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The Alpine Inn may be written on the building today. However, this is only one of many names and owners of this iconic business. It's the second oldest continuously operating saloon in the entire state of California.
Let's start at the beginning:
After the Mexican-American War ended, a wealthy landowner named Maximo Martinez gave his friend Felix Buelna 95 acres of land. In the early 1850s, Buelna built an establishment that was used as a meeting place and gambling hall for Mexican-born Californios. He named it Casa de Tableta. It was built at a strategic location on the "Old Spanish Trail," used by Californios, Native Americans, and Gold Rush settlers, which connected Pescadero with Palo Alto.
In 1868, Buelna's ownership ended when it was lost to an Irishman, William Stanton, in a poker game.
Stanton hired Rodriquez Crovello to run the place in 1875. He had a huge black handlebar mustache, which prompted the place to get nicknamed "Chapete's" or "Black Chapete's."
Stanton died in 1887, and soon after, the place was taken over by William Schenkel, who renamed it "The Wunder."
Later, with the development of Stanford University close by, a new group of patrons began frequenting the place.
During the thirteen years of prohibition, the name was changed to "Schenkel's Picnic Park," however, it's common knowledge they continued to serve alcohol.
In 1933 (the end of prohibition), ownership once again changed. Enrico Rossotti bought the place, and the name became "Rossotti's Saloon." Along with new ownership, food service began.
In 1956, again under new ownership, the name was changed to "Alpine Inn Beer Garden." However, many longtime patrons kept calling it Rossotti's or Zott's.
In 1969, it was honored as California Historical Landmark #825, and a plaque was awarded by the State Department of Parks and Recreation, along with the town of Portola Valley.
In 1976, high tech history took place there when some SRI (Stanford Research Institute) employees brought a specially equipped van, which was part of the DARPA (Defense Advance Research Projects Agency) and PRNET (Packet Radio Network) to the parking lot of the Inn and sent the first ever remote electronic message from a computer while sitting in the picnic area of the saloon.
In recent years ownership again changed, and major renovations took place. However, the iconic beer garden is in its 171st year of operation, with no signs of hanging a "closed" sign on the door.
Everything else is just history
Some of the photos used in this blog are courtesy of the Local History Room, Redwood City's best-kept secret. The Local History Collection covers all aspects of Redwood City's development, from the 1850s to the present day, with particular emphasis on businesses, public schools, civic organizations, city agencies, and early family histories. The Local History Room is not affiliated with the Redwood City Public Library, but it is inside it.
