Hotel Chauvet
Also known as: Chauvet Hotel
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Hotel Chauvet is a three-story brick building at 13756 Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen, Sonoma County, California. Joshua Chauvet built it in 1906 using yellow brick said to have been made at his own kilns. The classically influenced facade has segmented arched openings grouped into three bays by pilasters, contrasting masonry trim and a stepped corbelled parapet bearing the sign "1906 HOTEL CHAUVET." Iron medallions tie the floors and roof to the walls. The ground floor held public rooms, while the upper floors held guest rooms and a third-floor dance hall. Glen Ellen drew thousands of weekend visitors by rail, and five hotels served them; this is the only one left. The hotel hosted dances, whist parties and club gatherings, and it remained a prominent hotel into the late 1910s. It anchors a small group of four historic buildings, three built by Chauvet, near the entrance to Jack London State Park. The interior was stripped during reconstruction, and the building was reported to be vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is significant under Criterion A in the area of Entertainment/Recreation for its link to Glen Ellen's railroad-era tourist and resort trade. It is the only survivor of five early-1900s hotels in town and the largest building in the small central historic commercial group. It also served as a venue for parties, dances and social gatherings.
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 90000117, listed February 15, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 13756 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | February 15, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000117 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906-1920 |
| Architect / builder | Joshua Chauvet |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed function is vacant/not in use; the interior had recently been reconstructed with finishes removed, and the sponsoring preservation group's letter said the building was in immediate danger of demolition. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 38.36208, -122.52631 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 90000117.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q55646189
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.