Logged, mined, panned, shanghaied, railroaded, wagon-trained and pioneered into life, Northern California’s heritage is proof that in fact, all that glitters can be golden.
Enchanting discoveries are part of the historical record, from the dreamy grounds of a lavish 19th century estate-turned-resort in Napa to the supernatural surroundings of San Jose’s famous “mystery house” to Redwood City’s Moorish-meets-Gothic theater.
Drawn from a deep treasure chest, following are several venues of yesteryear that promise enriching group gatherings in the Golden State’s upper half.
THE FAIRMONT HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO
www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco
From its commanding perch atop Nob Hill, this peerless grande dame has panoramically overseen San Francisco’s growth as a city for over a century. Ravaged by the fires of the 1906 earthquake, the hotel reopened a year later—and has been making history ever since.
The Charter of the United Nations was drafted here in 1945, while in 1961, Tony Bennett first sang I Left My Heart in San Francisco in the fabled Venetian Room. In 1973, European-trained Tom Wolfe introduced concierge service to the U.S. at the hotel, and in 1999, via a merger with Canadian Pacific Hotels, the property became the flagship of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, North America’s leading luxury hotelier.
“Classic by design but contemporary in spirit, the Fairmont provides breathtaking architecture and meaningful history aligned with state-of-the-art technology, a farm-to-fork food and beverage philosophy, a focus on environmental stewardship and innovative event venues,” says Michelle Gilman Jasen, the hotel’s regional director of sales and marketing.
Offering 591 guest rooms and suites, three renowned restaurants and lounges—including the Tiki-themed Tonga Room, located at the hotel’s former swimming pool—and 55,000 square feet of function space, the property remains a place to see and be seen to this day.
“Groups seeking to focus on the Fairmont’s historical significance can utilize our Diplomat Club space, which features images of the many dignitaries and stars that have graced the property,” Jasen says.
FOX THEATRE, REDWOOD CITY
www.foxrwc.com
Covering most of the peninsula south of San Francisco, San Mateo County features a number of group-ready vintage venues, including Cow Palace, Filoli Mansion and Pigeon Point Lighthouse, currently under renovation. As the shooting location for several movies, including the 1971 cult classic Harold & Maude, and home to the Northern California branch of Dreamworks Animation SKG, the area’s distinct film heritage makes the restored Fox Theatre a fitting choice for memorable events.
Located in the heart of Redwood City, this opulent Moorish-meets-Gothic movie house opened in 1929 as the New Sequoia Theater before being acquired by the Fox West Coast theater chain. Playing on as a performance venue through the decades, the venue, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was brought fully back to life in 2010 by local entrepreneurs Eric and Lori Lochtefeld.
“The Fox Theatre is a premier area location for live shows, concerts and private events, with over 60 restaurants within walking distance for pre- or post-event dining,” says Eric Lochtefeld. “Accommodating 1,348 people on three floors and with room for another 240 at sister venue Club Fox, the venue offers endless possibilities for group events.”
WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE, SAN JOSE
www.winchestermysteryhouse.com
In 1884, workers began expanding a small farmhouse on the outskirts of then-sleepy San Jose, directed by Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Repeating Rifle fortune. It’s a sad tale with a supernatural twist: Directing Sarah were the souls of thousands of Indians, cowboys, soldiers and other frontier folk killed by the Winchester rifle, the “Gun That Won the West.” Via a medium, she learned that the spirits, having caused the recent deaths of her husband and infant daughter, would allow her to live only if she continuously built them a final resting place.
Talk about paranormal activity: For the next 38 years, until her death in 1922, she oversaw around-the-clock construction at the site. Covering nearly an acre and riddled with bizarre architectural anomalies, the resulting 160-room structure, surrounded by four acres of gardens, is a frighteningly good choice for groups.
“We can accommodate up to 1,000 people in the front gardens for a reception, 250 for a seated dinner and 65 people for a seated dinner in the banquet room,” says Nathan Emmett, sales manager at the Winchester Mystery House. “For team-building activities, try our photo scavenger hunt, private flashlight tour or murder mystery dinner and show—there’s been a murder in the house, and it’s up to your group to figure out whodunit.”
GRAND LAKE THEATRE, OAKLAND
www.renaissancerialto.com
Built in 1926 as a vaudeville and silent movie house before switching to an all-movies format, this lavish treasure near Lake Merritt remarkably still shows first-run movies. Once part of the Fox West Coast theater circuit, the Grand Lake—not merely a movie theater, but more of a movie museum, or in the eyes of some, a movie cathedral—distinctively preserves the classic movie-going experience, including the playing of its Wurlitzer organ (originally built to accompany silent movies) before selected Friday and Saturday evening performances.
Seating some 1,600 people, the Grand Lake is magnificently topped by its original illuminated sign. The venue offers limited availability for private events, typically on weekdays and subject to approval, and is a memorable choice for group movie outings.
CANNERY ROW, MONTEREY
www.canneryrow.com
The once-gritty Cannery Row, the hub of Monterey’s early 1900s fish-canning industry, is now one of California’s most popular attractions and one of the most dynamic group locales anywhere in the state.
Immortalized in John Steinbeck’s 1945 novel of the same name, Cannery Row fell into disrepair in the late 1940s and was revived by local entrepreneurs beginning in the late 1960s.
“Cannery Row offers all of the natural oceanside beauty and shopping, dining and recreation options that assure successful attendance for meetings,” says Diane Mandeville, vice president of marketing for the Cannery Row Company.
Off-site venues on Cannery Row include the Monterey Bay Aquarium and numerous restaurants, while two upscale waterfront hotels, InterContinental The Clement Monterey and Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, provide a total of 500 guest rooms with ample space for large meetings.
MANSION & PAVILION AT VIZCAYA, SACRAMENTO
www.vizcayapavilion.com
Built at the turn of the 20th century as the family home of a prominent local attorney, this fully renovated historical landmark in midtown Sacramento is an elegant choice for events. Graced with a Victorian tower, massive bay windows and an impressive columned entrance, the 6,500-square-foot white colonial revival mansion remained a residential property until the early 1980s, when it was converted to a bed-and-breakfast.
Five of the eight luxurious sleeping rooms are in the mansion, with the other three in the carriage house. The addition of the pavilion, with over 3,700 square feet of function space, completed the property’s “Elite Event Center” transformation.
“We host hundreds of weddings and special events every year, and our B&B guests love the charm and unique amenities,” says Elisabeth Johnson, sales manager at the property. “Whether planning an intimate dinner for 20 in the Mansion Parlor or a cocktail reception for 300 in the Grand Pavilion, we specialize in creating elegant, memorable custom events from start to finish.”
SILVERADO RESORT AND SPA, NAPA
www.silveradoresort.com
The only hard part is checking out at this legendary 1,200-acre retreat nestled in the rolling hills of Napa’s world-famous Wine Country. Originally Rancho Yajome, its expanse of wide meadowlands and groves of oak, birch and pine was developed by John Miller, a Civil War general and U.S. senator, who built a grand mansion here in the early 1870s and christened the estate La Vergne in 1881 after his first battlefield encounter. Willed to Miller’s daughter, the estate was then sold in 1953 to the Silverado Land Company group, thereafter developing into a world-class resort.
Featured on the TV show Falcon Crest, the Dolce-managed property’s fame continues today with two highly-rated championship golf courses and recreational activities galore for groups. With accommodations at 435 private cottage suites clustered around hidden courtyards, secluded swimming pools and along the fairways, Silverado’s multimillion-dollar conference center features more than 15,000 square feet of space, including an elegant ballroom and 13 meeting rooms, along with multiple outdoor venues.
BUENA VISTA CARNEROS, SONOMA
www.buenavistawinery.com
Buena Vista, founded in 1857, is California’s oldest premium winery. Predating the state’s powerhouse wine industry and active long before “Napa” and “Sonoma” entered the oenophilic and viticultural lexicon, the landmark winery provides a deep-bodied venue for tastings and events.
Minutes from historic Sonoma, the winery hosts receptions and corporate events in the rustic stone Press House, built in 1862, or in a choice of secluded, wooded outdoor areas. The facility can accommodate up to 80 guests for seated dinner receptions and 250 guests for standing or outdoor receptions. Themed private tastings are also available for groups of 10 or more.
HELLMAN-EHRMAN MANSION, LAKE TAHOE
www.parks.ca.gov
Between 1897 and 1913, San Francisco businessman I.W. Hellman bought nearly 2,000 acres of land at Sugar Pine Point on Lake Tahoe’s western shore. Completed in 1903, his grand summer home, Pine Lodge, was equipped with advanced utility systems and was considered one of the finest homes in the high Sierra. Destined to be renamed after his daughter Florence Hellman Ehrman, who enjoyed many summers there, the house and most of the estate were acquired in 1965 by the California State Park System.
“Overlooking Lake Tahoe, the estate makes a wonderful event and field trip destination for conference attendees,” says Heidi Doyle, manager of interpretive and volunteer programs, calling Sugar Pine Point State Park “the magical gem of Tahoe’s West Shore” and a group must.
Doyle says groups can arrange special events on the estate’s grounds, along with private tours and group picnics. Aside from touring the main house, visitors can also take self-guided tours of two boathouses containing unique and historic boats or stroll along the nature trail system.
Regular Meetings Focus contributor Jeff Heilman is a little fuzzy on the history of his last visit to the Tonga Room at the Fairmont San Francisco.
