Washoe House

Washoe House is a historic roadhouse in Sonoma County, California in the United States. It is located west of Cotati, California at the juncture of Stony Point Road and Roblar Road. It lies near the headwaters of Washoe Creek and is the defining landmark of the unincorporated community of Stony Point. Robert Ayres built the house in 1859, and it became a stop on the stagecoach routes connecting the towns of Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Bodega during... more

Washoe House is a historic roadhouse in Sonoma County, California in the United States. It is located west of Cotati, California at the juncture of Stony Point Road and Roblar Road. It lies near the headwaters of Washoe Creek and is the defining landmark of the unincorporated community of Stony Point. Robert Ayres built the house in 1859, and it became a stop on the stagecoach routes connecting the towns of Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Bodega during the 19th century. In 1865, following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Major James Armstrong's Petaluma militia rode up Stony Point Road, intent on wreaking vengeance on Santa Rosa, only to turn back after stopping at this tavern. This incident became known as The Battle of Washoe House. According to local tradition, Ulysses S. Grant once made a speech from the balcony of Washoe House; historical evidence for this is lacking, however. A portion of the 1999 movie True Crime was filmed at Washoe House. It was still operating as a restaurant... less