For thousands of years a trail has led over the mountain pass from central Marin to the Bolinas lagoon. The original trail was used by the inland Miwok tribes to gain access to the coastal fishing grounds and for indigenous groups to visit and trade with one another. In the late 19th century, early settlers used the trail for much the same purpose. But the steep, rugged terrain was not conducive to transporting goods or people to Bolinas where passengers and goods could be shipped to San Francisco. Additionally, Bolinas and Willow Camp (later renamed Stinson Beach) were fast becoming popular spots for vacationers and campers. In the 1870’s there were only a few routes that connected Central Marin with these coastal towns, and all involved at least two means of transport: A train and stagecoach ride or a stagecoach and launch or ferry boat trip. In 1877, the Marin County Supervisors approved funds to widen and improve the old trail over the Bolinas ridge and the contract was awarded to Jesse Colwell and J.H. Wilkins of San Rafael.
The contractors completed the road within a year using Chinese workers who were paid $1.25/day to carve a road up over the Bolinas ridge and then down Cataract Canyon to Lagunitas Creek and Ross. A year later, Henry Gibson started the first stagecoach service from San Rafael to Bolinas, a trip that took 3 hours and cost $1.50. At the halfway point, high atop the ridge, C.F. Larsen and his wife opened the Summit House to offer refreshments to passengers and lodging for overnight guests who wished to enjoy the local hiking, hunting and fishing. The Larsens advertised the Summit House as commanding, “a beautiful view of the ocean”, with a “first-class table” and “unsurpassed accommodations” for $1.50 to $2.00 a day or $8.00 to $10.00 per week.” Mrs. Larsen gave birth to a daughter up on the mountain in April of 1892 and the birth was announced in the Marin Tocsin
newspaper later that month. In 1894, the family sold 20 acres and the house for $5000.00 and took over management of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in San Rafael, changing the name to Larsen’s Villa. One of Marin’s early citizens, Greek-born Constantine De Sella purchased the Summit House that year with a partner and ran it as a popular lodge and tavern. De Sella was celebrated as a great chef, an excellent host, and a friend to all who stopped at the lodge. As he was known to be a dapper dresser and had a long white beard and hair, he may be the person standing next to the couple in the photograph above. In September of 1904, The Marin Journal reported on “one of the most disastrous forest fires commencing on Bolinas Ridge” that destroyed The Summit House and many ranches down towards the ocean. Constantine De Sella barely escaped the flames according to local news articles and lost everything. The Summit House was rebuilt under new management and remained a thriving establishment until ceasing operations in 1941, eventually succumbing to flames for the second and final time in 1945.
(Originally appeared as History Watch article in the Marin Independent Journal)