The Inn On First

We have found there is a LOT of misinformation out there about what is happening here in the Napa Valley. I will tell you what we do know at this time: The fires in the Napa Valley are about 30 miles north of us, started on the eastern hills (Howell Mountain), quickly crossed the Napa Valley floor, and headed up the western hills (Spring Mountain), and is headed toward Santa Rosa. There has been no danger to any of us south of Calistoga and St. Helena, although many winerie...s are being affected. Places such as Sterling and Castello di Amorosa have had small buildings burn, but the main parts remain. Others, such as Chateau Boswell and Newton are gone. Even though fire came right through their properties wineries such as Rombauer, Davis Estates, and Duckhorn have all survived. We pray for those families who have lost their homes, and those who are evacuated (some of them are with us at The Inn On First), and for the firefighters. The weather is very hot and there is a slight smell of smoke in the air. It's always a reminder to keep everyone affected close to your heart and mind as we live through these days. Yes, we are still open. Yes, we still have guests. Restaurants are open and serving guests. The harvest waits for no one and the business of winemaking continues as it must. Thank you to all who have reached out. We love that you care for us so deeply and are grateful for your concern. We are safe and feel fortunate to have people like you in our lives.

All is well! We are safe, far from any fire. It is far to the north of us.

This past week TripAdvisor informed us that we have been awarded the Traveler's Choice Award, which puts us into the top 10% of lodging properties worldwide! Wowza! #1 BnB in Napa, #1 BnB in California, and now in the top 10% of the World! Thank you to all of our guests who have written reviews and helped up to achieve this designation.

Hello, everyone. Blue skies here in Napa. Although the news is showing all sorts of fire in the county of Napa, there is no fire in the Napa Valley. We are safe and sound here, restaurants and wineries are open, and yes, guests are enjoying their stay. The fire has been heading east, away from us. We will keep you informed if anything changes.

Yes, we're open. Yes, wineries are open, too. Restaurants as well. The only caveat: outdoor tastings and outdoor dining only. We still provide breakfast in your room or on the outdoor patio...and with the stunning weather in place right now, outdoors on the patio at your own table (yes, six feet away from everyone else) is, in our not so humble opinion, the very best of choices!

Some good news arrived in our inbox late yesterday afternoon! Napa County announced wineries and lodging establishments can reopen immediately. Whoa! Not that fast! In order to ensure we're fully prepared for your arrival we're going to need just a little bit more time. We expect to reopen in the next week or two, but will post/email as soon as we firm up the date!

No news is good news! We are still alive and well here in Napa. We've been working with the City and County of Napa as well as Visit Napa Valley on the details of reopening lodging properties for visitors. As this is our home, we have been sheltering in place here at the inn.....and, well, we LOVE IT HERE! We are beginning to appreciate what guests have enjoyed for the past 13 years. The gardens, the mansion living space, all of it for us and the boys. Yes, it has been a bit like a vacation for us and we have made the most of it. And...we want to get back to work soon and safely get back to business. The county tells us we are close, and we are beginning to find ways to ensure safety for all of our visitors. So, we would like to ask you one question: What do you need to feel safe and comfortable for a visit to the inn?

Although we are currently closed to guests and practicing Safe At Home ourselves, we have worked hard to answer all of your questions and fulfill all your requests this past week. That said we have decided to take an unprecedented move and take the weekend off like "normal" people. We will resume work on Monday. Stay sane.

Today we were informed that the county of Napa will institute a Shelter in Place beginning on Friday and ending on April 7th. We will not be hosting guests nor will we be available by phone. Please email us at [email protected] for any questions or issues about current or future stays. Stay healthy.

We are choosing to stay open for those who want or need a getaway. As a small property exposure is very limited here for people, and we have taken so many extra measures with doorknobs and cleaning surfaces to ensure people are safe. We still offer breakfast service, and provide a picnic backpack for those who want to enjoy a picnic dinner in their rooms in front of the fireplace. What's happening in downtown Napa?... As of today most of the large wineries are closed, although some of the smaller ones have decided to stay open, at least for the time being. Many of the restaurants in downtown Napa are either closed or offering curbside pick up for orders over the phone. The ones that are open are located at the larger hotels here in Napa. Some downtown tasting rooms are closing for the week, but planning to reopen on the weekend. Although that might change by the end of this week. Yes, we're very healthy, staying strong, and encourage you all to do the same. If you want to hunker down here at The Inn On First, we would love to host you.

In the event you've heard about our Governor's press conference on Sunday afternoon, the following is a summary from the Washington Post on the Governor's comments: In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) held a news conference Sunday to urge bars, nightclubs and brewpubs to close though he said it was not a legal order. He also asked that restaurants practice deep social distancing, including reducing occupancy by half. As of today we have spoken to some wineries, smaller venue, that will remain open but are limiting the number of visitors in the winery at any given time. We will provide further updates as we receive them.

Yes, we're still open for business. Yes, we continue to keep a clean and sanitary environment for our guests. As a small 10-room inn there is no exposure to large groups of people. Wineries and restaurants are open as well. We do shake hands and hug our repeat guests, and respect people when they politely decline for personal reasons. We also encourage everyone to continue to wash their hands. In short, we are doing everything we can to keep this a safe and healthy environment for those who choose to visit. We also respect those who decline to travel for fear of exposure and will continue to serve those who want to share in Napa's bounty.

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OOPS! 1st Street has changed direction! Which means your GPS will not get you here easily....at least not until they update the changes. Now when you take the 1st Street exit on Hwy 29 in Napa, turn right and you will come to a roundabout. Plan on following the roundabout to continue straight onto 1st Street. It is a one way street with two lanes heading toward downtown Napa. The inn will be on the left.... We still encourage you to go directly to the parking lot on Clay Street. Use 2005 Clay Street. That is an apartment building next to our parking lot which is marked with a sign.