Eleanor’s Escape

$142/night

Eleanor's Escape is our most commonly requested suite that features an octagonal room that creates a sense of inner harmony with a sweet cream, pink, and blue accents. The room is completely surrounded by windows that provides wonderful natural light and faces west. A full bathroom is attached that features a soaking tub/shower, an antique pedestal sink, and a large closet to stow your items. The bathroom is bright with three windows. Views of the pink Crape Myrtle tree in the front of the inn inspire visitors to walk our tree-lined streets. Eleanor Hayden was a lover of nature and basked in entertaining her grandchildren for many summer visits. She had a large garden and harvested a large bounty of vegetables which she kindly shared with neighbors and friends. 

Eleanor Hayden is Nathan’s grandmother, who our oldest son is named after. As the youngest of 10 children, she grew up quite poor. In 1944, she had a chance encounter when she ran into her older brother home on leave and was immediately smitten with his friend, Albert Hayden, who was also on leave from the Civil Conservation Camp. Married in 1944, the couple was inseparable.  Albert eventually began his own general contractor business building new homes, including their own, with Eleanor right at his side, working as hard as the men on his crew. Nathan has fond memories of his grandmother working outside in the garden and planting flowers, including fragrant lilacs that grew outside the back window, where he and his sister, spent every summer. Summers were spent traveling to Yosemite, Yellowstone, and many other national and state parks.

Nathan recounts one of his trips when they were racing to the top of Mt. Lassen as his grandmother led the way, setting the pace. His grandmother loved the outdoors and wildlife and often fed and watched the raccoons, fox, and squirrels. One of his favorite memories occurred when grandma was in her mid-70s, when he awoke to the thump of grandma outside chopping firewood. If his grandmother knew what hardship was, she never let it affect her. Nathan says he can “only aspire to have the strength of character my grandmother had”. She died at home lying next to the love of her life, my grandfather, whom she was married to for 61 years.