{"nrhp_refnum":"85001014","name":"Helios Ranch","other_names":["Ink House"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"1575 St. Helena Hwy.","address_restricted":false,"city":"St. Helena","county":"Napa County","state":"CA","lat":38.476859223000076,"lon":-122.43636471699995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1985-05-09","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Transportation","Architecture","Agriculture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Helios Ranch, also called the Ink House, is a two-story frame Italianate residence built in 1885 on St. Helena Highway (Hwy. 29) in St. Helena, Napa County, California. It was built for rancher and vineyardist Theron H. Ink by a local carpenter-builder.","why_significant":"The house is tied to Theron Ink, a Gold Rush arrival whose career followed Napa County's agricultural development and who advocated improved roads. It is also considered architecturally significant as a large, well-appointed rancher's residence and as an example of local vernacular building, including a stone wine cellar beneath the Italianate house.","narrative":"Helios Ranch, known as the Ink House, is a two-story frame Italianate residence completed in 1885 facing St. Helena Highway in Napa County. A local carpenter-builder erected it for Theron H. Ink, who came to California as a goldseeker and later worked as a rancher, livery proprietor, vineyardist and winemaker, served three terms as county supervisor, and pushed for better roads to the valley ranches. The house keeps its bracketed cornice, low hip roof, surrounding veranda, and largely original interior layout, including seven upstairs sleeping rooms. A stone cellar beneath the house was built as a wine cellar, reflecting European traditions brought by immigrant winemakers. A glass rooftop observatory was removed in the early twentieth century. The setting includes vineyards, gardens, old oaks and pines, a restored wrought iron fence and a board-and-batten barn. The house was listed as a link to Ink, to Napa's agricultural growth, and to local building practice. It remains a private residence and inn.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899 (specific date 1885)","architect_builder":"local carpenter-builder","architectural_style":"Italianate","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in excellent condition, well maintained, and currently used as a private residence and inn.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:27.713574-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/85001014.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123860034","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/napa-county/helios-ranch-85001014/"}