The Downieville River Inn is a 12-unit property located in the town of Downieville, California, on about an acre and a half of land. Multiple buildings are on the premises, contributing to the total number of units available for reservation. The largest structure is a three-bedroom and two-bath house. All units include a microwave, coffee pots, and a fridge. Other things available on the property include access to a Tesla charging station, a swimming pool, a picnic area, and a firepit. Popular activities in the area include fishing, visiting museums, and mountain biking. Downie River is located across the street from the inn that was established in 1962. Since then, the property has gone through multiple ownerships and is now a family-owned business with Mike and Teresa Taylor as the owners. The inn is open year-round to visitors but will occasionally close down for a week during the year.
Downieville River Inn is located in the town of Downieville, California. The establishment has 12 units available for guest reservations and is located on about an acre and a half of land. The largest unit is a three-bedroom and two-bath house that is about 1600 square feet. Multiple buildings are located on the property, including the main building that contains seven different rooms, as well as the managers unit. Another building holds three units, one of them is larger with two rooms, a living room, and a full kitchen. All rooms on the premises have a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pots. Teresa, one of the owners, explains that the property tries to stick to the “Victorian theme” in the way that the buildings are styled. The property has multiple common areas outside of the buildings, including a pool, picnic area, and firepit. Cornhole is one of the few activities that the picnic area provides. There are no common areas inside the buildings besides the main office and lobby.
Features on the grounds of the area include two ponds, one by the main building entrance and the other by the picnic area mentioned earlier. A Tesla charging station is available on site that is only for the use of registered guests to the property. The inn has a river located across the street that visitors can walk to if desired, and the business itself is located in the Tahoe National Forest.
When staying at the Downieville River Inn, there are multiple policies in place that patrons are expected to abide by. One such policy is relatively new, that being that there is no smoking allowed on the premises. “We are establishing ourselves as more of a green, environmentally friendly [business],” states Teresa, one of the owners. Steps towards this are taken through purchasing laundry detergent that is reportedly safe for the environment and recycling cans and bottles. Pets are permitted on the property for an additional fee, with all the rooms being pet friendly besides two units.
When talking about her goals on how the establishment wants guests to feel during their stay, Teresa says, “We want them to feel relaxed.” The owners provide opportunities for patrons to relax through the various things they offer to their visitors, such as the opportunity to lounge at the pool. The staff strives to make themselves available to guests and to provide what patrons need. The surrounding area also aids in the owner’s goal by providing the opportunity for visitors to participate in different activities such as hiking, visiting the river, and going mountain biking. According to the owner, the typical demographic of guests for the Downieville River Inn are those participating in mountain biking, which is one of the biggest draws to the area. However, Teresa states that they are “welcoming to people of diverse backgrounds.” The owners don’t want anyone to feel left out while staying at the inn. Other activities in the area besides mountain biking include hiking, fishing, jeeping, and four-wheeling on the mountain roads in the area. Winter activities include snow showing and snowmobiling. Specific attractions include museums, old cemeteries, and the Kentucky Mine, which offers tours and has concerts on Saturdays during the summer. Teresa recommends that visitors eat at Two Rivers Café, which is the only place to eat that is open year-round in Downieville. La Cocina De Oro Taqueria and Sabrina’s at the Forks are two other restaurants that the owner recommends.
According to Teresa, people enjoy the friendliness of the staff, which is one of the things she says the business is known for, as well as how responsive they are to guests’ needs. Past visitors to the property often remark on how they enjoyed their stay at the Downieville River Inn. One such patron stated, “My second time visiting the property was just as great as the first stay with the previous owners. My room was remodeled, very comfortable, and clean. The new owners and management staff are fantastic people and are willing to go the extra mile to help you out. I love the small town, close-knit community feeling.” One of the owners reports that about half of their business consists of repeat guests, especially those who stayed prior to the new ownership. The business is open year-round to visitors; however, the owners do close the business down for a week or so, usually once a year. May through October is the busiest time of year for the establishment due to the mountain biking season.
The Downieville River Inn has been family-owned for the past three years, the current owners being Mike and Teresa Taylor. The inn was established in 1962, but before the inn was created, the buildings served as residential houses until the first owner decided to purchase the buildings and convert them into the current business. Teresa says that “they love the area,” which led them to purchase the property as a family and turn it into a “family project.” Mike and Teresa’s daughter is the manager of the inn who lives there with their granddaughter.
Since purchasing the property, the owners have made renovations to things that needed it, such as a new pool lining and adding bicycle washing stations in hopes of meeting the needs of the typical demographic of bikers. “We’ve created a bike-friendly environment,” explains Teresa, mentioning both the washing station as well as bike lockers. Other renovations to the property include putting in new carpet in all the buildings, a new generator, and updating the rooms. Future plans for the property include the addition of a hot tub, concrete work around the pool, and new windows throughout the buildings.
121 River Street
Downieville, California 95936
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Mike and Teresa Taylor
