Mar Vista Farm & Cottages
A Seaside Slice of Heaven
by Deanna Boettcher
“It was no mistake or happenstance that we ended up at Mar Vista. As a matter of fact, I think we would both say that our entire career paths were leading us here all along, even when we weren’t aware of it,” shares Deanna Boettcher when she reflects on her life stewarding an 80-year-old hospitality resort into the future. Along with her husband, Christopher Boettcher, she purchased the lodging property and small farm known as Mar Vista Farm + Cottages in late 2020. Rather than referring to themselves as owners, they consider themselves stewards, preserving and protecting the land while creating enriching guest experiences that celebrate nature.
Christopher (Cab) has worked in hospitality his whole life, starting in restaurants, then hotels, and eventually private clubs. Deanna’s prior career was in the fashion industry. She grew up in New York and also lived in the Midwest, and no matter what she was doing, she always found room for gardening. Whether in pots on her balcony or in a community garden, she was always counting the days until she could really get her hands in the dirt. She turned her passion into a vocation when they moved to California in 2014, going to school for Environmental Horticulture and Design and then working as a fine gardener for homes and estates around the Bay Area. She also spent time with a few non-profits, building edible and native gardens for outdoor lessons at elementary schools.
It was late 2019 when Cab and Deanna began to dream up a new life, one where their work would embody the lifestyle they wanted to live. They craved work that connected with nature, including growing food and sharing it with others. They did not know Mar Vista existed yet, but it matched the business plan they had developed perfectly, including the three goats! Cab remembers the moment they slowly drove up the driveway, mouths hanging open in awe. "We could feel everything in our bodies slow down. This place was different, it felt like we stepped back in time." The goosebumps confirmed it—they had found their new home.
Mar Vista was originally founded by Louis Kovacs and Ramus Echsen Eriksen. The pair were immigrants from Hungary and Denmark respectively, and partners in both life and business. Louis purchased the land in the late 1930s but didn’t bring in Ramus until they decided to build on the site in the 1940s. Countless fishermen asking to crash in their barn sparked the business idea: building cabins for those same traveling fisherman. They built the first six in the early 1940s and the second six after the war.
Over time, Mar Vista has changed hands several times, and although there have been upgrades and improvements made, much of what Louis and Ramus built still remains: wide open spaces, ocean views, the original redwood soaking tub, ponds, access to Fish Rock Cove beach, a short but beautiful redwood forest walk, and the original Fish House (specifically built for pounding abalone and cleaning fish). Fishermen were eventually replaced with vacationing couples, families, and singles.
As for Deanna and Cab, they are delighted to be living the country life now. They enjoy morning walks through the small grove of redwoods or down to the secluded beach. Deanna spends a lot of her time in the dirt, working in the gardens and greenhouse, making sure there are year-round greens and microgreens for the guests (a perfect addition to the eggs delivered to their door each morning). Each cottage has a full kitchen as well as shears and a harvest basket, inviting guests to pick their own goodies from the garden (with help from instructive signs posted throughout). Or they can avail themselves of pre-picked offerings from the garden stand that Deanna stocks daily. There are Brussels sprouts in winter, brassicas in spring, and strawberries and blueberries in summer. Cucumbers, beans, and tomatoes also show up in the summer, though those are grown in the greenhouse due to the cool coastal location.
Besides the flock of chickens, the property is home to a dog, three cats, three (male) goats, and two bunnies. The property has WiFi and cell service, but is still an excellent place to unplug. There are no phones or TVs in the cottages. Instead, guests enjoy complimentary yoga and meditation on weekends, garden tours, backyard chicken-keeping classes, and animal interaction events like “goat gab,” “bunny banter,” and “chicken chat.” Area attractions include amazing ocean views at the Point Arena Lighthouse, endangered African ungulates at B. Bryan Preserve, and a fascinating 50-acre ode to stones at Mendocino Stone Ranch. River kayaking, horseback riding, and hiking are all on offer as well. And of course there are a number of local beaches on which to blissfully do nothing.
It could be days spent out in the fresh air, or the comfy beds and lovely linens, or even the lullabies provided by waves, frogs, and seals (depending on the weather and the season), but many guests report experiencing their best sleeps ever while staying at Mar Vista. Because of the farm's remote location, it "forces people to slow down, but in the most gentle way," Deanna reflects. "Some people just don’t realize how much they need it until they get here."
As for the future, Cab explains, “Our goal is to continue enhancing what is already here, while preserving and protecting the natural landscape and wildlife. Like the first time Deanna and I drove up the gravel road, feeling the magic of this place and the world melt away... that is exactly what we want for every guest that comes to Mar Vista.”
Mar Vista Farm + Cottages
35101 S Hwy 1, Gualala
(707) 884-3522 | marvistafarmandcottages.com
Photos courtesy of Mar Vista Farm & Cottages