Benbow Inn

The Benbow Inn is a Tudor Revival hotel on the South Fork of the Eel River, two miles south of Garberville. It opened in 1926 and looks the part — half-timbered gables, leaded windows, a verandah that overlooks the river. Even if you are not staying, it is worth stopping to have a drink in the lobby bar or a meal in the dining room.

In summer the adjacent Benbow State Recreation Area runs down to the riverbank, where a seasonal dam creates a swimming hole popular with locals and campers. The combination of the historic hotel and the easy river access makes this a more appealing stop than Garberville proper for an afternoon or overnight stay.

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A story
The Benbow was built in 1926 by the Benbow family as a resort destination in its own right. Eleanor Roosevelt stayed here in 1934. So did Herbert Hoover. The Depression hit the resort hard and it changed hands several times, but the Tudor structure survived intact and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.