Dawn Ranch

Dawn Ranch, nestled by the serene Russian River, proved to be a hidden gem that exceeded our expectations in every way. From the moment we arrived, the beauty of the location unfolded before us, setting the stage for a truly memorable retreat. Lush greenery, towering trees, and the calming presence of the Russian River create an atmosphere of tranquility. The well-maintained gardens provide a picturesque backdrop for a leisurely stroll amidst nature. I had the opportunity to get a massage at the Spa and it was truly rejuvenating. The masseuse, Audra was fantastic, ensuring comfort by consistently checking if the pressure was just right and inquiring about any specific areas that needed attention. All in all, it was a lovely getaway and wish we could have stayed longer. Can’t recommend this place enough.

I had an amazing time at Dawn just before Thanksgiving. The place is gorgeous, surrounded by tall redwoods, mountains, and the Russian River. We stayed two nights at the resort, which is great for both families and couples. They've just redone their restaurant, creating a cool, upscale yet cozy vibe. Our room, Olive’s cottage, was a beautifully decorated one-bedroom suite. We loved walking through the orchard and kitchen garden. The town has awesome food too - the ice cream at Nimble and Finn and pasta at Boon were top-notch. Plus, the spa was a highlight with its relaxing drawing room, hot tea, and steam room. We're definitely making Dawn our go-to getaway from San Francisco.

We recently stayed at this place and had an incredible experience at this resort! It’s just a short 90-minute drive from San Francisco. The exotic cabins boast stunning interiors that make you feel right at home in the midst of nature. The property’s landscape is truly amazing and provides a serene connection with nature. What’s even better is the resort’s super convenient location – it’s right by Guerneville’s charming downtown and overlooks the beautiful Russian River. Plus, quick access to nearby restaurants and grocery stores adds to the overall convenience. Though just a stone’s throw away from the nice downtown area of Guerneville, the resort itself (once you enter) seems completely isolated from anything urban, giving it a feel of being in the middle of nature. Highly recommend this gem for a refreshing getaway!

Dawn Ranch has potential. There are aspects of the hotel that could use some TLC. The walls in the rooms are paneled, but they desperately need caulking. They should have been caulked prior to re-painting to avoid a paint-peeling/cracking appearance. It looks quite awful. The use of space in the rooms could be enhanced. A lot of money was poured into the mattress (Parachute), bath amenities (Le Labo), and mini fridge (Smeg), but other aspects of the room (quality of the paint, new bed frame, updated clothing rack [ours fell apart], no TV for winding down before sleeping since everything in the area closes early) were overlooked. If you stay in one of the cabins at the Grove, you have to drive a small distance up the road to get to your room. They don’t offer a shuttle or car to transport you to and from Dawn Ranch’s main area, which is not convenient if you frequent the restaurant and spa. This is also not disclosed on the website. We would not have booked this type of room if we had known. Management also does not provide any flexibility if you wish for late checkout. We received an email stating that late checkout would be about $37. I inquired about late checkout and was told that it’s $70. Then later, I inquired about late checkout in-person and was told that it’s not even offered due to guests checking in that day. I checked the website and there was still ample availability. I checked out on a Monday, so it seemed odd that we could not be accommodated for an extra hour. I travel often and have not experienced such a stringent checkout policy. Usually, hotel staff can generously accommodate. I think if you want to be a 4-star hotel and you’re going to charge 4-star hotel prices, your guest services and overall experience should be enhanced. I’d give DR another chance because it does have potential. The staff at the restaurant and spa were very kind. All facilities were clean.

Dawn Ranch has better marketing than they have facilities. I’m currently staying here, and I would not recommend to a friend. We paid for a slightly upgraded larger room, and when we checked in we were told it wasn’t on the main campus where the spa, meadow, restaurant or check-in is. You have to cross a 40mph street and pass a small homeless camp to get to the other set of cabins. That means we did not “walk back to our rooms after our massages in a robe and slippers” as they suggested… it also means you’re constantly driving back and forth for every activity. I wish I’d picked a cheaper room on the main campus (but we didn’t know)! My massage was average - the therapist had a cold and kept sniffling / sucking in snot. I hadn’t brought a mask because I didn’t think anyone would be sick, she wasn’t wearing one, and when I looked around there were none available in the room. The spa is overcrowded - there weren’t enough seats for people to have tea and we had to wait outside in robes to use the sauna. Staying on the main campus may have been a different experience, but for us it was disappointing and overpriced.

Dawn Ranch, nestled by the serene Russian River, proved to be a hidden gem that exceeded our expectations in every way. From the moment we arrived, the beauty of the location unfolded before us, setting the stage for a truly memorable retreat. Lush greenery, towering trees, and the calming presence of the Russian River create an atmosphere of tranquility. The well-maintained gardens provide a picturesque backdrop for a leisurely stroll amidst nature. I had the opportunity to get a massage at the Spa and it was truly rejuvenating. The masseuse, Audra was fantastic, ensuring comfort by consistently checking if the pressure was just right and inquiring about any specific areas that needed attention. All in all, it was a lovely getaway and wish we could have stayed longer. Can’t recommend this place enough.

We recently stayed at this place and had an incredible experience at this resort! It’s just a short 90-minute drive from San Francisco. The exotic cabins boast stunning interiors that make you feel right at home in the midst of nature. The property’s landscape is truly amazing and provides a serene connection with nature. What’s even better is the resort’s super convenient location – it’s right by Guerneville’s charming downtown and overlooks the beautiful Russian River. Plus, quick access to nearby restaurants and grocery stores adds to the overall convenience. Though just a stone’s throw away from the nice downtown area of Guerneville, the resort itself (once you enter) seems completely isolated from anything urban, giving it a feel of being in the middle of nature. Highly recommend this gem for a refreshing getaway!