Historic Raford Inn Bought by ‘Vibrant Couple’

After about eight months on the market, it looks like the impossibly picturesque and historic Raford Inn out Wohler Road — not far from the flood spot, actually — has a buyer who wants to keep running it as an inn, according to Ann Amtower, the Realtor who made the sale. “We are so happy the Inn was purchased by a vibrant couple who is excited to take this historic bed & breakfast to the next level,” she writes on LinkedIn, “and the former owner is now settling into a slower pace of life. We are looking forward to seeing the next generation of The Raford Inn!” Zillow data shows the inn sold for $1.9 million — much less than its original asking price of $3.5 million. This mystery couple bought the inn from a woman named Rita Wells, who ran it with her husband Dane for nearly 20 years — until he passed away from cancer in 2022. “One of the last things [Dane] told me was don’t sell the inn, but it’s too much work for one person,” Rita told the Press Democrat upon putting the inn up for sale. The six themed rooms of the inn are housed within a giant, white Queen Anne-style Victorian building built in 1870 on just over four acres, overlooking its own set of Pinor Noir vineyards. Dane reportedly used to make small batches of wine from the vineyards, then give the bottles to guests as a gift. Here’s some more info from the Compass property listing: “The Inn features a cozy sunroom, a massage room, multiple outdoor environments including various patios, a wraparound porch, gardens & a hobby vineyard, all overlooking the Russian River Valley. … There is plenty of room to create your visions of a pool, bocce ball court and so much more. With so much rich history and local admiration the Raford Inn is ready for someone who wants to take it to the next level while maintaining its old-world charm.” (Source: Ann Amtower via LinkedIn & Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram & Compass via Zillow & Press Democrat; paywall)