See historic home of writer Jack London, now an updated California wine country estate
The historic Northern California home of literary giant Jack London is for sale for $4.95 million in Sonoma County wine country.
Located in Glen Ellen on three acres, the Wake Robin property is where London found inspiration and wrote his bestselling novels “The Sea Wolf” and “White Fang” in the early 20th century.
Situated at the confluence of Sonoma and Graham creeks, Wake Robin also was once an Indigenous Native American village and the sight of one of the first trout fish hatcheries in California, according to an account in “A History of Wake Robin Lodge.” The creeks were tapped for a water source for a growing Glen Ellen community.
Father Jose Altimira’s 1823 journal, which gives his account of the Sonoma Mission expedition, provides what is believed to be the earliest mention of someone traveling on or near the Wake Robin land.
In summer of 1902, London wasn’t the only famous person staying at Wake Robin. His wife, author Charmian Kittredge, and Kittredge’s aunt, acclaimed writer Netta Eames, also lived there, according to the history.
Today, surrounded by majestic oaks, Wake Robin is a thoroughly renovated residence. The modern home spans 4,311 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The estate is loaded with amenities, such as a gorgeous pool and an octagon-shaped living room that was formerly the lobby of Wake Robin Lodge.
“The home is a classic Sonoma Valley Wine Country home that was updated in 2014 to a contemporary standard and to a look and feel for today’s modern lifestyle,” listing agent Matt Sevenau of Compass said in a statement. “There are design inspirations that play on the original octagonal lobby of the lodge, which is now the living room with reclaimed beams and a floating staircase. These architectural inspirations and elements are then carried throughout the home.”
The current owners invested about $300,000 in upgrades, according to a Compass representative.
“While we love living in Glen Ellen, our work has us frequently in Sonoma,” sellers Malcolm Walter and Elizabeth Fisher said in a statement. “We have found a home in Sonoma with many of the same amenities, but not the rich history that 4100 Wake Robin offers. This is a bittersweet move.”
The Wake Robin home is located near Jack London State Historic Park. London, a novelist and journalist, is perhaps best known for his novella “The Call of The Wild.”
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