Madrona Manor

Madrona Manor

Company type	Private
Industry	Hospitality, Restaurant
Founded	1881
Founder	John Alexander Paxton
Headquarters	Healdsburg , United States
Area served	California Wine Country
Key people	Jesse Mallgren (Executive Chef)
Products	Lodging, Dining
Owner	Bill and Trudi Konrad (since 1999)

Madrona Manor is a Victorian-style bed and breakfast inn located in California's Wine Country, near Healdsburg in Sonoma County. It is notable for its restaurant, which has received a Michelin-starred distinction.

History

The estate was acquired in 1879 by John Alexander Paxton, a prosperous San Francisco businessman, who paid $10,500 for the land situated in the Dry Creek Valley AVA. He named the property "Madrona Knoll Rancho" in honor of the native Arbutus menziesii tree found on the grounds. Between 1880 and 1881, Paxton constructed a three-story Victorian mansion with 17 rooms to serve as his weekend home.

Following Paxton’s passing in 1888, the property was divided among his heirs, with his eldest son excluded from inheritance. After the deaths of Hannah Paxton in 1902 and Charles Paxton in 1910, the estate fell into disuse and was eventually parceled out. In 1918, Blitz Paxton sold the remaining land and structures to D. H. Botchford for $17,500.

John Harry Muir converted the eight-acre remainder of the property into a country inn in 1981. Madrona Manor gained recognition by being added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1987, and is also designated as a Sonoma County Historic Landmark. The property changed hands in 1999 when Bill and Trudi Konrad became its owners. In 2006, rumors circulated about a potential sale to filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, but these were refuted by the Konrads after negotiations did not come to fruition.

Lodging

The inn features 23 guest rooms and suites, including options within the historic Carriage House as well as private cottages. Its scenic setting makes it a favored location for weddings and weekend getaways, drawing clientele from areas such as San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Restaurant

Initially managed by Muir’s children who served as chefs, the dining establishment saw a change in leadership in 1999 when Jesse Mallgren was appointed executive chef by the Konrads. Under Mallgren’s guidance, the restaurant earned a Michelin star in 2008, elevating its status as one of the region’s top culinary venues.

Each year during November and December, Madrona Manor presents its "Dickens Dinners," which combine themed performances with holiday menus that highlight seasonal local produce.