San Francisco, CA
CBRE Brokers Sale of Dawn Ranch Resort in Sonoma Wine Country
April 12, 2022
Media Contact
Samantha Cheung
Senior Corporate Communications Manager
CBRE announced the sale of the Dawn Ranch resort in Sonoma Wine Country to a partnership between Bridgeton Holdings, a private real estate firm with boutique hotels across growth markets, and Tidewater Capital, a fully integrated real estate company that invests in and develops properties throughout the Bay Area. Henry Bose, Alex Lee-Bull and Elena Quach with CBRE Hotels in San Francisco represented the proprietor. Olga Lepow with CBRE Hotels’ Debt & Structured Finance group secured the acquisition financing on behalf of the partnership.
Located at 16467 CA-116 in Guerneville, Calif., Dawn Ranch Lodge is a resort with 55 cottages, three bungalows, one on-site restaurant, and expansive event grounds. The resort borders the Russian River and has been featured as a top wedding venue by publications including Martha Stewart Weddings and Glamour.
“Bridgeton is excited to push forward its defining philosophy of creating memorable, guest-centric experiences here at Dawn Ranch resort. Guerneville has a unique and storied history, and we’re excited to be a part of the greater community while continuing to build upon the Lodge’s legacy,” said Atit Jariwala, CEO of Bridgeton.
“The nearly 15-acre property will be positioned as one of the top lodging properties in the market. We are excited to realize the full potential of the resort through thoughtful design and management,” said Akash Sharma, President of Bridgeton.
The property’s origins date back to 1905 when Theodosia Button Murphy purchased the site as an orchard. She built The Lodge as a dining hall and added tent cabins among the orchards to cater to the San Franciscans who liked summering on the Russian River. The Murphy family sold the resort in 1978, at which point it became Fife’s Resort. The most recent proprietor purchased the property in 2001 and rebranded it Dawn Ranch Lodge in 2005. Today, Dawn Ranch Lodge is known all over the world for its destination weddings, corporate retreats, large-scale family and other social gatherings, and as a getaway for transient leisure guests.
“The principals of Tidewater and Bridgeton have known each other for over 13 years, and we are thrilled to form a partnership to advance the vision of a repositioned Dawn Ranch resort. We look forward to harnessing the spirit of the natural amenities of the Russian River Valley and re-imagining the on-site guest experience to create defining hospitality moments for visitors from near and far,” said Craig Young, Managing Principal of Tidewater.
The hotel’s location on CA-116 is just over an hour from the Golden Gate Bridge, minutes from world class wineries in the Russian River Valley and within walking distance to downtown Guerneville.
“We are seeing strong demand from investors for drive-to hotels and resorts in the Bay Area and across the U.S. This category of hospitality has been among the best performers since the pandemic’s onset in 2020,” stated the San Francisco-based CBRE Hotels team of Henry Bose, Alex Lee-Bull and Elena Quach. “Dawn Ranch Lodge benefits from the high barriers to entry for new lodging supply in Sonoma County and the unique property characteristics that make Dawn Ranch so special.”
The partnership plans to thoughtfully expand the resort’s amenities, offerings and programming while elevating the in-place cottages, bungalows, event spaces and restaurant with an ethos that aligns with their design-forward and guest-centric boutique hotel portfolio. Further, the partnership plans to focus on continuing the legacy of the resort that was guided by the seller for more than two decades.
About Bridgeton
Established in 2012 as a partner for investors seeking value-add real estate investments, Bridgeton is a full-service real estate firm with in-depth expertise in investment management, development, and hospitality management. It continues to re-envision the traditional hotel model with a focus on boutique hotels and approaches every opportunity with meticulous intention. From coast to coast, Bridgeton’s strategic ports of call deliver a vibrant sensibility tailored to an independent lifestyle.
Over the past 10 years, Bridgeton has been involved in over 60 projects. For more information, visit: https://bridgeton.com/.
About Tidewater
Tidewater is a fully integrated real estate company that invests in and develops properties with an eye towards promoting shared prosperity within the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 2013 with a focus on progress, Tidewater strives to improve properties with untapped potential into dynamic spaces that help strengthen communities, promote economic opportunity, and contribute to collective well-being. Operating across a variety of product types including office, residential, retail, hotel and industrial, Tidewater aims to foster long-term positive impact for the benefit of its partners and the communities in which it operates. Tidewater has significant experience and a strong track record managing all aspects of design, development, acquisitions, marketing, asset management, finance, and sustainability. Tidewater employs a value investment philosophy while promoting all of its stakeholders to rise together. For additional information, please visit www.tidewatercap.com.
Located at 16467 CA-116 in Guerneville, Calif., Dawn Ranch Lodge is a resort with 55 cottages, three bungalows, one on-site restaurant, and expansive event grounds. The resort borders the Russian River and has been featured as a top wedding venue by publications including Martha Stewart Weddings and Glamour.
“Bridgeton is excited to push forward its defining philosophy of creating memorable, guest-centric experiences here at Dawn Ranch resort. Guerneville has a unique and storied history, and we’re excited to be a part of the greater community while continuing to build upon the Lodge’s legacy,” said Atit Jariwala, CEO of Bridgeton.
“The nearly 15-acre property will be positioned as one of the top lodging properties in the market. We are excited to realize the full potential of the resort through thoughtful design and management,” said Akash Sharma, President of Bridgeton.
The property’s origins date back to 1905 when Theodosia Button Murphy purchased the site as an orchard. She built The Lodge as a dining hall and added tent cabins among the orchards to cater to the San Franciscans who liked summering on the Russian River. The Murphy family sold the resort in 1978, at which point it became Fife’s Resort. The most recent proprietor purchased the property in 2001 and rebranded it Dawn Ranch Lodge in 2005. Today, Dawn Ranch Lodge is known all over the world for its destination weddings, corporate retreats, large-scale family and other social gatherings, and as a getaway for transient leisure guests.
“The principals of Tidewater and Bridgeton have known each other for over 13 years, and we are thrilled to form a partnership to advance the vision of a repositioned Dawn Ranch resort. We look forward to harnessing the spirit of the natural amenities of the Russian River Valley and re-imagining the on-site guest experience to create defining hospitality moments for visitors from near and far,” said Craig Young, Managing Principal of Tidewater.
The hotel’s location on CA-116 is just over an hour from the Golden Gate Bridge, minutes from world class wineries in the Russian River Valley and within walking distance to downtown Guerneville.
“We are seeing strong demand from investors for drive-to hotels and resorts in the Bay Area and across the U.S. This category of hospitality has been among the best performers since the pandemic’s onset in 2020,” stated the San Francisco-based CBRE Hotels team of Henry Bose, Alex Lee-Bull and Elena Quach. “Dawn Ranch Lodge benefits from the high barriers to entry for new lodging supply in Sonoma County and the unique property characteristics that make Dawn Ranch so special.”
The partnership plans to thoughtfully expand the resort’s amenities, offerings and programming while elevating the in-place cottages, bungalows, event spaces and restaurant with an ethos that aligns with their design-forward and guest-centric boutique hotel portfolio. Further, the partnership plans to focus on continuing the legacy of the resort that was guided by the seller for more than two decades.
About Bridgeton
Established in 2012 as a partner for investors seeking value-add real estate investments, Bridgeton is a full-service real estate firm with in-depth expertise in investment management, development, and hospitality management. It continues to re-envision the traditional hotel model with a focus on boutique hotels and approaches every opportunity with meticulous intention. From coast to coast, Bridgeton’s strategic ports of call deliver a vibrant sensibility tailored to an independent lifestyle.
Over the past 10 years, Bridgeton has been involved in over 60 projects. For more information, visit: https://bridgeton.com/.
About Tidewater
Tidewater is a fully integrated real estate company that invests in and develops properties with an eye towards promoting shared prosperity within the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 2013 with a focus on progress, Tidewater strives to improve properties with untapped potential into dynamic spaces that help strengthen communities, promote economic opportunity, and contribute to collective well-being. Operating across a variety of product types including office, residential, retail, hotel and industrial, Tidewater aims to foster long-term positive impact for the benefit of its partners and the communities in which it operates. Tidewater has significant experience and a strong track record managing all aspects of design, development, acquisitions, marketing, asset management, finance, and sustainability. Tidewater employs a value investment philosophy while promoting all of its stakeholders to rise together. For additional information, please visit www.tidewatercap.com.
About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2024 revenue). The company has more than 140,000 employees (including Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE serves a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.