Restoring Calistoga’s historic Francis House and turning it into a luxury inn has been a labor of love for a Bay Area couple.
In May, Architectural Digest named The Francis House as one of the “15 Best-Designed Hotels Opening this Year.” For an interior designer, that’s the equivalent of winning an Oscar for one’s work. For Dina Dwyer and her developer/ contractor husband Richard, it is the fulfillment of a quest they began back in 2015.
The Dwyers live and work on the Peninsula and are known for their careful remodels and restoration projects— especially in Hillsborough. “Like so many folks in the area, Dina and I loved exploring Wine Country on the weekends,” says Richard, “and after a while, we started looking, in earnest, for a special property.”
They found it listed in the newspaper one weekend. The house was one of Calistoga’s grandest, built in the style of the French Second Empire in 1886 for wealthy merchant James H. Francis. The home’s golden era was short-lived, though. From 1919 – 1964, the edifice served as the Calistoga Hospital; from there it was downhill. The structure’s doors were locked for good and the building was essentially abandoned for over 50 years.
“When we purchased it, the City Planner said to us, ‘My congratulations and my condolences,’” Richard relates. The planner knew the amount of work in store for the Dwyers. Richard adds with his trademark humor, “I believe this is what happens when you see something that you fall in love with immediately and obviously have some small amount of insanity in your family.”
Dina chimes in, “Restoring the house was a magnificent opportunity to enjoy what we do professionally with what we love doing— making new friends while learning about and enjoying wine. It has been quite a journey for us. It introduced us to local workers, craftsmen, and artisans. The opportunity to save the only French Second Empire stone building in Napa Valley is a tribute to their skill and to the rich heritage of Calistoga.”
The sparkling new Francis House is a beautiful blend of old and new. Dina carefully selected a mix of antiques and modern pieces that are sure to delight the discerning modern traveler. Exquisite touches like Murano and Baccarat chandeliers and heavily embroidered bathrobes all add to the property’s luxe feel. The boutique hotel boasts five unique guest suites stocked with the finest linens and amenities. An elegant pool beckons guests to spend the day in the warm Napa Valley sun, but if you’d prefer to explore, the property is just steps from downtown Calistoga and minutes from some of the best restaurants and wineries in the world.
“We feel blessed to have found something with such history,” says Dina. “We hope with its new life as a boutique inn that the story of The Francis House will have another golden chapter.” www.thefrancishouse.com ◆
