Walters Ranch
Also known as: Griffin Vineyard; Sweetwater Ranch
Why it's listed
Six miles southwest of Healdsburg, this 84-acre ranch on Westside Road preserves the look of turn-of-the-century farming in Sonoma County. Seven buildings stand on two parcels, led by a stone hop kiln built in 1905 by Angelo "Skinny" Sodini, a sheep barn dating to 1888, and a two-story Italianate house moved from Fulton in 1973 to save it from demolition. Smaller structures include a former lambing shed, a machine shop barn, a former wash house and a Kansas-style farmhouse. The ranch grew from land Sol Walters bought and used for sheep and vines in the 1880s. The kiln is described as the most significant surviving stone hop kiln in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, and it joins a stone cooling house to the drying kilns, a feature the nomination calls uncommon. Sheep still graze the land, and the surrounding working setting supports its designation as a district.
Significance in brief: The hop kiln is described as the most significant remaining stone hop kiln in the North Coast region (Sonoma and Mendocino Counties) and was built by stonemason Angelo "Skinny" Sodini. Together with the sheep barn, the Italianate house and the other outbuildings, it gives the impression of a turn-of-the-century working ranch. The kiln was designated California Historical Landmark No. 893 in 1976.
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 77000351, listed October 7, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6 mi. S of Healdsburg at 6050 Westside Rd., Healdsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | October 7, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000351 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Angelo "Skinny" Sodini (hop kiln, 1905) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (residence); Kansas-style farmhouse; standard-design hop kiln |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in agricultural use; the kiln is structurally sound, the house is in excellent condition, and the sheep barn is in fair condition and still used for livestock and storage. The kiln has been bonded as a small winery. |
| Acreage | 84 |
| Coordinates | 38.53776, -122.86915 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 77000351.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.