Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Kitchen 25th Anniversary Events

Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Kitchen 25th anniversary is a milestone for a Wine Country landmark. The hotel and its restaurant are marking 25 years in Healdsburg this fall. Their story is also part of the town's rise from a quiet agricultural community to a destination known for chefs, winemakers and ambitious dining. A series of events will celebrate the occasion in November.

Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Kitchen 25th anniversary Begins With a Bold Idea

In the 1990s, Merritt and Pam Sher took an interest in a vacant lot on the Healdsburg plaza. It was a dog park and rose garden at the time. Finding a place to stay beyond a few bed and breakfasts was hard. Merritt, a shopping center developer, asked broker Eric Drew about the site. He saw the chance for a community hotel rather than another big box store.

The land has long been a gathering place. It was once home to a prehistoric village of Southern Pomo and Western Wappo people. In the 1850s, Harmon Heald opened his first store nearby. By 1980, the block had fallen into disrepair, and the city bought and demolished the buildings. Several developers considered the site, but none followed through.

Dry Creek Kitchen Anniversary and the Charlie Palmer Story

Circe Sher, who co-founded Hotel Healdsburg with her late father, said the family faced pushback. Healdsburg was an unproven market, and bank financing was hard to secure. The family shouldered much of the cost themselves. She said they really bootstrapped it.

The project needed a reason for people to visit. Chef Charlie Palmer, then best known for Aureole in New York, agreed to open Dry Creek Kitchen. Charlie Palmer restaurant plans centered on the region's farms and vineyards. Dry Creek Kitchen opened in October 2001 with Mark Purdy as executive chef. Its wine list featured only Sonoma County bottles. Hotel Healdsburg welcomed its first guests a month later.

A Modern Hotel in Wine Country

The hotel's concrete, metal and glass design broke from the traditional Wine Country look. Circe Sher said there were no colorful bedspreads or lace. In 2002, Dry Creek Kitchen earned its first Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. It has kept the honor every year since. Palmer said the plaza was quiet in 2001, and guests followed once the restaurant showcased local farms.

Anniversary Events in November

On Nov. 6, the hotel will open its lobby to the community from 7 to 9 p.m. Guests can enjoy live jazz, birthday cake and sparkling wine. On Nov. 7, Palmer will host a dinner with chefs from across the region. Dustin Valette, Kyle Connaughton and Carlos Mujica are among them. Tickets cost $275 per person, and attendance is limited to 100 guests.

Throwback Menus and a Fan Exhibition

Executive chef Shane McAnelly will serve three course throwback menus on Nov. 5, 12 and 19. Each costs $55 per person. The Hand Fan Museum of Healdsburg will present Hotel Fans from Around the World from Nov. 1 to 30.

A Gamble That Paid Off

A quarter century ago, building a hotel on a rose garden seemed risky. Today the site is part of the fabric of the town. Palmer said a restaurant can do more than feed guests. It can help a town discover what it wants to be.

Readers can find more restaurant news on our site. To plan a stay, visit the official Hotel Healdsburg website.