Cliff House was originally built in 1863 by Senator John Buckley and C.C Butler. In the beginning, the cost of getting there was very high as it was located on a rocky hill at Land's End overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Eventually, a road called Point Lobos Avenue was built, allowing stagecoaches to bring guests from San Francisco.
It is now an exclusive holiday destination for wealthy tourists like the President of the United States and the Hearst family.
In the late 1870s, resorts began to lose money and tolerate gambling and alcoholism to attract new customers. Unfortunately, the quality of new customers is different from the resort's habits, so the once-revered cliff house is now considered indecent.
San Francisco's eventual mayor, Adolph Sutro, purchased the resort in 1883. He began renovations and hired new employees with the aim of restoring the Cliff House to its respected family-oriented environment. Sutro also authorized the construction of railways to improve accessibility. However, Sutro was unlucky to manage it himself, so he rented the resort to Sroufe and McCrum, a liquor wholesale company. By 1885, it was again leased to JM Wilkins and was instructed by interested families to return to the Cliff House.
In 1887, when the caravan Parallel ran aground at the resort, a load of explosives on board exploded, destroying the north wing of the building. Although the damage was repaired and the Cliff House began operations before Christmas 1894, it came to a halt when a chimney fire suddenly destroyed the entire building.
Sutro spent $75,000 rebuilding the cliff house to create a replica of a French castle. The site reopened and put into use in February 1896. A real added attraction is the observation tower built 200 feet above sea level overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The new resort stretches to eight floors and includes a photography studio, an art gallery, several restaurants, a reception room available for rent, a gem exhibit, many private restaurants and bars. The House of the Cliffs regained its former glorious status as a place of high society, hosting Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and William McKinley, as well as residents.
In 1898, when Adolph Sutro died, the resort was again leased to John Tait. Fortunately, it survived the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and was scheduled to resume operations in September 1907. Sadly, it caught fire again and was completely destroyed.
Sutro's daughter, Emma Sutro Merritt, took over the property in 1908. She began renovations with fireproof concrete and steel. Although it is a much smaller building, it blends in with the landscape rather than offsetting the seascape. In 1909, the house reopened and still served the wealthy.
Patronage of the resort declined during Prohibition and eventually closed in 1925. It was then sold to nearby amusement park owners George and Leo Whitney. The Cliff House was remodeled and reopened in 1938 and continued until 1977, when the Cliff House was purchased at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
The cliff house, now located on 1090 Point Lobos Avenue, has been renovated with a 1909 design with an incredibly modern skylight and a new wing named after Adolph Sutro. Dan and Mary Hountalas, who currently manage the resort, have been operating steadily for the past 35 years. They offer fine dining, trendy taverns and some party rooms.
Reservations are available for sutro restaurants and the Sunday all-you-can-drink champagne brunch buffet at the Terrace Room. The bistro always has a first-come, first-served policy. At present, the Cliff House is very popular among local residents for holiday parties and wedding receptions, and is also popular with those who just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful sea views through the floor-to-ceiling windows featured in Sutro Restaurant.