October marks 25 years since the Presidio transitioned from a US Army post to a national park located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. One of the crowning gems of its many historic buildings is the Lodge at the Presidio. The restored 1897 red brick Colonial Revival barracks housed thousands of soldiers throughout the past hundred years, and is now a unique boutique hotel with history, provenance, and style.
A long front porch with teak rocking chairs greets visitors coming up to the Lodge; behind is an expansive grassy field used for events, picnics, concerts and perhaps a game of soccer. Inside, the three-story building houses a light-filled lobby that contrasts with the dark hardwood floors, which have a squared pattern marking the original floor plans of the old offices and artillery storage areas.
“The Lodge at the Presidio offers a terrific complement to a downtown stay,” says Terry Haney, managing director of Presidio Lodging. “You’re away from traffic, city noise, and activity, immersed in a green park setting, and you wake up to a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It gives you more energy to start your day, either in the park or exploring one of San Francisco’s other neighborhoods.”
Its proximity to Napa and Sonoma also allows its guests to be in wine country in an hour and then sail the Bay to Sausalito or Alcatraz.
With 42 guest rooms, the Lodge provides visitors a range of options, from a standard queen to a junior suite with nearly 600 square feet of space. Being a former military garrison does not mean that the rooms are static and merely functional-the white-and-blue-themed rooms with burgundy accents offer crisp lines with a mix of subtle nautical motifs. They are comfortable and clean, without a folksy jumbled look.
