Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
After photographing the Harvest Moon (image here) last Friday night I was walking up the hill to the car when I couldn’t help but notice, and remark how lovely the West Cliff Inn looked all lit up, and her transom window over the entry door looked lovely too.
My friend replied, “There’s your next door!”. Don’t you love friends that support our thing for doors? I do! 🙂
For the History Buffs:
“Most of those who descended on California during the Gold Rush never struck it rich. One exception was prospector Sedgewick Lynch, a carpenter-turned-49er who made his fortune in the gold fields, then made his way to Santa Cruz. Lynch continued to use his carpentry skills; he built the original Santa Cruz wharf, among other local projects.
In 1877, Lynch built his family manse on a bluff with a commanding view of the ocean, just a short walk from the lighthouse. The Lynch House was among the town’s most prominent residences, constructed for the then-startlingly high cost of $12,000. The house was initially the only home on the cliff, but by the turn of the century, similarly grand neighbors joined it, giving birth to the nickname “Millionaires’ Row.”
Over the next hundred years, the Lynch House morphed from family home to hospital, to office space and vacation rental. By 2004, it was dilapidated. But the Italianate Grand Dame of West Cliff Drive was in luck; the new owners wanted to save the historic property, so they undertook a complete renovation to the building.
Four Sisters Inn’s President Shelley Post collaborated on every phase of the rehabilitation project, and her strong knowledge of what guests want influenced many design decisions. For example, soaking in a large tub after a long day at the beach is on Shelley’s list of favorite things, which is why almost every room soon had a deep soaking tub.
Work began in 2004, and by June of 2007, the Lynch House was as beautiful as ever, ready to welcome Santa Cruz visitors under her new name: Four Sisters Inns.”~westcliffinn.com
I remember when the house was looking quite run down. I am so happy it was restored and converted to a B&B and preserved as an Historical Landmark in 2007. It looks beautiful today.
Nikon Df| Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G| Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2015.5
This post is part of Norm 2.0’s Thursday Doors. If you love doors and would like to see the doors others are posting, or post doors you’ve photographed and join other door lovers from around the world click here.
At the end of Norm’s latest Thursday Door post is a little Blue Link-up/View button click it to be taken to a page with all the links to view all the posts, and add your own if you’re a door enthusiast too.
More to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
🙋 Here is this I would like to give you. Deborah !!!
The Doors that welcome
The Doors that send you out into the World
The Doors that let you in every night and day
The Doors that are remembered but cannot be forgotten
The Doors are rightfully placed
The Doors are what we are proud of
The Doors are the only rightful entrance
The Doors are sacred item of a building our home
The Doors are those we cannot ignore of
The Doors are open to people with open hearts
The Doors are closed to people with closed hearts.
Thanks so much for taking
Pains in posting the images of beautiful DOORS.
HUGS
😃👌👍🙋💟
I love this Shiva! Thank you so much!! xx
Such a gorgeous house!!!
Thank you so much!
That is quite a door! It is good to see such a wonderful old home in good condition.
Thank you so much Melissa!
I love love love to hear history preserved — and especially Californian History! Great post.
Me too Katie! Thanks so much for the comment!
Nice subject and night shots!!! I like the lamp starburst.
Thank you!
Nice night shots! I didn’t know about this place; perhaps a place to visit in the future. Reminds me of a B&B my sister-in-law visited in Monterey (these restored buildings are all awesome).
Thanks Gordon! It looks like it would be a lovely romantic get-away place near home doesn’t it? I’m keeping it in my hat for He-Man and I.
beautiful night shot Deb!
I’ve been getting a few non-blogging friends on board with the Thursday Doors concept too!
That building is pretty impressive – for its appearance and for all its history. Definitely a good pick 🙂
Woot!
So beautiful Deborah!
A smiling door, she shines in the night.
Ooh! I love that thought! Thank you for sharing it Cheryl!
What a beautiful building! And what a story! Carpenter makes a fortune prospecting for gold and builds his own McMansion. And how satisfying, that the building has been appreciated and renovated. Another stop on my ever-growing bucket list!
🙂 Thank you so much Marian for the lovely comment!
My bucket list just grows too.
It’s a charming place. Transom window? – check. Wrap around veranda? – check. Matching balcony? – check. Rounded front windows? – check. It would have been a shame to lose it. I’m always happy when an old treasure can be restored to glory 🙂
I love your check list Joanne!
I think there’s a Widow’s walk up top too.
Thank you so much for the lovely comment!
oooo – a widow’s walk! I’ve never had a chance to experience one of those!
I haven’t either, but I bet the view’s from them are nice since they’re almost always by the sea.
It IS nice when our friends support our door enthusiasm 🙂
That’s a gorgeous grand old home, and such an interesting tale of prosperity, I love it.
Thank you Joey!
Not surprisingly most of the people who did make their fortune in the California and Yukon gold rushes were not the prospectors but the merchants who sold them their supplies!
What a wonderful happy-ending story about this house, not to mention a lovely door find.
If I’m ever out that way again I will certainly check this place out.
Yes, it was the Merchants that really struck it rich wasn’t it.
Thanks for the comment Norm! I hope you do make it out this way again. If you save some time for a Meet-Up with me and Gordon! 🙂
Gorgeous photos, Deborah, and I love the history info, thanks for including it. I am so happy the present owners brought the mansion back to life! 🙂
Thank you Donna! Me too! Looking at the Inn’s images they have posted I was thinking this would make a nice little get away romantic spot for He-Man and I. 🙂
Most definitely…… 😉
Lovely door today (and house), Deborah and thanks so much for the history. I’m so glad this house was pulled back from the brink. The light in the left pane almost looks like a full moon rising, especially given that the right pane looks onto the dark stairs. I also like the stone walls and the outside stairs. If forced to do so, I think I could live there 🙂
Thank you Dan! Ha-ha if forced to I think I could too! 🙂
It is quite beautiful. I was recently reading about a family that traveled to California during the gold rush. Quite interesting history on this house 🙂
Thank you Amy! I found the history interesting, and am glad you did too.
That’s awesome, and she picked a great door. Love the history!
Thank you so much Antonia! I think she picked a good door too.
What a lovely house, door, and history! Supportive friends are the best kind! 💛
🙂 They are! Thank you so much for your lovely comment Camie!