The Lodge at Marconi is a real “yes, and” kind of place. Is it a state historic park? Yes, and also a hotel imbued with Northern-California coastal style, that special mix of nature-minded architecture, big picture windows, luxe linens, and welcoming outdoor spaces. Was the property at one point a drug-rehab/cult headquarters? Yes, and before that a radio receiving outpost that made TransPacific radio communications possible.
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This “yes, and” approach serves it well in its current state as a hotel and event space complete with with views of the Tomales Bay, hiking trails around the property, and a restaurant. In the late fall, I took the hour-ish drive from the San Francisco Bay Area out to the Lodge at Marconi for an overnight stay. Here are the details of the experience.
Things to know about the Lodge at Marconi
- Rather than a single building, the Lodge is made up of clusters of individual buildings and houses scattered throughout the wooded hillside property.
- The original Marconi Hotel, which you’ll see as you wind up the hill toward the current Lodge at Marconi, is a cool and a little spooky empty building. It’s not part of the current lodge.
- The Lodge is a popular spot for weekenders and wedding parties, which gives it a festive vibe.
- Breakfast options are a bit thin on the ground. You can get coffee drinks and to-go items in the lobby, but if you want a more substantial breakfast you’ll need to drive to Point Reyes Station or head north to Bodega Bay (about 35 minutes away).
- The concierge can hook you up with interesting activities including horseback riding, Point Reyes safari tours, and kayaking.
- Service was very casual. It was not an above-and-beyond luxury experience, but it was friendly and competent.
Details about Lodge at Marconi
Location
The hotel is about a 20-minute drive north from Point Reyes Station. Situated on a wooded hillside, the property offers partial views across the Tomales Bay toward Point Reyes. It’s a good home base if you’re looking for a weekend getaway that mixes Point Reyes activities with some Sonoma Coast (a half hour drive north) thrown in there for variety.
The property
The lodge and state park sit on 62 acres of wooded hillside along Tomales Bay. While I was there, I walked many of the trails and saw deer and birds along the way. Mixed in among the lodge’s well-kept buildings are some historical houses that are now used for events like weddings and conferences. At the top of the property is a hilltop that offers great views and is available as a wedding ceremony site (there was a wedding party heading back down the hill as I climbed up to get a view of the sunset). There’s also a big meadow where you can picnic, play volleyball, or borrow gear for other activities like bocce. A fire pit and adirondack chairs create a gathering place in the center of the main cluster of buildings. And an out-of-the-way A-frame house offers a more private vacation-rental feeling experience.
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The Lodge has done a good job making the lobby feel like a cozy and welcoming living room, complete with interesting coffee table books and a roaring fire. Antique radios line the walls and a little food pantry offers snacks, wine, and drinks.
Rooms
The Lodge’s 45 guest rooms are spread out around the property, but many of the rooms are just a stone’s throw from the lobby, set up as a circle around the fire pit and tucked in among the trees. This is where I stayed, in a Standard King Loft, which has a king bed on the main floor and a twin tucked into a little loft above. There’s a mix of room types that sleep between two and five people.
My room felt cozy, coastal, and full of delightful details like local art, upscale bath products, handmade chairs, antique phones, elegant glassware, a gooseneck kettle for tea, and steeped coffee.
Dining
The Lodge’s restaurant, Mable’s is, all on its own, a reason to visit. Looking at the photos before I arrived, I was a little worried the dining room, with its tile floors and Scandinavian furnishings, was going to feel cold, but instead it was warm, welcoming, and rich with the aromas of good food. The midcentury-modern dining room is lined by windows on two sides that, during the day, look out on a big deck with picnic tables and beyond that, the bay.
Local seasonal ingredients play a starring role on both the prix fixe tasting menu and the a la carte menu. I tried the “Mable Experience,” a parade of fun appetizers like roasted vegetables, goat-cheese-topped grilled homemade bread, and tinned fish. Other a la carte menu items like local charcuterie and cheese boards, salads, and local fish stews are meant to be shared.
The delight extends to dessert with options like seasonal fruit pavlovas (when I was there, it was an early-winter mix of gooseberries, pomegranate, and persimmons, which has become a treat I make at home) and house-made ice cream.
