The History of Redwood Retreat
1863: Charles and Annis Sanders
Charles and Annis Sanders were first generation natives of Nova Scotia and had adventured out West during the Gold Rush with the hope of striking gold. Without luck, Charles and Annis moved to Gilroy where they were allotted 98 acres in accordance with the United States Homestead Act of 1862. It is here that Charles would establish what is widely known today as Redwood Retreat.
1891: Charles built a 20 guest room Victorian hotel called Redwood Retreat.
The grounds at Redwood Retreat included lawn tennis courts, bocce ball, and the first outdoor swimming pool in Santa Clara County (only the second in California). Vineyards, apple and prune orchards, and a large row crop vegetable garden supplied the family and hotel guests. The Gilroy Gazette claimed Redwood Retreat to be “one of the best places for rest and meditation in the state.”
1908: The hotel burned down on July 4th
The hotel was immediately replaced with a large, lodge-style building and also about ten cabins along the creek which could accommodate about thirty to forty guests. Guests staying in the cabins and tents would come to the lodge for meals and play card games at night by the fire.
1910-1929: Annis “Gypsy” Sanders (2nd Generation)
Gypsy, the youngest child to Charles and Annis, her brothers and their families operated the resort until the Great Depression forced them to close their doors. Soon after, the family decided to move off of the land. Gypsy retained ownership but closed the lodge and cabins indefinitely.
1991: Linda Pond-Oetinger (4th Generation)
Linda, the only child of Charles and Elsie, built a 3-generation home at Redwood Retreat with her mother after Charles' passing. Linda restored the old lodge and two remaining cabins nearby, including the Sanders' homestead family home. Linda is credited with planting the vineyards and establishing a water system to irrigate the vines.
1931-1936: Charles Pond (3rd Generation)
Charles Pond was the only child of Gypsy and her husband Brayton Pond. He and his new wife, Elsie Malek moved to Redwood Retreat shortly after their marriage. Charles contracted tuberculosis and was forced to isolate himself from Elsie for five years in an adjacent cabin to their home. In 1936, once recovered, Charles and Elsie moved back to San Jose and spent weekends vacationing at Redwood Retreat. The buildings eventually fell into disrepair and in the 1960's, trespassers burned down the five cabins that remained in The Grove.
1999: Matt Oetinger (5th generation)
Matt, the only child of Linda Pond and Lew Oetinger, established Fernwood Cellars and built the winery on Redwood Retreat land. He would become the 5th generation of this pioneering family to work and improve the land through a successful agri-business. After graduating from U.C. Davis with a major in Biology, Matt became vineyard manager at Clos LaChance Winery in Morgan Hill, CA. He would continue to pursue his love for wine making and eventually dedicate 100% of his time and passion towards the evolution of Fernwood Cellars.