growth virgin redwood timbers that were pulled from the mud of Mendocino’s Big River. No salvage machinery, sandblasters, or other environmentally-damaging equipment was used during this process.

The Rooms
The rooms have been painted with eco-spec paint and a cork underlay was used instead of traditional padding for the new low-VOC carpeting. Guest accommodations also feature compact fluorescent lighting and gas-burning fireplaces. Organic cotton towels and low-flow showerheads imported from Germany are found in all of our baths.

“Walked through those redwood doors and up to our little retreat, Smuggler’s Cove”, and felt like we were in heaven on earth.”
The Davisons

“The attention to detail here makes the BGI so special—a labor of love! When a fellow guest was cold, a blanket was delivered within the blink of an eye. When I got poison oak (don’t go wandering off the beaten path in shorts), they went into town and found some poison oak salve.”
The Sincoffs

The Grounds
The efficient drip irrigation system at the inn was installed by hand over a six month period with no machinery; tunneling was done under tree roots with a crowbar in order not to damage trees. After fifteen years of planning and several years of permit work, the ponds that were envisioned as part of the property’s overall wetland restoration were completed in 2005. The ponds are kept clean and conducive to plant and animal life through a system of natural rock filters. They require no chemical additives. The majority of the plantings surrounding the ponds are plants, grasses, shrubs and flowers native to this region. Throughout the grounds of the inn, no herbicides, pesticides or fungicides are used.

The Kitchen
Cuisine at the inn draws primarily from organic and locally-sourced products. The inn’s sustainable organic garden produces some of the herbs and vegetables used in the preparation of the acclaimed breakfasts and substantial hors d’oeuvres served to the guests. The coffee served at the inn is a special blend provided by Thanksgiving Coffee, a local Mendocino roaster who takes pride in their Fair Trade, organic coffees.
Coffee grounds and all organic kitchen matter, as well as used ashes from non-treated firewood, is composted. All of the inn’s laundry products are phosphate-free and an in-house recycling program is in place to address non-recyclable or compostable waste

“…Hors d’oeuvres and local wines – enough to convince you to blow off dinner plans and focus on your sweetheart.”
Sunset Magazine

“This is our fourth visit to this lovely place. Peaceful and relaxing are the best ways to describe it. We will be back for many years to come.”
Megan and Zack

The Great Room
The heart and soul of Brewery Gulch, the enormous Great Room is anchored by an iconic, four-sided glass and steel fireplace fabricated by a local shipbuilder. This gathering place is filled with light tumbling down from the central core’s three-story high skylight and flooding in from the bank of 13 foot high, redwood-trimmed windows overlooking Smuggler’s Cove. A comfortable living room seating area with thick, sage-green shag carpeting showcases overstuffed furniture in the style of Gustaf Stickley. Surrounding this area are tables of quarter-sawn oak where guests sample the chef’s creations. A small library of books; an amazing 300+ DVD collection featuring classic, contemporary and foreign films; and an extensive selection of games can be found along the south wall of the Great Room. A guest computer with internet access and desktop icons for local vineyards, restaurants, entertainment, driving directions, and airline websites is located on a desk across from the reception desk. A large selection of coffees and teas, along with fresh pastries and fruit, can be found on the sidebar in the Great Room.

Partnerships and Recognition
A consistent recipient of AAA’s Four Diamond Award, Brewery Gulch Inn has also been recognized as a leader among environmentally-conscious businesses. In 2007, the Green Hotel Association extended an invitation for partnership to Brewery Gulch, and Audubon International asked the inn to join their Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

“Sleep in guilt-free redwood splendor as waves crash below the Brewery Gulch Inn.”
Coastal Living Magazine

Guest Accommodations
Soothing earth tones, tasteful furnishings, and a Zen-like style and ambience connect the inn to the Mendocino coast. All guest rooms feature ocean views, gas fireplaces, down comforters and pillows (hypoallergenic option available), feather beds, Sferra linens imported from Italy, turndown service on request, Molton Brown bath products, organic cotton towels, lighted makeup mirrors, Giessdorf showerheads, flat panel LCD televisions with built-in DVD players and cable access, iHome clock radios, WiFi access, complimentary local and long distance calls, plush robes, fresh flowers, daily delivery of the San Francisco Chronicle and rich leather club chairs for relaxing by the fire.

Meet the Innkeepers

Jo Ann Stickle
Inn Manager

Jo Ann came to Mendocino in 1984 with her fiancé, Jan, to get married and begin a lifelong relationship with the north coast. After numerous trips and vacations to the area, Jo Ann moved from Florida to Mendocino in 1997 and began working in the hospitality industry. In 2006, she joined the Brewery Gulch Inn family as the property’s General Manager. Bringing with her a strong background in leisure travel and an extensive knowledge of the local area, Jo Ann has developed a staff dedicated to guest service and satisfaction.

Guy Pacurar
Proprietor

Born and raised in Del Mar, California, Guy successfully managed a small company in San Diego for 20 years before his daughter, Taylor, inspired him to become the owner of an inn. The ensuing twelve-month search took him to twenty-seven inns in five states before he discovered the Brewery Gulch Inn. In August of 2007, he became its second owner. Drawing on his extensive travel experience in his previous life, Guy brings to the inn his commitment to create and maintain a truly memorable experience for each and every guest.

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