You Can Now Stay in Sea Ranch, the Architectural Idyll by the Sea

Fifty years ago, when S.F. visionaries planned a new utopia, they set about doing it with lumber and glass, not apps.

Their work has survived for decades — and it’s as gorgeous now as it was on Day One.

We’re talking about the Sea Ranch, a planned community created by some of the 20th century’s most important West Coast architects.

And lucky for us, one of the best houses in the neighborhood — The Minimod — is now taking reservations at a nightly rate that’s about the same as last night’s burgers, plus drinks, for two.

Designed by Joseph Esherick and his associate George Homsey, the home was built in 1968 as a “demonstration home” for community builders who wanted to prove that elegant living needn’t be expensive. Esherick’s homes dot the Pacific coastline: this one, in Stinson Beach, was deemed “a masterpiece” when it came up for sale in 2012 (at just under $7M).

The Minimod is more modest, with two bedrooms (a main sleeping loft and a suite of bunkbeds), an open-plan space, kitchen, bathroom and outdoor hot tub.

Modern amenities include fiber-optic wifi, a Sonos Soundbar, an Xbox and a 43”-inch TV. Enduring amenities include a wood-burning fireplace, a “sectional sofa big enough for napping” and “writing areas with inspirational views of the flora and fauna.”

And all this is on offer for just $120 a night.

Sea Ranch is 100 miles north-ish from San Francisco, or about three hours — unless you’re very lucky with traffic.

Come up for the weekend, and we bet you’ll be back.