Sitting in a valley three miles inland from the Pacific Ocean within the Estero Americano Watershed District, the schoolhouse is crafted with original 100-year old wooden paneling and features. A bright sun room & outdoor patio allow you to appreciate this unique rustic setting with bucolic surroundings.
The Estero Schoolhouse
This charming, romantic, turn-of-the-century converted wooden schoolhouse sits on an acre of fruit, cypress, cedar, and pine trees. A uniquely-peaceful ecological garden, surrounded by gently rolling hills of west Marin.
The structure was built in 1915 as the Estero District Schoolhouse, for children of the surrounding ranches. . It features beautiful interior design with mahogany staircase and redwood accents. A cathedral living room ceiling frames beautiful garden views. An enclosed south-facing solarium overlooks a lovely brick courtyard and fountain. Open sided staircase and loft make upstairs bedroom suitable for only adults and older children. Small children can safely use the downstairs bedroom, bathroom and other areas.
The property sits in a peaceful valley two miles inland from the Pacific Ocean within the Estero Americano Watershed District. The one acre parcel holds the original schoolhouse and the former stable, which housed the horses and cart which picked up the local students. The former stable has been converted to a fully self contained studio, which sleeps three and which is also available for rent.
The house is crafted with the original 100-year old wood paneling and framing. Expansive windows bring in an abundance of natural light. A fully functioning grand piano is set in the center of the living room, under a mahogany staircase. The vintage kitchen with adjoining breakfast area contains everything you will need to prepare delicious family dinners or a lunch spread. The sunroom offers a beautiful place to sit for breakfast, afternoon tea, yoga, or meditation. The garden and rolling hills surround you – a place for dreaming and reconnecting with the harmony of nature and the land.
There are two private bedrooms with queen-sized mattresses, and an additional queen sized bed in a corner of the living room. The schoolhouse comfortably sleeps six.
This wooded acre is great for anyone looking to get out of the city and enjoy the slow pace of country living. The land is kept in its natural bucolic state, allowing for deer, rabbits, wild turkeys, owls, raptors and a wide variety of birds to live in the trees and high grass of this wooded acre. A bird watcher's delight. We provide binoculars for animal viewing.
Guest access
As guests, you will have full access to the main house, front garden, roof deck, solarium, and bricked patio. We sincerely ask that you respect and care for this charming home, its property, and neighbors.
On this one acre property, there is a fully separate studio, (the former horse stable for the schoolhouse) which sleeps three and sits about 100 feet away from the main schoolhouse, and offers both properties a great amount of privacy. The studio is also available either separately or with the schoolhouse, through VRBO, https://www.vrbo.com/1987442. Renting both together is recommended for those with more than six guests. We offer a 10% discount for rentals of the house and studio together.
Other things to note
WITH OUR SEPTIC SYSTEM, IT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRED NOT TO FLUSH ANYTHING OTHER THAN HUMAN WASTE AND TOILET PAPER DOWN THE TOILET.
All other items (floss, sanitary napkins, cleaning wipes, etc.) go into the trash can provided. Also note this is a rural location and a nature sanctuary, and for our many guests with pets, we don't use much poison, so those with zero bug tolerance should perhaps avoid this wooded bucolic acre. Open food should be placed in the refrigerator at night to discourage bugs or vols.
We encourage you to arrive prior to dark to see the surroundings. It will also make your stay more comfortable to arrive while there is still light. Entrance and driveway lights are just inside the front gate, under the antique streetlight on the left side. Cell phone service is good with T-Mobile, available but spotty with Verizon. Internet service at the house is excellent. Please know where you are going before leaving the Petaluma area in case you lose phone or GPS service. Nearest gas is in Bodega Bay (11 miles to the north) .
PETS: There is a $50 fee per pet per stay. If you would like to bring more than one pet, you must check first with owner. We are happy for guests to bring their pets with prior notification. However, for the comfort of future guests and for hygiene purposes, animals are not allowed on our furnishings or in the beds. Extra charges will apply if this occurs. Please bring beds for your dog(s) and use them exclusively. Please note that while there is a fence surrounding the property, this is not a fenced in pet location where your pet can be left unsupervised and run free on the property.
Please check your belongings before you leave! Please be advised there is a $50 fee for any left items that require being returned.
