Client Restoration Project

Member of Historic Hotels of America.

The Benbow Historic Inn’s pride in its history is evident in its décor, where antiques and finely crafted furniture fill every guest room and common area. Northern Lights Restoration was tasked with refinishing all the guestroom furniture, trim work, baseboard, raised panel doors, and custom bathroom vanities. Each guestroom adorns a unique European antique cabinet that was hand-selected by the original Benbow owners. Northern Lights Restoration also completely restored all the ornate antique furniture throughout the historic main lobby and common areas. Mr. John Porter graciously provided us with a wonderful testimonial, and we are truly honored to have contributed to the Inn’s rich history.

Opened in 1926 as the “Hotel Benbow,” the Benbow Historic Inn quickly attracted Redwood Highway travelers and Hollywood stars like Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable. After being sold by the Benbow family in 1962, Chuck and Patsy Watts undertook a masterful restoration in 1978, establishing it as Northern California’s first Four-Diamond luxury hotel and securing its National Register of Historic Places listing in 1983. Following a 1994 purchase by John and Teresa Porter and Jack Macdonald, the inn (renamed “Benbow Inn” in 2014) joined Historic Hotels of America and continued its legacy of excellence, culminating in a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2018.