Coyote Camp Scout Tents, California

Highlands Resort is an adult property that has been around since the early 1920s when it was known as Highland Park Lodge. Like many of the resorts in the area, it began by offering platform tent camping and began adding cabins during the 1930s and 1940s. In those days, folks took the ferry from San Francisco to Sausalito where trains headed to the “vacation playland” villages of Guerneville, Rio Nido and Monte Rio. The river villages have been a vacation magnet since the late 1880s reaching a peak in the 1920s and 30s. (Fun fact: 25,000 people came to the river for the July 4th weekend in 1925!) In those days, visitors came for the natural beauty, to play in and on the river, eat in great restaurants and party in the bars. Clearly not much has changed.

In 1979, the resort was declining when Bill and Steve bought it and gave it new life. This was at the beginning of the area’s revival as a tourist destination, especially for LGBTQ+ guests during the 1980s. They are credited with the wonderful landscaping at the resort.

In 1995, Lynette and Ken bought the Highlands Resort and ran it until June 2021, keeping with the traditions of the past. They had been hospitality professionals for more than 30 year -- warm, casual, generous, occasionally sarcastic and always wanting their visitors to have a wonderful time. We love that they paved the way for us. We hope past and future guests become our repeat guests and new extended family.

The Highlands has always attracted a loyal following of visitors looking for a quiet, relaxing place that is friendly and fun. The cabins capture a bit of the 1940s and 50s with vintage chrome and Formica tables and chairs, custom-cut and inlaid linoleum floors, and vacation brochures blown up as art in the cabins.

As we continue to improve our rooms and suites, new changes will come. The biggest addition is our new glamping area - Coyote Camp. With a nod to the past, we’re bringing back platform tent camping. We know you’ll love partaking in this long-standing Russian River tradition.