Joseph Post, one of the original Big Sur settlers, built a small homestead in 1865, adding a two story section in 1877. The Post Homestead was placed on the National Registry of Historic places in 1986. Adjacent to Hwy 1 at the entrance to the Ventana Inn, the structure served as employee housing for 20 years.

Our Client, Geolo Capital purchased Ventana Inn & Spa a few years ago and wanted to complete an adaptive reuse of this historic structure to create an iconic roadside cafe with outside patios serving hotel guests as well as area visitors, and creating a more inviting entry feature to the revitalized Ventana Big Sur.

The Homestead is original single wall construction, using 2 layers of 1 inch thick redwood planks, with an outside horizontal layer and inside vertical layer. The project involved adding new foundations, a seismic retrofit appropriate for public occupancy, restoration of the exterior, removal of the loft to create a high volume cafe space, ADA access and ADA restrooms. The project was delayed for more than a year when Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on CA Hwy 1 collapsed in heavy rains severing access to Ventana.