Timber Cove Inn sold

Timber Cove Inn, a landmark 50-room hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean north of Jenner, has been sold to a Southern California hotel developer who plans to renovate the property, the new owner said Monday.

“I intend to help bring the Inn back to its glory days, when it was the place to be on the coast,” said Bob Olson, president of R.D. Olson Development Co., a hotel developer based in Irvine.

The inn will be managed by Pacifica Hotel Company, a Santa Barbara firm that owns coastal lodgings from San Francisco to San Diego.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but county records showed the 22-acre property sold last week for $8 million.

Last year, former owner Richard Hojohn put the inn on the market for $10.9 million.

The inn will close for several days next month for renovations, said Lori Keller, spokeswoman for Pacifica Hotel. The project should be finished by October, she said.

The inn’s 30 employees will be retained and the new management may increase staffing when renovations are complete, she said.

The inn, built in 1960, is noted for its heavy timber construction, spectacular ocean views, hiking trails and towering sculpture by modern artist Benny Bufano.

Most of its rooms have fireplaces or hot tubs.

“People come back year after year who love the Timber Cove Inn,” Olson said. “They will love to see the place renovated and professionally managed.”

The project includes renovation of the lobby, bar, restaurant and kitchen. The rooms will get new carpet, drapes and bedding, according to the partners.