Eden Vale Inn Commitment

At Eden Vale Inn in Placerville, CA we are committed to continual improvement of facilites and service. We thank our guests for their continual feedback and helping us improve while they relax and enjoy.

Fall Color

Fall is definately in the air around Placerville and Apple Hill. November always brings the best color in the surrounding Sierra Foothill Vinyards. Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast is surrounded by gardens and the color here is a grand display. Here are a few pictures snapped in this morning's crisp air.

First Proposal

A beautiful warm full moon night aroused an inspiration. He rowed her out on the Big Dipper pond and proposed! She said yes. The next morning they announced the event and all the ladies cheered. A few days later the mother-in-law to be called to say how wonderful it all was. She had made the reservation too!

Dock for the Pond

We've needed a dock for our small

1/3 acre pond for some time. We wanted something small and low profile that would also last a long time. Mostly the dock is for swimming and viewing. But, you can also tie a boat up to it.

Our design was to use 2" diameter threaded galvanized pipe for the frame. The we laid incense cedar deck right over the frame. It just lays into place and is not fastened so we can easily lift it off for maintenance.

When the water was drawn down four feet for maintenance last winter, it was an opportunity to pour some concrete footings and embed the pipe in the concrete. Then I went to the local plumbing store where they thread pipe to custom sizes. Several trips were required as I would build a stage and, then measure up the next stage. The pipes show in the pictures. The vertical pipe sticking up is so you have something to grab getting out of the water. Not shown is that he pipes under water that make a ladder for entering and exiting the pond.

The wood was incense cedar. We have a lot of it available here in the Sierra Nevada. It has excellent resistance to rot, better than coast redwood according to those that know. There are some old incense cedar fence posts here that had been in the ground maybe as long as 80 years. They had no rot in them. The bugs don't like it. We finish all our cedar with Superdeck. It's about 60% linseed oil looks great and weathers well.

You can't find incense cedar in the lumber stores. If you want to use that wood you have to find a band saw miller or you can take a trip to Kubich Lumber in Grass Valley, CA. They have a boutique business in incense cedar. They mill it on a big old buzz saw so you get the saw marks in the lumber, great if you like the rustic look.

The picture in the upper right is one of the dock panels flipped upside down so you can see how it's built. Each of three panels just lay on the pipe; you don't need to fasten it making it easily removable. The side rails hold it together and keep it from slipping side to side. You can also see the land footing with the 2" pipe set right in it. The only fasteners were some 3 1/2 coated screws for decks I got at Home Depot.

Summer Garden

Summer Garden -
Grasses and Sunflowers!

Spring Garden

Spring Garden - Roses and Wisteria

Big Dipper Pond

Big Dipper Pond

Evenings, soak in your private two-person outdoor tub, enjoy the intimacy of your room or gather around the fire pit overlooking “Big Dipper Pond.” Whether swimming, floating or just resting beside still waters, the pond is a source of renewal and reflection. The clear waters support a lively population of rainbow trout. A lush wildflower garden and walking path surrounds the pond.

Our Commitment

Mark and Gayle’s mission is to provide rejuvenation and replenishment to their guests. Over the years, they have shared their enthusiasm for good food and enjoyment of an active lifestyle with friends from far and near. In developing Eden Vale, Mark and Gayle have taken great care to ensure guests will be refreshed and inspired by their experience, whether seeking romance or a spiritual grounding.

History

The Inn

The heart of Eden Vale is the main house. Once a classic California hay barn built in 1918 it has been restored and converted into a magnificent home. Much of the original timber frame construction (old growth incense cedar and sugar pine) has been preserved. The rough hewn timbers and dominating slate fireplace of the great room evoke a mountain lodge. Just minutes from the South Fork of the American River, the Inn is part of a historic homestead established in the late 1880’s. It sits nestled in a valley surrounded by the lovely signature foothills of the Gold Country. The spirit of the far west lingers in the nearby Emigrant Trail and you’ll follow the old Pony Express route as you approach Eden Vale.