Little River Inn sits on the Mendocino Coast. The Coombs family creates a haven for visitors from which you can enjoy the magnificent coast.
Cally Dym is known as the ‘Goddess of Little River.’ That’s what locals call her, but shy, modest Cally would never speak of herself that way. In fact, getting Cally to talk about herself or her family isn’t easy. Cally Coombs-Dym is the Innkeeper at Little River Inn in Little River, California. She is the fifth generation of the Coombs family to operate the only resort on Mendocino Coast. But the Coombs’ are absorbed in much more than the hospitality business. They are community builders and stewards of the land. Before you plan your visit to Little River Inn, let me share with you a little bit about Cally Coombs-Dym and the innkeeper behind this beautiful inn.
Cally Dym is the Goddess of Little River. Photo by Mary Charlebois
Little River Inn Gives Thanks to Silas
Cally’s Great-Great-Grandfather, Silas Coombs, came to the Mendocino Coast in 1853. He and two other men built a mill to process the timber cut in the nearby forest. Loggers floated logs down Little River, where the Coombs cut the logs into lumber. From there, they loaded the timber aboard sailing and steam vessels waiting in Little River Bay. Then the boards went to San Francisco to build the city and its great painted ladies—Victorian Mansions and buildings.
Little River Bay. Photo by Mary Charlebois
Silas built his family home, and the Coombs family became early settlers on the Mendocino Coast. Logging and fishing brought people from around the globe hoping to make a fortune, start a new life, or escape into the hustle and bustle of a boomtown.
Unofficial records indicate the community grew to more than 10,000 people. A school was established, and a post office opened. A shipyard built and repaired ships and boats. Hotels, shops, livery, and blacksmiths serviced locals and visitors alike.
The mill closed in 1893 when the abundant forests were logged out after only 50 years. Businesses closed or moved on to working mill towns like Fort Bragg, about 11 miles up the coast. Little River’s population grew smaller and smaller. Today it numbers 117 citizens.
Ole’s Abalone Picker. Photo by Mary Charlebois
Ole Had a Plan for Little River Inn
Ole Hervilla turned the Coombs family home into an inn in 1939. Travelers found a place to stay where they could relax and commune with nature away from cities, traffic, and noise. While lodging was available in nearby Mendocino and Fort Bragg, Little River Inn’s quiet beauty brought visitors back for annual retreats and vacations to the coast.
Since the inn’s opening, the Coombs family have been inn-keepers, restaurateurs, barkeeps, employers, community builders, community leaders, and stewards of the Pacific and Redwood Forest on the inn’s property and in Little River.
Their story is of steadfast and generous people. To this day, the Coombs family is always the first to help community members in need, raise money for community necessities, and educate visitors and locals about the importance of keeping our fragile coast and forest clean and unmolested.
Redwood Forest near Little River Inn. Photo by Mary Charlebois
Coombs Family Stewards
Through Little River Inn, Cally and her family have a mission. “For five generations, our family has been welcoming visitors to the Mendocino Coast, and these deep roots influence every aspect of how we run our inn. We view ourselves as stewards of our land, our community, and our legacy”.
Abalone shell in a tide pool. Photo by Mary Charlebois
Little River Inn Serves as Stewards for the Natural World
Encouraging and sustaining a thriving oceanfront and forest is ‘Job 1’ for the inn. The family sustainably maintains the Audubon Certified 18-hole golf course, with all parts of the course except greens kept in a wild state. Golfing here might include whale watching, wildlife sightings, and communing with Redwoods.
Water is precious. Little River Inn has an extensive water conservation and recycling program. That goes for their newly established kitchen garden that will supply vegetables, herbs, and fruit for the restaurant. Cally Dym, Chef Marc Dym, and Chef Jason Azevedo work closely with a farm adjoining the inn’s property. So, when the menu says, “locally sourced,” you can believe it.
It is the inn’s practice to patronize and support local suppliers and producers.
Cally Dym at an eco-weekend at Little River Inn. Photo by Mary Charlebois
Eco-Weekends at Little River Inn
Education is also part of LRI’s natural world stewardship. Cally organizes and presents eco-weekends throughout the year that help participants learn about tide pools and their inhabitants, such as abalone. They share information about the lifecycle and foraging in the forest and along the shore.
This year Cally has organized a Purple Urchin weekend (something we have plenty of these days due to a considerable increase in their number). Book a room at the inn and learn how to harvest and prepare these spiny delicacies. You will also know why the population grew and how eating them is helpful.
For a family adventure at Little River Inn, the Family Discovery package includes a guided naturalist tour, star-gazing supplies, and a safari tour. Children of all ages will always remember the time at the inn spent learning about sea stars, Redwood tree canopies, the moon and tides, and other natural wonders on the Mendocino coast.
Little River Inn Golf Course. Photo by Mary Charlebois
Facts About the Little River Inn
- Little River Inn sits on CA HWY 1, at 66 feet above sea level.
- There is a Redwood Forest on the property.
- Tide pooling, kayaking (including rentals), and snorkeling are all within a 5-minute walk from your room.
- Little River Inn adjoins Van Damme State Park, and there’s a private path to the park where you can find trails for forest bathing, wildlife spotting, and chasing waterfalls.
- The Audubon-Certified 18-hole golf course has an ocean view. Enjoy free rental clubs for guests.
- Complimentary tennis and racquets day or night for guests.
- Dining is available indoors with ocean or garden views.
- Outdoor dining is in the garden, under a huge white tent. Fairy lights fill trees and plants. The romantic setting makes dinner at Little River Inn an exceptional occasion.
- Chefs Marc Dym and Jason Azevedo seek out the very best available from Mendocino County farmers, ranchers, and fishmongers. They use organic ingredients to create California cuisine. Breakfast and dinner are served daily. See the current dinner menu online.
- Make your home-away-from-home in an ocean view room, filtered view room, or a cozy cottage.
- Spoil yourself with fireplaces, jacuzzi tubs, steam showers, sunset balconies.
- Family, ADA, and pet-friendly accommodations.
- Oceanview bar serving local wines, beer, and spirits. The Bloody Mary’s are prize winners with their secret ingredient—seaweed.
- On-site full-service spa.
- An ocean-view space for meetings and celebrations. It has a kitchen.
Coastal Trail Bench at Little River Inn. Photo by Mary Charlebois
More to Do on Mendocino Coast
- Head to Fort Bragg and ride the Skunk Train Rail Bikes.
- Visit the Little River Improvement Club & Museum for more on the colorful Little River history.
- Explore the Kelly House Museum in Mendocino for coastal history.
- Noyo Center for Marine Science to learn more about the California coast.
- Get some creative on at the Mendocino Art Center.
- Walk or ride a coastal trail.
- Head to Disco Ranch for Anderson Valley wine and cheese tasting.
- Check out B Bryant Preserve for Giraffe and Zebra sightings.
- Take in a festival or other event celebrating food, wine, music, art, whales, and wildlife.
Main Street of Mendocino Village. Photo courtesy Visit Mendocino County
Getting to Little River Inn in Mendocino County
Little River and the Little River Inn are located on CA HWY 1, about 3 miles south of Mendocino Village. It’s about a 3-hour drive from San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The fastest way is to take 101 North to HWY 20 West in Willits. Hwy 20 dead-ends at the Pacific in Fort Bragg. Little River is about 11 miles south of Fort Bragg.
Check your favorite mapping program for additional routes taking you up the coast from Sonoma County or through Anderson Valley, one of California’s greenest wine-producing regions.
The closest commercial airport is Charles M Shultz – Sonoma County Airport, STS, in Santa Rosa – about a 2-hour drive. Little River has a private airport, KLLR.
Little River Inn south of Mendocino on the California coast. Photo by Mary Charlebois
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Coombs Family Lasting Legacy at Little River Inn
The Little River Inn is a foundation of the Mendocino Coast. Standing for years, weathering ferocious Pacific storms, earthquakes, and a loss of population. Yet, the Coombs family continues to stand guard so you may come to immerse yourself in one of Mother Nature’s most magnificent creations.
In all fairness, I must disclose, I’m a Mendocino Coast local. I’ve been to Little River Inn more times than I can count. I’ve stayed in the rooms, enjoyed mimosas at Sunday Brunch, attended eco-weekends, and conducted an interview with Cally while tide-pooling across the road from the inn. Each experience at the sanctuary protected and hosted by the Coombs family drew me closer to the natural world in which I live. It will do the same for you. Be sure to check out Wander for more stories about what to see and do in Mendocino, along Highway 1, and other great places to explore in California.
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