The Wendell Willkie Room

Overlooking the azalea garden, the Wendell Willkie Room has a lovely view of the west lawn and our own private giant sequoia.

A massive heritage oak tree outside this room spreads its majestic branches just beyond the windows and exemplifies the reason our young son referred to Knowles Hill as “the big tree house”. It is another great spot to enjoy an amazing sunset.

A cozy, well-lit bedroom with large windows featuring striped pink and cream curtains. The room has an ornate wooden bed with a white quilt and decorative pillows, flanked by matching bedside tables with lamps. Wall art hangs above the bed, and there is a small table with vases and plants in the corner.

A place to lay your sweet head.

The room features a hand carved California King bed with an extremely comfortable mattress.

The Wendell Willkie Room sleeps 2 guests. Read more below about our suite add-on to accommodate an additional 3 guests.

A vintage ceramic table lamp with a floral design, a pink ribbon lampshade with a fringe, placed on top of a dark wooden sideboard. There is a pink glass vase with a textured surface and a tissue box next to the lamp. A tall potted orchid with red flowers is on the right.

A small vintage bathroom with yellow walls, a pedestal sink, floral curtains, a window with a blind, a bathtub with a floral shower curtain, and checkered floor tiles.

A cozy bedroom with a wooden bed, framed botanical artwork, floral curtains, and bedside lamps, decorated in a traditional style.

Pink, green and cream striped fabric dress the windows. The closet contains an iron and ironing board, and the room has central air-conditioning.

The private bath is very original right down to its blue and white mosaic marble floors and nickel tub/shower and sink fittings. A hair dryer is provided.

A bedroom with a large wooden bed with white bedding, multiple pillows, and an ornate headboard. There is a small sofa and a round coffee table, a mirror on the wall, and a chandelier with five bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The room has light green walls, white trim, and natural light coming through a window.

A bedroom with a large bed with a yellow bedspread and multiple pillows, a wooden headboard, a nightstand with a lamp, and a window with floral curtains and a valance.

Reflection in a large ornate gold-framed mirror shows a bedroom with a wooden bed, cream bedding, a nightstand with lamps, and floral curtains with swirl drapes in front of a window.

Make it a suite!

The Wendell Willkie Room can be upgraded into a private suite for five with the optional Helen Keller Room adjoining for an extra charge.

Vintage typewriter on a table with a vase of red roses, a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket, two glasses, a covered dessert stand with a gold ribbon, and a decorative mirror.

A variety of chocolate-covered strawberries on a decorative plate. Some are drizzled with white chocolate, sprinkled with nuts, or decorated with red and white sprinkles.

A wicker tray on a table contains a variety of snacks including sliced cheese under a glass dome, crackers, mixed nuts, olives, strawberries, grapes, and other fruits. Beside the tray is a bouquet of orange roses and white flowers, and a card with a handwritten message.

Want to surprise your sweetie?

Have a dozen roses awaiting your arrival and a bottle of champagne or local wine delivered to your room.

Select option(s) with your reservation…

Black and white portrait of a man with neatly combed hair, dressed in a suit, sitting in a chair with a faint smile.

Wendell Willkie

At the 1940 GOP National Convention, Charles Segerstrom nominated Wendell Willkie for President. As the clouds of war were looming over the world, Willkie ran a very respectful campaign against Roosevelt, supporting Roosevelt's call for a military draft, but of course eventually lost the election. Regarding his epitaph, he told a friend, "if I had to choose between here lies a president and here lies one who contributed to saving freedom, I would prefer the latter". He was a guest in 1940, 1941 and 1943.