Holiday Home Tour

Edward Churchill and his wife, Mary, moved to Napa from Rochester, N.Y., in 1878, when he became the cashier of the James H. Goodman Bank (later sold to the Bank of Italy). He and Mary built the Churchill Manor in 1889 on Brown Street (then named Grant Street), considered to be the original street of the Napa founders. At nearly 10,000 square feet, Churchill Manor was reputedly the largest home in the Napa Valley at the time. After finishing it, Churchill built what is now known as Cedar Gables, which he presented to his son as a wedding gift in 1891.

Brian Jensen and Joanna Guidotti have spent decades restoring Churchill Manor into one of Napa’s most admired inns. Together, they revived the mansion room by room, reopening it for guests just a month after purchase. Guidotti has personally coordinated more than a thousand weddings, while Jensen’s talents in the kitchen—especially his signature Flambeed Amaretto Shrimp—have become part of the inn’s charm. United by humor, dedication, and an eye for detail, they have preserved the home’s beauty and spirit through years of hard work.

Originally built in 1891 as the George Goodman Jr. mansion, this striking Queen Anne Victorian quickly earned its reputation as “the most handsome house in town.” More than a century later, the property was lovingly restored by the Theodorides family—Patty, Kiki, and George—who purchased it in 2016 with a vision to transform it into one of downtown Napa’s most distinctive boutique inns. After decades of wear and disrepair, the family reimagined the home as a nine-room luxury inn that celebrates Napa’s elegance.

Every detail of the renovation honors the home’s historic character while embracing modern design. Original woodwork, wavy leaded-glass windows, and grand staircases were meticulously restored, complemented by modern touches such as heated bathroom floors, Carrera quartz surfaces, and a stunning hand-painted peacock mural by local artist Fabio Sanzogni. Guided by the Greek principle of philoxenia—“love of the stranger”—The George embodies gracious hospitality, inviting guests to experience Napa’s heritage wrapped in luxury, comfort, and heartfelt welcome.

Built in 1902 for the prominent Norton family, this Craftsman-style home has long been a cherished landmark in downtown Napa. Annah Norton, an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, was admired for her charitable work and community involvement. After serving for decades as a private residence, the building was converted to office space in the 1970s. In 2000, new owner Scott Warren, a former real estate developer from Mill Valley, undertook an extraordinary restoration—transforming the property into the Blackbird Inn, which opened the following year.

Warren’s vision and appreciation for the Arts & Crafts movement guided every handmade detail, inspired by the renowned Greene & Greene architectural firm. Local artisan Ken Boyd contributed exquisite stained-glass windows and partitions, discreetly incorporating the names of Warren’s beloved dogs. The inn’s stone foundation was crafted from local river rock, blending the structure with its natural surroundings. A particularly charming detail—the ginkgo leaves pressed into the light sconces—came from a Frank Lloyd Wright home Warren visited in Chicago. In recognition of his sensitive restoration, Napa County Landmarks honored the Blackbird Inn with an Award of Merit for Historic Preservation in 2001.

We invite you to become an event sponsor and showcase your brand to an engaged local audience. Last year we welcomed 500 guests from six states and eighteen cities from across California as well as our own Napa neighbors. Download our Partners and Supporters Opportunities handout.

The Holiday Home Tour is Napa County Landmarks’ largest fundraiser of the year, directly supporting preservation programs, scholarships, and advocacy efforts throughout Napa County.

Sponsor Benefits: Sponsors receive complimentary tickets and logo placement on our website, ticketing platform, and in all event promotions and digital communications.

Sponsorship levels:

• $250 Holly: includes 1 ticket
• $500 Evergreen: includes 2 tickets
• $750 Mistletoe: includes 4 tickets
• $1000 Crown: includes 6 tickets

To register or become a sponsor, please mail your check to Napa County Landmarks, PO Box 267, Napa, CA 94559, or sign up online here with a note in the Donor field. Logos and other information can be sent to info@napacountylandmarks.org. Contact Christine at 707-231-8261 with any questions. Thank you for your support!

Marketing Partner Benefits: Our Marketing Partners are local businesses that join us in celebrating the season. This free collaboration gives you a chance to showcase your brand and offer something special to tour guests, like discounts, two-for-one offers, giveaways, or festive treats.

To sign up, please send your logo (for online and printing), website url, a description of your guest enhancement, and contact information to info@napacountylandmarks.org. Or call/text our office at 707-231-8261 with any questions. We will send you our event graphics and logo for distribution through your social media, website, and marketing outlets. We appreciate your support!

Historic Property Opportunities.
We invite you to join Napa County Landmarks as we open the doors to some of Napa’s most distinctive historic properties for our annual Holiday Home Tour.
Last year, the tour welcomed 500 guests from six states and eighteen cities across California, along with many of our Napa neighbors. This year’s theme, “A Very Merry Cookie,” adds a little extra holiday cheer, with participating properties encouraged to welcome tourgoers with cookies or other festive treats.

The Holiday Home Tour is Napa County Landmarks’ largest fundraiser of the year, directly supporting preservation programs, education, scholarships, and advocacy throughout Napa County. The event is made possible through the generosity of participating historic property owners, local businesses, volunteers, and community members who share our commitment to celebrating and preserving Napa’s architectural heritage. We appreciate your support!

Date and Timing
The event is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, from noon to 4 pm, rain or shine. Our volunteers will arrive at your site at 11:30 am and our closing team will leave your site by 4:30 pm at the latest.

What Napa County Landmarks Provides
• Complimentary tour admission for your guests. Any guests staying at your property that weekend will receive a free Holiday Home Tour ticket, a $45 value.
• Landmarks volunteers. Each property will have approximately 2–3 Landmarks’ volunteers at a time, working in two-hour shifts. Volunteers will welcome and direct tour participants and help manage visitor flow.
• Event photographer and online photo album, available after the event to download your photos.
• Event insurance. Napa County Landmarks will provide insurance coverage for the Holiday Home Tour.
• Tour signage. We will provide two Holiday Home Tour yard signs for each participating property.
• Advance site visit. Before the tour, our team will visit each property with you to review the details of your site, including: the best guest entrance and pathway; accessibility considerations; volunteer positions; sign placement; areas open to tour participants; rain plan, just in case!

What Participating Properties Can Do
Your staff is welcome—and encouraged—to participate. Having someone who knows the property on site can help us provide guests with a first-rate experience and allows visitors to learn more about the property and its history.

We encourage participating properties to open at least one interior room or significant space so visitors can experience the architectural details and character that make the property special. Visitors do not need to access second or third floors unless you want them to.

This year’s tour has a deliciously simple theme: cookies! Participating properties are encouraged to offer a complimentary cookie or small holiday treat to tourgoers. Participation is entirely optional—purchased, homemade, traditional, whimsical, or branded treats are all welcome.

You are also welcome to add your own hospitality or personality to the tour. This might include cider, wine splashes or samples, holiday treats, small branded souvenirs, displays, decorations, musicians, recorded music, or other complimentary extras for tour participants. These are entirely optional.

Promotion
Napa County Landmarks will promote participating properties as part of the overall Holiday Home Tour campaign. Promotion will include:
• Property logo on our ticketing website
• Social media promotion through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
• Promotion to our email list of approximately 1,700 subscribers
• Inclusion in Holiday Home Tour event communications
• Our goal is to showcase each participating property while giving visitors a memorable opportunity to experience some of Napa County’s historic places from the inside.

You can view the photo gallery from the HHT2025 for ideas and inspiration.
Or visit HHT2025 for a peek at the tour concept and participants last year.

How to Join & Questions?
To sign up, please send your logo (for online and printing), website url, a description of your guest enhancement, and contact information to info@napacountylandmarks.org. Or call/text our office at 707-231-8261 with any questions. We will send you our event graphics and logo for distribution through your social media, website, and marketing outlets. Thank you!