Fort Ross Lodge

Late review — I stayed here last June 2015, I was re-​evaluating my life, making new plans and wanted a place away from everything. I chose wisely. This little place was a short walk to the cliff overlooking the ocean — there even was seating available, hawks flying overhead — the little Ft. Ross Store was across the street, limited hours, clean rooms, maid service every day, working heater — big plus with the ocean wind, a hot tub right outside on the patio — small fridge & microwave. Internet was spotty, I walked over to the pool house where it was much better, but I was getting away from it all so hit/​miss internet was a good thing — come dusk, there were bats flying — added feature. Quirks — a pay phone outside the office — did not know they were still around, navy blue surround tub/​shower. I spent 5 days, until the last night no one was on either side of me, it was quiet, just what I need — left with a plan for a New Life, New Adventure. I plan to stay again sometime this summer.

We had a great time at the Fort Ross Lodge! Owners were great room was awesome and the view from our room was very nice. We could hear the ocean from our room (#15). WiFi is very sketchy, but I didn’t come to surf the web. I actually enjoyed the silence from my phone. Friends and Family just had to wait for pictures, of which there are many.

This place is awesome! My wife and I spent 2 nights here (Jan 22, 23^rd) and are looking forward to returning soon. We stayed in #17, in our opinion the best most private room with a full ocean view, excellent wood burning fireplace (unlike the terrible «Eco friendly» fireplaces you find at a lot of the oceanfront properties these days). They supplied plenty of wood and a fire starter. There also is a barbecue provided and they supply the charcoal and a chimney starter. It also was very clean and everything worked great from the excellent hot shower to the hot tub on the deck overlooking the ocean. Fyi… you are on a bluff so it’s not beach front, but you could hear the waves at night and you have a panoramic view… wonderful. Rooms # 14 – 17 are all very private with hot tubs and unobstructed views… in our opinion they the best. However, the other rooms are also ocean facing so I’m not sure there are any ‘bad’ rooms… just not unobstructed views like the ones I mentioned. Also, if mobility is an issue (as it was with us) you park practically right in front of your room and paths to the rooms are level… no stairs to get to the one we stayed in and access to the deck is easy. The store across the street was helpful… no restaurants close by. One last kudo… the tv is satellite with phenomal picture and reception… rare along the coast. We didn’t spend much time watching it other than to catch up on news, but it was another nicety. Go!!!

On a business trip to Northern California, my wife and I decided to stop at Fort Ross State Park to check out the old Russian encampment. We chose to stay at Fort Ross Lodge because of the unique proximity and online reviews. This has got to be the closest accommodations, being less than 2 miles from the Fort. The place is kept clean and the husband/​wife team that manage the lodge were very gracious and helpful as were the people who ran the store across the highway.
We asked about using the barbecue on our patio (I believe that all rooms have one) and we were given a clean new grill with utensils. They have a storage locker with complementary charcoal, newspaper and chimney starters. I bought some frozen sirloin steaks at the store and, in the evening, cooked a nice dinner out on the patio sharing a bottle of wine we had brought with us.
Would definitely recommend the place. If you are navigating a road trip via cell phone, remember that WiFi up on Hwy 1 is practically non-​existent. Once you lock in your location don’t make the mistake of switching to use another app or you won’t be able to return to a working navigation.

We stayed 2 nights this past weekend. We WILL be back. A lot of thought has been given to the rooms and the amenities. There aren’t a lot of dining options very close, so the refrigerator, microwave and BBQ were nice touches that I suspect a lot of guests use, as is the store across the street. Clean room, comfy bed, awesome view out the private patio with 2 chairs and a table and the BBQ.
Only things I would suggest they consider are putting a reversible ceiling fan with a light in place of the main ceiling mounted light so that you can cool the room off (we were there on an unseasonably warm weekend)…and reverse direction helping move heat from the fireplace around from the high ceiling in cool weather. Even with the heavy lined curtains on the sliding door (facing west) closed all day, it still got to over 80 degrees about 6 pm i our room. A screen door on the entry door might be nice too, to help get cool air in without letting insects in. Air conditioning would also fix that issue, but not sure with the normal weather there it would be worth the cost.

Just spent the weekend here with my daughter. As always, was a wonderful experience with exquisite accommodations and a beautiful view. This is a very peaceful and serene location. I highly recommend.

What a great place to stop for the night on our trip up the PCH.
The room quaint and most of all clean.
The Hill provided a beautiful view to wake up to.
Chris and Melissa were most accommodating and Greta Sue adds to the homey feel.
Will definitely stay here again.

I’ve been coming to the Lodge at least once a year for the last 15 years, and in that time it has gone downhill. The last time we stayed the tub didn’t drain the whole 3 days we were here, so we had to shower in our own filthy water. The hot tub didn’t work. The room smelled like mildew. This time the toilet didn’t want to flush completely, the shower curtain smelled horrible, and there was a lipstick stain on one of the coffee cups. In general, things have just gotten worse over the years. The furniture and accessories (lights, bedding, curtains, etc) are all mismatched. Not a big deal for some but it doesn’t feel peaceful to me; it seems thrown together. Even the way the rooms are set up is awkward. When unwinding at the end of the night with a movie, the TV in our room is located so oddly that it was very difficult to watch. We didn’t have a kitchen area with a sink, but I know other units do. The bed was very uncomfortable, as were the pillows, and the sprinklers going on bright and early in the morning made it hard to stay asleep with the slider open, so I had to shut it, which meant no more cool coastal breeze and bird songs. It’s hard to describe how this place has changed in 15 years, but it has, and not for the better. With the prices they charge they could do a much better job of pulling everything together a little tighter and making the lodge the oasis it should be.

Comfortable location to stay on a trip up the N. Calif. coast highway one. We stayed in one of the hillside cabins, and it was rustic but quite enjoyable. No kids in this area. Nice view, wine and cheese board and wine glasses saw us coming. Frig in room, coffee maker, etc. well appreciated. Small market and deli right across the street. Very good sandwiches.
One big downside negative. They are still providing the old foam pillows. I HATE these things, I thought they were outlawed?

Spoke with Prudence to ask about the hotel’s policy on service animals. She said «we’re not the place for that, but we can’t turn you away». Excuse me for asking a question. We wont waste our time or money at Fort Ross Lodge.

My daughter and I just stayed at Fort Ross For two nights. It was a wonderful stay for both of us.
I thought it amazing that it wasn’t more crowded. Because the sites, the rooms and the comfort were all wonderful.
I won’t list all the amenities, because I see them already mentioned below in other reviews. But I have no complaints
except that we would have liked to meet more vacationers.
Having said that I would go back again just for the wonderful experience and the peace and quiet. The little birds and tiny creatures were are only contacts and we loved it. There were new nesting birds, the sounds of gulls and seals. There were families diving for abalone and all kinds of birds dining on some big looking fish.
This is a very wonderful nature spot with all the comforts of home.
My thanks to the owners of Fort Ross Lodge.
I will return.

Super cozy lodge and I recommend staying here especially if you’re visiting Salt Point. The staff is friendly and welcoming and the area is so gorgeous. The basic king size bed room includes a fireplace, grill, coal, firewood, a dining table for two, a bar area and a patio back yard area with an ocean view. The bed was really comfortable and the sheets were super soft. My only complaint would be a slight mildew scent… I believe this is because the walls need a good scrubbing and also because of the moisture in the air.
They offer specials each month which are around 20% off. There are limited food options in the area so it helps that they provide a grill, some grill tools and a chimney starter. With that being said you should definitely plan ahead to bring extra food to cook. Handle the grill with extreme caution. We didn’t find any pit-​mits but that would’ve been helpful since it gets really hot. There’s a store across the street that sells frozen foods such as chicken, hamburgers, baguettes, and more but it’s pricey. That was my first time cooking on a charcoal grill and I loved it, it toasts the bread perfectly and cooks everything to perfection.
The fireplace definitely added a nice homey touch and made the room super warm and cozy. The tv worked well and they had satellite. Also they provide wifi which is the only form of cell connection since the area has absolutely no reception unless of course you have Verizon.
Overall very organized and welcoming lodge with wholesome people running the show. We went to Fort Ross for a quick visit as well as Fort Ross Winery. Also camped out at Salt Point for two nights and went on naturalist tours. Such a pleasant experience, I’ll be back. If you don’t feel like cooking a meal then check out Ocean Cover Bar & Grill they have a killer fettuccine alfredo and perfect fish & chips.

Love, love, love the Fort Ross Lodge! Prudence & David are such amazing people, they think of everything to make your weekend wonderful. Delightfully surprised by Prudence w a personalized valentine!
Our room was so clean & comfortable w an amazing view of the bay. Hot tub was perfect. Been coming here for years & will be back as often as I can manage :)

Place is run down, but acceptable because it’s got old school charm (looking on the bright side) and breathtaking views. There is no phone and no cell reception so beware of that. My biggest problem I had was with management. Sheila at the desk was unbelievably rude and could singlehandedly ruin the vibe of any vacation if you let her. But really, she was obnoxious and insulting from the get go to the point that you almost want to check out before you check in. The owner was completely rude and deflective instead of taking ownership of the problem or be even slightly apologetic or courteous or even sorry that we had a lousy stay. I will never go back to this place, and I would recommend you go to the next place up the road with the same views. You can believe the reviews about the location being amazing, but trust me, DON’T ignore the reviews about the rudeness.

My husband and I were looking for a quiet, slow paced relaxing getaway and found just that at the Lodge! We stayed in room 16 which had a private hot tub. Upon arrival Dave and Prudence were pleasant and informative. Dave had mentioned he just filled the hot tub and started the heater (hot tub was clean and hot)!
We got exactly what we were looking for in our getaway — no cell reception, great ocean views with amazing sunsets. BBQ on the patio was great, we enjoyed grilling, wonderful conversation… and of course wine!
The room was clean, comfortable and spacious (comforter looked almost new). It looks like they are updating furnishings a bit as the bedroom furniture was updated and stylish.
What I did appreciate is that Dave and Prudence emailed about a week before our arrival with a list of suggestions of items to bring for the long weekend which was very helpful.
Needless to say, we had an amazing time and will definitely be back!

The hubs and I enjoyed our recent 3 — night stay on «The Hill” — room 23 is amaxing! View of ocean and a sunken whirlpool tub.
Minus 1 star for a FILTHY comforter (to be fair, when I requested a replacement, it was quickly brought to our room) and only lukewarm water for the 1^st night in whirlpool tub. Hubs contacted maintenance and the guys swiftly proceeded to check out the status of the tub and shower water… meanwhile I’m in pj’s hiding under covers… oh well. Such is life.

I wonderful place to go and get away from the «things of man» short of camping. Quite a bit cheaper than the Timber Cove Inn up the street.
My wife, five year old son, and I stayed in cabin 14 for a weekend getaway from the Bay Area hubbub and heat. The room contained a king bed, table, two chairs, small refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, flat screen TV, DVD player, and fireplace. There was a back porch holding a medium sized Weber barbeque, hot tub, and small plastic table and two chairs.
The management provided a cheese knife, small cutting board, corkscrew, and two wine glasses. Also, firewood was stocked each day. Additional firewood is available for $ 5.00 a box (about the same amount the store across the street sells for $ 5.99.). However, the stocked firewood is sufficient unless you start the fire early, or plan on staying up late.
Barbeque briquets are supplied by the management along with a «chimney» style starter. If you have never used one of these, ask the hosts for instructions or look them up online before you get there. Contrary to another review, I saw no sign indicating a charge for additional chimneys of briquets.
The room was comfortable, clean, and well arranged. There was more than enough space between the room and porch for the three of us. I think we could easily stay there a week.
The rooms are located approximately 1,000 feet from the ocean cliff which makes for a nice walk. The field between the rooms and the ocean makes a nice place for kids to run off their «car legs».
We had one issue with the room not being fully cleaned on our second day. While new soap, linens, and coffee were provided, the housekeeper did not make the bed, clean the floors/​sink, or wipe down the table. But, once we let the housekeeping staff know it was immediately corrected.
Important Things to Know:
As I said, this is away from «the things of man». There is no call phone service, and no in-​room phones. There is a pay phone located at the main office (a short walk from the room.)
The property does supply limited wi-​fi in their sun room/​patio/​hot tub area. (Not all rooms have private hot tubs.) Of course, when you are staying in an area like Fort Ross the purpose is to get away, not check-​in on Facebook.
There is also not a whole lot around in this area of the California coast. There is a small store across the street which is stocked with most of the basics and makes sandwiches.
The closest restaurant is at the Timber Cover, nice but pricy, so plan on brushing up on your barbeque and camp style cooking before you come.
Things to See:
If the ocean, serine environment, and occasional wild life are not enough, touring Fort Ross Historic State Park is a great choice. It contains s Russian fort, small museum, and other historic buildings. Hint: After touring the Fort, take your bagged lunch and head out the west side of the fort down the road to the beach for a picnic. Then follow the trail to the original cemetery.
There is also the Kruse Rhododendron garden nearby (have not made it there yet, but next time.)
Things to Bring: You should bring eating utensils and plates, beverages, your food and a swim suit for the hot tub. I would also bring a book or two, a few DVDs, and simple toys for the little ones. There is satellite TV with a fair amount of channels and HBO, but if I wanted to watch TV I’d stay home.
Best Hint: Do a bit of research about the towns on your route here. Plan a leisurely drive there and stop at local merchants to stock up on locally made cheese, wine, bread, and other niceties.
All in all, a very nice place to stay and relax for a few days. We will certainly return.

This was our 2^nd stay at the Fort Ross Lodge. They have done a bit of updating, as our room was a bit more modern then it had been 5 years ago. We had a very nice stay. Prudance and her husband were excellent hosts, they made us feel welcome right at check in. Our room was comfy we stayed in 14, nice ocean view and the hot tub was great! We will be coming back when we need our batteries recharged! I highly recommend the fort Ross lodge.

This place was a good balance of good price and good quality. The people at the front desk were really nice. The room was nice — there was a little table with a white tablecloth, two wine glasses and a little candle, which was very romantic. :) We used the grill out on the patio, which was great. The first chimney with charcoal in it is free, and then any more after that are $ 5 each, so it’s not quite totally free like it says on their website if you’re staying more than one night and plan on grilling every night.
The tub was interesting because it was black. I just thought that was kind of random. It took our eyes a while to adjust when we were showering, to figure out the shape of the tub, since it was so dark.
The only weird thing was that we had bugs in the room. Like, there was a trail of ants up in one area near the ceiling, which was not a big deal, ants don’t freak me out, but there were these little fruit fly type things that seemed to be coming from somewhere on the wall, near the table, so when we were eating we actually ended up moving the table away from the wall, close to the bed, so they would stop jumping on our plates. That was kind of gross. I wouldn’t necessarily blame the hotel for that, I mean I’d still go back, because I know something like that can be a really random occurrence, but it was still gross.
There’s a path that goes out toward the ocean, and when I got to the end of it (which was like a three minute walk) there was a little clearing with a couple of chairs already out there, which I thought was cute. I don’t know if the owners or another pair of guests left them there, but I just liked that they were there.
The closest restaurant is Alexander’s, at the Timber Cove Inn, which is a pretty nice restaurant, fairly expensive, so just be aware of that if you arrive at the lodge needing dinner, like we did. The store across the street closes at 6 pm.
We still had a view of the ocean even from one of the cheaper rooms — we were in room #10. The bed was nice and firm and the linens were really soft, I liked that.
I’d go back — I want to try one of the rooms with the hot tub on the patio!

We stayed here for the closing weekend of abalone diving. The Sonoma coast has a «Big Sur» feel to it… very tranquil, gorgeous coastline, and small town ambiance. The Fort Ross Lodge is super close to Timber Cove (where we dive) so it was very convenient for us.
Our room (#3) was clean and cozy, with a comfy bed, wi-​fi, wood burning stove, and nice bathroom/​shower. I liked the extra touches of providing wine glasses and a cheese board. We had a small balcony for drying our gear and sat on the picnic table right beyond our balcony to watch the sunset. There is also a «Sun Room» near the outdoor jacuzzi, which is sunny (hence the name), has a few comfy couches and looks like a great place to catch up on your reading. For a Sunday night stay (with ocean view and fireplace) it was $ 130+ tax! I’m sure this is a low season rate, but such a steal!
It felt like being on vacation and was soooo relaxing. With the stove making the room super toasty, I got a blissful 10 hours of sleep. Will definitely return to this place next year!