Switzer Farm

It’s difficult to imagine that Westport, a tiny community north of Fort Bragg, was once the largest town between San Francisco and Eureka. It wasn’t gold but lumber that brought about its success. It’s been well over 100 years since Westport’s prosperous lumber mill was running in full force. However, just before town stands a house of great splendor that lives on to tell the story of Northern California’s Lost Coast. 

Built in 1884 and recently lovingly restored, Switzer Farm is an architectural marvel that remains true to its Victorian farmhouse charm. While the property’s expansive grounds offer scenic seclusion, the intentionally decorated rooms invite guests into a home, still known by locals as “the Fee mansion.” 

Today, the house boasts seven beautiful bedrooms, many with uninterrupted ocean and mountain views. There is a library, dining room, and living room, but the gourmet kitchen may be the best room of all. Now operating as a kitchen of today’s standards with top-of-the-line appliances, the kitchen has been restored to look as it originally did. As you meander through the house, subtle architectural details and design choices preserve the integrity of the era. The island in the kitchen is an old dry goods store counter from Tennessee. The fireplaces all have original mantles, the authentic light fixtures have been reworked from gas to electric, and even the bathroom fixtures have been restored to functionality. Switzer Farm is indeed an incredible restoration project, but owner Gary Weiss has also preserved a little piece of Mendocino history.

Gary is not your typical house flipper. He is a dedicated architectural preservationist with a passion for breathing new life into old Victorians. Each renovation project he takes on is thoughtful and is intended to render historical accuracy. For more than 30 years, Gary has been collecting artifacts and antiques to be used in his projects. Most come with stories of their own.

Today, Switzer Farm’s story lives on as the most beautiful venue on the Mendocino Coast. Bringing the house back to its original form has been a labor of love. Gary has created not only his family’s forever home but a destination to share with families on the most special occasions.