Kass Green: The Drive Behind The Inn Above Tide

Written by Alison Bailin Batz

August 6, 2021

California | Hotels and Resorts | Luxury Travel | North America | Travel | United States

Wander With Wonder contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon or other affiliate links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.

The Inn Above Tide is among the most iconic hotels in Sausalito, California. The team that brings the boutique oceanfront hotel to life is lead by the remarkable Kass Green.

The Inn Above Tide is among the most iconic hotels in Sausalito, CA. A true boutique oceanfront hotel, it features just 33 rooms and suites. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. Most have private decks literally feet above the water. The hotel offers an unparalleled visual perspective of the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The sweeping view includes the city skyline, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and Marin in all of its grandeur. The team that brings this fabulous experience is lead by the remarkable Kass Green.

One of the suites at Inn Above Tide. Photo Courtesy of Felipe Passa

What's in This Article:

Kass Green is a Resilient Individual

But this story is not about the three-story dreamy hotel, at least not entirely. It is about Kass Green and her journey to own and run the property with her family. They are proof that triumph after tragedy is possible through sheer will and determination.

Kass Green. Photo courtesy Aniko M Photography

A Tragic Childhood

Green was born in Ohio. Green’s mother successfully fled an abusive husband. She made a life for her children. She also earned a master’s degree in social work along the way. Tragically, she passed away from breast cancer when Green was just 14.

Wander With Wonder contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. We thank you for your help — it is what keeps Wander With Wonder bringing you great content.

A New Family

“My uncle, William ‘Bill’ McDevitt, and my biological brother felt strongly that my biological father, who had many demons, should not raise me. So, my uncle’s family took me in as their daughter,” says Green. “I consider him my dad in all the ways that matter, so when I refer lovingly and glowingly to my dad in this story, please know I am talking about him. The same goes for his sons, who are technically my cousins, but will always be my brothers.”

Green’s dad (Bill), a contractor and builder, developed the structure in 1963 that would one day become The Inn Above Tide. It was originally designed as an oceanfront apartment complex.

Kass Green’s First Career

Green is visual-spatial like her dad, with an aptitude for math and science. Green earned her way into Berkley after graduating high school. She received her bachelor’s degree in Forestry in 1974. Then she followed up with a master’s degree in Resource Policy & Economics from the University of Michigan in 1976. She even studied toward a doctoral degree in Wildland Resource Policy & Economics back at Berkeley, though she didn’t finish her dissertation.

“My first formal career – after working as a hotel maid and at a Sausalito jewelry store to put myself through school – was as a natural resource economist, but I soon turned to map making,” says Green. She eventually founded – with her husband – Pacific Meridian Resources, a pioneer in the use of satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GIS) integration, and remote sensing application development.

Kass Green. Photo courtesy of Aniko M Photography

The Inn Above Tide Comes Together

As she built her business into a global technology icon, her dad also stayed busy shutting down the apartment complex in 1993 for two years. During that time, he re-imagined it into the first iteration of The Inn Above Tide, which opened in 1995.

“Funny enough, my dad always dreamed of designing a waterfront hotel in several locations, and while all that time, it was sitting under his nose in the apartment complex, just waiting for him to explore its full potential,” says Green.

Green herself sold Pacific Meridian to an aerospace company in 2000 and then founded Kass Green and Associates. Her namesake company consults on GIS and remote sensing technology and policy, maps the vegetation of National Parks such as the Grand Canyon, and supports the creation of wildfire hazard maps throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Keeping Inn Above Tide in the Family

As she did all this, Green’s dad would continue to run – and continuously improve – the hotel until his passing in 2011.

“At that time, my brothers and I inherited the hotel. There was no question we were all dedicated to working together to keep it a family affair,” says Green, who jumped at the chance to work with her brothers while still serving as president of Kass Green and Associates.

“My brothers and I are very different, but together with our general manager Mark Flaherty, we make a great team, and the Inn has continued to thrive, grow and become more beautiful. It’s demanding to manage two very different careers, but I love both, and working on the hotel, I feel that my dad is at my side working with me to enhance his vision.”

After Years of Improvement, The Inn Above the Tide is Stunning

The decade since has been a whirlwind. It is capped off by the hotel undergoing a multi-million renovation in 2019 only to have COVID-19 rain on their parade. “The Inn, like me, is resilient,” says Green. “And it is now more glorious than ever.” The renovation added two new accommodation options – the City Lights suite and Founder’s suite – and completely remodeled the popular Vista Suite.

Room at Inn Above Tide. Photo courtesy of Felipe Passalacqua

The 635-square-foot Vista is a corner suite with a distinct aquatic theme. The City Lights suite offers 720 square feet with a plush lounge area, private wood deck, and indoor-outdoor glass fireplace. Finally, larger than even the lavish penthouse on the property, the 1,000-square-foot Founder’s suite boasts a full kitchen, one-and-a-half baths, a massive patio with outdoor couches and living space, and a formal dining room that seats 14. Like all of the rooms at the hotel, all three suites have expansive, over-the-water views of the Bay Area, stretching from Angel Island to the East Bay, and San Francisco.

One of the exquisite rooms at The Inn Above Tide. Photo courtesy of The Inn Above Tide

“All stays include a locally sourced breakfast in the morning and a wine and cheese reception from 5 to 7 p.m. daily, both in the drawing-room,” says Green. “Though there is no formal restaurant, each room also offers a curated honor bar with a selection of beverages as well as sweet and savory snacks available for purchase.”

The Inn is just steps from a ferry that ventures to San Francisco hourly and within a quick stroll to dozens of Sausalito restaurants.

Inn Above Tide Offers Something for Foodies

Eager to satiate its foodie- and adventure-focused guests, The Inn recently partnered with Sushi Ran chef and owner Yoshi Tome. They created the “Yoshi Tome’s Sausalito” package. The package features a one-night stay with overnight parking and both a bottle of sake chosen by Tome and an origami folding kit upon check-in. Yoshi Tome’s Sausalito also includes a $100 credit for dinner at Sushi Ran as well as a flight of sake pairings for two to accompany the meal. Finally, guests will also receive an adventure map with outdoor-enthusiast Tome’s picks for the best sites, hiking trails, and biking paths in the region.

Note: Please check the website for current packages.

Kass Green Mixes Her Passions

“I’ll give you one guess who made the map,” laughs Green, who between her two businesses still has time to serve as the vice-chair of Sausalito’s Economic Development Committee, hike in the Marin Headlands, and do dozens of public speaking engagements each year. “Out of what began as a life of chaos came opportunity, but it didn’t happen overnight or without sweat equity for many years.”