Presidio of San Francisco (October 3, 2017) – The Presidio Trust is pleased to announce that in summer 2018 it will open its second hotel – Lodge at the Presidio in the majestic Presidio national park. As the closest lodging to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, this newly rehabilitated historic boutique hotel will provide unparalleled views of the Bridge, the park’s lush 300-acre forest, San Francisco Bay, and the iconic city skyline. It will be the starting point for recreational and leisure activities in the 1,500-acre Presidio, the crown jewel of the 80,000 acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the most visited national park in the United States. The lodge will begin taking reservations in January 2018.
“The new lodge at the Presidio is a great reason for visitors to come back to San Francisco, and for first-time visitors to vacation here,” said Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust. “Where else can you stay in a national park with extensive walking and biking trails while also being minutes from the amazing restaurants, nightlife, and museums of a major city like San Francisco.”
The 42-room Lodge at the Presidio will be housed in the iconic Montgomery Street Barracks, built between 1895-97 by the US Army to house six artillery companies, a cavalry troop, and two infantry companies. The historic streetscape was later dubbed “Infantry Row.”
The building is undergoing a complete historic rehabilitation in the category of adaptive reuse, which involves updating a historic building for contemporary use while honoring its character. The Presidio is a National Historic Landmark District and one of the most ambitious historic preservation projects underway in the United States because it has six million square feet of built space for which nearly 3.3. million square feet have been rehabilitated to date. As a result Presidio building projects like the Lodge adhere to the highest standards or historic rehabilitation set by the Secretary of the Interior. It will also adhere to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
The lodge’s three-story interior celebrates the Presidio's past with artisan details and memorabilia, complemented by comfortable, modern finishes and furnishings. Art and design elements will “bring the outdoors in” by reflecting the beauty of the Presidio’s national park setting, including its forest and bay views. Social areas will include a courtyard garden with fire pit, front porches with rocking chairs, lobby reception, and a large dining room lounge. A concierge service will help active travelers discover the national park and its environs.
Centrally located, the lodge will be steps from the seven-acre Main Post public greens and the new Presidio Visitor Center that opened in February 2017. It is also near a transit center that offers a 30 minute free shuttle rides to downtown San Francisco, making the lodge a home base both for natural and urban adventures.
A Successor to the Park’s First Success – Inn at the Presidio In 2012 the Presidio Trust opened the park’s first hotel, the Inn at the Presidio. The inn, a sister property to the new Lodge at the Presidio, is an intimate retreat nestled in the Presidio’s historic forest featuring primarily two-room suites with fireplaces. It is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and received their Award of Excellence for Best Small Historic Hotel in 2012 and 2016. It was recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top five hotels in San Francisco, Readers’ Choice Awards (2015); one of Fodor’s 100 Best Hotels (2012) and named as a “World’s Greatest Hotels” in Travel and Leisure (2012) among other awards. The Inn is LEED Gold certified and has received accolades for its sustainability in adaptive reuse.
The Presidio as a Unique Visitor Destination The Presidio is conveniently located just minutes from neighborhood shopping districts and only a short distance from the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown San Francisco, North Beach, Union Square, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, the Ferry Building, and Golden Gate Park. Marin County and the Wine Country are a quick trip north across the Golden Gate Bridge. The national park features 24 miles of hiking trails, 25 miles of biking trails, the 18-hole Presidio Golf Course, cultural and recreation tenants such as the Walt Disney Family Museum and a trampoline park, restaurants, venues for hosting celebrations and meetings, and free public events. The park is home to the Presidio Officers’ Club, an award-winning museum and cultural center.
“The Presidio of San Francisco has a rich history dating from 1776. The origins of our city can be traced to this remarkable site. It also made history by transitioning from a military post to a self-sustaining national park,” says Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association. “The addition of the Lodge will give our visitors the opportunity to experience this fascinating and unique part of San Francisco.”
The Lodge at the Presidio is owned by the Presidio Trust and managed by Waterford Hotels and Inns.
