History of Post Ranch Inn
The Post family was among Big Sur’s First pioneers. This inspiring landscape with cliffs, mountains, and panoramic ocean views has been entwined with the Post Family for generations. Under the family’s stewardship, the 100-acre Post Ranch has evolved from a homestead and working ranch to one of the most acclaimed sustainable luxury resorts in the world.
Bill and Luci outside Sierra Mar
Post Ranch Inn began with a handshake in 1984, but the history of the ranch goes back to 1848, 18-year-old William Brainard post stepped off the ship in nearby Monterey.
A spirited explorer and entrepreneur, W. B. Post spent his early years on the California coast where he hunted grizzly bears and deer. Later he became a businessman, starting the first grain warehouse in Moss Landing and the first butcher shop in Castroville. In 1850, William Brainard Post married and Selma Onésimo of Costanoan decent, with whom he had five children. When he took out a claim on 160 acres of land in Big Sur, he became one of the region’s first homesteaders. With the help of his sons, he built a cabin. The red New England-style house, a registered landmark. still stands on Highway 1 across from the entrance to Post Ranch Inn.
The Post family raised cattle and hogs and exported apples from a thriving orchard. W.B. and Anselma’s youngest son Joe married a neighbor, Elizabeth Gilkey. Joe eventually bought up claims from both of their families, accumulating nearly 1,500 acres, including the area on which Post Ranch Inn sits today. Together the adventurous couple ran the ranch and took hunters and fishermen on pack trips into the wilderness around Big Sur. Their son Bill continued the family tradition of leading trips and working as a cowboy and rancher. While employed as the mail carrier from Monterey to Big Sur, Bil gave a ride to Irene Fredricks, a city girl whose romance with Bill turned her summer visit to Big Sur into a lifelong stay. The couple opened Rancho Sierra Mar, a small resort and cafe near the Post Family home, which they ran with their two children, Billy and Mary.
Architecture and Design
Post Ranch Inn could not exist anywhere else. The coast-side rooms seem to soar, cantilevered off the mountain. The mountain-side houses curve around old-growth trees. Some are built a nine-foot stilts to protect the delicate root balls below. The structures’ materials - reclaimed, wood, glass, steel, and stone - further enhance the sense of harmony with nature in the extraordinary site.
Mickey Muennig - Original Architect
A native of Joplin, Missouri, G.K. (Mickey) Meunnig studied with Bruce Goff at the University of Oklahoma, where he was drawn to the principles of “organic architecture.” Following apprenticeships with various architects, most of whom had been students of Goff or Frank Lloyd Wright, he established architectural practices in in Joplin and Denver, Colorado. A trip to Big Sur in 1971 inspired him to stay, and was a practicing architect here ever since. Mickey consulted with the human dimensions foundation, having worked with solar energy, water, recycling, and “bio-structure” development. Passive solar, heating as employees most of the structures of maintained a commitment to design it was faxed to natural abundance. His work is in Shannon museums in his country and Europe and it's been featured in the numerous international publications.
Environmental & Community Efforts
It is hard not to be aware of the environment at Post Ranch Inn. This coastal getaway was designed with bio-structure architecture using the natural materials of glass, wood, stone, and when possible, passive solar heat. Efforts were made to avoid cutting down trees when the property was developed. The architects’ environmental designs were intended for people to feel a part of nature, not just observers of it.
Post Ranch is a unique natural environment where flora, fauna and people all seem to thrive. The Inn maintains a 100-acre site, which includes 90 protected acres of open space. The property is fortunate to be home to a number of indigenous species, including several that are rare, endangered or threatened. These include the Smith's blue butterfly, the California condor and on rare occasion, the California red-legged frog. Open space is maximized to encourage inhabitation by other wildlife as well, including coyotes, bobcats, deer, hawks and wild turkeys. This ensures these species continue to flourish. An extensive program of activities is ongoing, including conservation, site management and habitat protection and enhancement.
Within the hotel a number of conservation measures are in effect. Every room has a recycling bucket. Non-disposable amenities are available in the rooms including cloth, glassware, ceramic mugs and biodegradable shampoos and lotions. All sheets and towels are made from organically grown cotton, as is most of the clothing sold at the Post Ranch Mercantile. Bed linens and towels are changed daily upon request. Shower Heads and taps are low flow and toilets are low flush. LED lighting is used whenever possible throughout the property.
Water-efficient landscaping is used, focusing on native and drought-tolerant plants tended with organic fertilizers. The Inn bottles its own water in an onsite facility, replacing plastic water bottles in guestrooms with reusable glass containers.
Post Ranch's award-winning Sierra Mar restaurant supports small producers and the regional economy by serving all-natural, free-range beef and poultry, sustainable seafood and on-site and locally grown seasonal, organic vegetables and fruit. We support sustainable fishing practices and do not serve endangered or thieatened fish in the restaurant. When possible, seafood is purchased from local fishermen and other foodstuffs from local producers and farmer's markets. We are proud to be a member of the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch program, helping consumers and businesses choose seafood that's fished or farmed in ways that protect sea life and habitats, now and for future generations. The restaurant uses biodegradable containers made of corn starch, plates formed from bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane and utensils created from potato starch. An alternative to non-degradable plastic packaging, these products are also renewable, sustainable and compostable. Styrofoam is not used anywhere on property.
The Post Ranch Spa uses all organic products. The full menu of spa treatments unites guests with elements of nature. The spa exclusively utilizes Big Sur Flower Essences in addition to our certified organic or wildcrafted essential oil blends for our signature spa products - Aromatherapy Massage Oils, Body Butters, Bath Salts, Flower Essence Mist, Lip Balm and Soy Travel Candles. We integrate these private label products into our facials, body treatments and rituals and offer them as well at retail for your home care.
Reflecting the Inn's approach to highlight the best of Big Sur, the healing jade stones used in Post Ranch Spa's Hot Stone Therapy were collected with care from a local beach. Big Sur is the only place in the world with a vein of jade washed by the sea; the infinity pool adjacent to Sierra Mar, named the Jade Pool, was created from rock pebbles and pieces of Big Sur jade carefully placed by hand.
The Inn's 990 solar panels help minimize our environmental impact and carbon footprint by producing about 350,000 kWh per year.
Guests are encouraged to enjoy various activities which highlight the ecological, community and individual resources at Post Ranch and in the Big Sur area. These vary by season and year and include guided morning hikes with a naturalist, bird watching - each guestroom offers binoculars and a pamphlet that describes and identifies local birds, whale watching, hikes on the extensive trail systems of nearby state and federal parks, yoga, edible tours of the Chef's garden and stargazing.
Post Ranch collaborates with community members to promote improvements in local health, education, diversity and economic development. The Inn contributes numerous resources to the local community through charitable giving, employee volunteerism and contributions. Local organizations we have supported in the past include the Big Sur Health Center, Ventana Wildlife Society, Henry Miller Memorial Library, Big Sur Historical Society, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur International Marathon, Big Sur River Run, Big Sur Grange and the Monterey Aquarium.
Post Ranch Inn has selected one critical issue, affordable health care in Big Sur, to create positive chante for the community. Beginning in 1997, the Inn recruited local businesses to donate monthly per employee, for the creation of management and maintenance of a non-profit health center. This commitment to the community has increased the success of being awarded grants from foundations to further the local health care cause. Employees serve the community as volunteers for the Fire Brigade, EMT, Search and Rescue and other local organizations.
Caring guests participate as well, through generous contributions to The Big Sur Community Fund, which was established to raise funds to support local charitable organizations. 100% of the funds collected are used for charitable purposes. Post Ranch has selected Captain Cooper School and the Big Sur Land Trust as the recipients of these funds. The vast majority of Inn quests have chosen to support the Big Sur Community Fund's efforts and for that we are extremely grateful. In this way, guests can be sure their contributions benefit the community in which they visit.