From the Pomo people — weavers of beautiful baskets — to the vintners, cooper-makers, military men, gold-miners, and loggers, the area has long been a refuge for leisure, exploration, and basking in natural marvels. An inclusive haven, a “bohemian” boys club, a Bauhaus revival, and more, Guerneville is a town rich in craft, culture, and culinary wizardry.

In the 1860s, the railroad threaded through the redwoods, and Californians discovered camping. In the 20s and 30s, they erected dance halls and roller rinks and live music, and threw wild parties with swan-shaped floats and slug-eating contests. People dressed in drag and feathers. They danced all night. They swam til dawn. They made and drank champagne and even grew tobacco. They flirted at The Grove and hung out at the Owl, where, as the postcard says, “Thirty thousand slake their thirst.”