West Point Inn
Why it's listed
Perched on an exposed ridge at 1,800 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, this shingled lodge was built in 1904 by the Mill Valley & Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railway Company to serve hikers and rail passengers. The grounds cover about one acre and include the two-story inn, a 1920 dining room addition, a former chicken shed, five cabins, a stone stairway and trails, all reached from the old railroad grade. The 1918 Honeymoon Cabin was built by Dr. Washington Dodge, a Titanic survivor. The inn drew working-class visitors and became a hub for hiking clubs, hunting parties and audiences of the Mountain Play, founded in 1913. Its porch was enlarged in 1916. It is considered a rare surviving rustic mountain lodge from the age of train-based outdoor recreation. The setting, original layout and most historic details remain intact, apart from a 1982 innkeeper's addition and a 1998 accessibility ramp, which are noncontributing. The water district owns the buildings and a non-profit association runs the inn.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the inn as a rare surviving example of a San Francisco Bay Area rustic mountain lodge from the era of train travel and popular hiking. It served hikers, railroad passengers and outdoor clubs as a trail hub, and it retains its original layout, setting and many original features.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 11000934, listed December 22, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Old RR grade, Mt. Tamalpais, Mill Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | December 22, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000934 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Mill Valley & Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railway Company (inn, 1904); Dr. Washington Dodge (Honeymoon Cabin, 1918) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Shingle Style |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with excellent historical integrity; it has served day and overnight visitors almost without interruption since 1904 and is operated by a non-profit association. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 37.91888, -122.59476 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 11000934.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133295451
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.