Monte Verde Inn carries on a tradition
of graciousness that dates back to the Gold Rush
- Victorian days of the 1850's when the original
structure was known as the U.S. Hotel. Then
John Carlson, a Swedish immigrant from New
York followed the “Gold Fever” out
West and founded the North Star Toll House in 1866
with the old Foresthill Road actually running through
the current driveway of the property.
The stately Georgian Manor of today was completed
in 1939 by the illustrious Commander Walker,
who,
at his first retirement from the U.S. Navy
began the process of remodeling the original
house. It was disastrously wiped out, however,
by fire from a blow torch as finishing touches
were underway. The present mansion, though much
grander than the first, is designed after the
original and sits on the same foundation. Second-growth
cathedral pines encircle the surrounding hillsides
like scores of sentinels guarding the Inn. The
first-growth forests were cleared for cultivation
of foodstuffs for the large population of the
Gold Rush, as many as 500,000 people at one point.
As a matter of fact, the Foresthill Divide was
a center of California population and at one
time Yankee Jim's up the road was under consideration
as a site for the state's capitol! Todd Valley,
which is known today as Todd Valley Estates,
was named after one of its most important citizens,
Dr. William Todd,
brother of the once “first
lady” Mary Todd Lincoln.
In 1964 Richard and Margaret Monteverde purchased
the house and adjacent 6+ acres that was subdivided
from the original 650 acre land grant. After
renaming the property “Verde Antique” they
remodeled the home and opened a fine “supper
club” on December 29 of that year. Operating
for almost 20 years, many locals can still recall
savoring the house specialty “Roast Chicken
Maggie” while her brother played
the piano
in the majestic dining room.
In the mid 1980’s after a
few years of abandonment Rick Peasley, a lawyer
from Los Angles and his wife Ann acquired the property
and after extensive renovations and meticulous
landscaping opened the Monte Verde Inn as a bed & breakfast. Soon
thereafter they began hosting weddings and private
parties in the tradition of gracious country elegance
that is still practiced today by the Dalisa’s.
