History

The place we call the Big Sur River Inn dates from 1888 when Jay Pheneger acquired a 160 acre parcel from the federal government and gave his name to the creek that bounds the River Inn to the south. Barbara and Michael Pfeiffer, who had already homesteaded and were farming near Pfeiffer Beach later purchased the Pheneger property.

In 1926 John - Michael and Barbara's son - took over the land on which The Big Sur River Inn now stands and his daughter, Ellen Brown started the River Inn in 1934 - on the east side of the road.

Ellen opened her living and dining rooms to the public and began serving "Hot Apple Pie" in her Big Sur restaurant. Lodging rooms were built and the Big Sur's first resort was established. Her famous Apple Pie, which is still on the menu today, gave the place its original name: The "Apple Pie Inn." The ridge that rises above the east side of Highway One, behind the motel is still known as Apple Pie Ridge.

When Ellen left Big Sur in 1937 her mother Florence took over this Big Sur Inn and as the paved Highway One between Carmel and the Hearst Castle was completed, Ellen's house was moved to the west side of the road. The home was converted to a dining room and kitchen. Gas pumps were installed and the name of this now upgraded Big Sur resort was changed to Redwood Camp.

In 1943, Florence's daughter, Esther Pfeiffer Ewoldsen and her husband, Hans, took over the operation. In Esther's own words ... "the place was renamed 'The River Inn' in hopes of keeping the river out... because in those days the river often rose up during the winter storms to the level of the dining room door." Esther replaced her mother as Big Sur Postmaster (Esther was careful to point out the title is not Postmistress... but Postmaster) and the Post Office was moved to the River Inn, located where the HeartBeat Gift Gallery is today.

After some extensive remodeling and before they reopened the Big Sur Inn and Restaurant alongside the river, Hans did a traffic survey by standing beside Highway One. For one whole day he counted cars. "Seven went by," he reported, "and every one stopped for gas." So he knew that the enterprise would be a success.

With lots of help, Hans built the Big Sur General Store and Inn rooms ten through fifteen. He rebuilt the restaurant dining room and "fixed it up fancy." Esther noted  that there was a bridge crossing over it. Visitors making a Big Sur getaway in the 40’s admired the "indoor bridge" and stopped by again and again to see it.