History and Beauty Make Holman Ranch the Ideal Celebration Location

On a recent trip to Carmel, we were lucky enough to spend a night at a private ranch that offers cozy rooms, gorgeous scenery and breathtaking vineyards and olive groves. Holman Ranch, which is located at the Northern end of Carmel Valley, California, is an extraordinary and charming property that will transport your mind and body to an enchanting and tranquil place.

As we pulled up to Holman Ranch, several deer greeted us along the serene drive to our room. We spent a wonderfully relaxing evening at this property and whether you are searching for the picture-perfect location for a wedding, corporate event or even a family reunion, this quaint, tranquil and historic location offers some of the most unique and beautiful backdrops in the area.

Property Information:

Holman Ranch
web: http://holmanranch.com/
(831) 659-2640
60 Holman Ranch Road
Carmel Valley, California 93924

Holman Ranch has quite a long history, but most recently was purchased in 2006 by Thomas and Jarman Lowder who fell for the property’s charms. With 400 acres, a working vineyard and olive grove, Holman Ranch is the perfect location for multi-day retreats and single-day events. There is so much this property has to offer, it’s difficult to sum it up.

Our visit began with a tour of the Holman Ranch grounds starting with the vineyard and wine cave. The Holman Ranch vineyard stretches over 21 acres and boasts 100 percent estate grown wine that is organic and sustainably grown. We were able to taste the wine right out of the barrels in the caves and it was an enjoyable and educational experience. The warmth of the inland valley combined with the cooling marine layer is the ideal climate for the production of this winery’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which were both delicious.

As far as the grounds go, the focal point (and most stunning spot on the property) is the recently restored 1928 Carmel stone hacienda. From this spot, you can view 360-degree views of the Santa Lucia Mountains, which truly are magical and quite breathtaking. I thought back to my wedding day and imagined how special this setting would be for a bride and groom and their guests. It’s an impressive wedding location, especially with the various rooms and patios that surround the hacienda from the gorgeous lawn to the Stone Terrace, which is the ideal spot for a pre-reception cocktail hour. One of our favorite places on our tour of the Hacienda was the Game Room, which was originally a stable and was then converted into a theater. It now offers a pool table, dartboard, plasma TV, fireplace and bar, which provide an enjoyable retreat for the groom and his groomsmen before the event. The hacienda and its variety of spaces can accommodate up to 200 guests.

Holman Ranch also offers a lush Ceremony Veranda, a small chapel for smaller weddings (50 seated guests), a bride’s room and a carriage house. While all of these event spaces lend themselves well to weddings, Holman Ranch is also an unforgettable location for corporate events with its fully furnished and modern Conference Room and the Great Room, which is a comfortable location for cocktails or intimate dining.

The last item I want to be sure and mention are the accommodations. The newly remodeled guest rooms (there are 10 of them) reminded me of cozy western cabins, but with all of the modern amenities you would expect in a hotel. One of my very favorite things about the room was the water. Yes, the water! Holman Ranch has its own water system on the property and the water tastes so pure and refreshing. We were given two Holman Ranch stainless canteens in our rooms and we definitely enjoyed using them and drinking the water on the ranch. I’ll raise my canteen to that for sure!

Our entire experience from the water to the wine, to the accommodations (best night sleep EVER) to the quaint town with restaurants like Will’s Fargo Steakhouse and Bar and the Jarman Tasting room (also owned by the family that owns Holman Ranch), made this a memorable trip that was totally worth the long drive from Orange County. Holman Ranch and Carmel are spectacular and quite simply, beautiful beyond measure.

Disclosure: Kristine Snyder was given a complimentary stay at Holman Ranch for this travel feature and review. No monetary compensation was received. Kristine's thoughts and opinions are 100% her own and were not influenced in any way.