New Jenner Inn owners plan to restore historic charm
The Coyne family, known for restoring a sunken paddle-wheel steamer as the Delta King Hotel in Sacramento, have purchased the historic Jenner Inn on the Sonoma County coast and are planning its renovation.
Charlie Coyne, along with his wife, Katie, and cousins Marty and Tom, are the principals of Dublin Square LLC, the company that purchased and will operate the inn, located at 10400 Highway 1. Dublin Square bought the property from the Richard A. Murphy 2005 Trust on Feb. 11.
Located at the mouth of the Russian River, the inn dates back more than a century and is a collection of historic buildings spread over more than four acres. Renovation will occur in stages and the inn will continue to operate throughout the process.
“Our attraction to the Jenner Inn mirrors what motivated our purchase of the Delta King,” Charlie Coyne said. “We will be guardians of an incomparable asset with significance that transcends our ownership. We view the Jenner Inn as a treasure of historic proportion and natural beauty that cannot be duplicated. Our emphasis will be to accent the inherent attractions of the Jenner Inn and west Sonoma County. We were elated at the opportunity to acquire such a unique property located so close to the Bay Area.”
The main building is now under renovation. With its galleon windows flanking a central gallery, it has the lobby, bar, and restaurant. It is believed to have been designed by an associate of Julia Morgan and was constructed entirely from redwood in about 1948 by Swedish boat-builders.
In 1984, Coyne and his brothers started a five-year project to restore the decaying, partially submerged historic stern-wheeler Delta King. He envisions a similar comeback for the Jenner Inn.
“I’m sort of an accidental hotelier,” said Coyne. “My passion is bringing things of quality in need of a little TLC into beautiful, well-run things of quality that retain their original charm, and that’s my vision for the Jenner Inn. We did it with the Delta King, and our goal is to repeat that success here in Jenner.”
In addition to renovating the inn’s 21 guest units, the new owners have plans for updating restaurant and will begin by offering breakfast to hotel guests in the coming months.
Lodging at the inn ranges from traditional-sized hotel rooms to suites with kitchens or kitchenettes. Because each room is unique, rates will vary, but the goal is to offer a romantic destination emphasizing the natural beauty and activities of west Sonoma, including kayaking, whale and seal watching, abalone diving, fishing, bicycling and the world class Sonoma wine and food. Several rooms will be designated as pet-friendly.
