Avery Hotel

The Historic Avery Hotel is a wedding venue in Avery, California, set among towering pines and incense cedars in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County. Built in 1851 and operating as a hotel since 1853, it is the oldest continuously running hotel in the county, offering couples a one-of-a-kind, time-period setting for both ceremony and reception. The vintage property sits along the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Highway 4 within the Stanislaus National Forest, just a short drive from the gold-rush town of Murphys and its many wineries, restaurants, and tasting rooms.

Couples enjoy exclusive use of the entire hotel and grounds, which accommodates up to 150 guests for events and provides overnight lodging for more than 23 people. Outdoor ceremonies take place on an artisan wood stage with bench seating, while a covered pavilion, lawn area, formal dining room, billiards and poker rooms, and an old-fashioned saloon offer flexible spaces for receptions of every style. Two bars, a commercial kitchen, an enclosed BBQ area, and ample vintage decor give the property the character of a small, fully self-contained resort.

The Avery Hotel is especially well suited to couples who want creative freedom. The venue is widely described as a do-it-yourself dream, supplying tables, chairs, white linen tablecloths and napkins, flatware, glassware, and dishware for the full guest count, along with arbors, lighting, and decorations. Nearby Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Bear Valley, and Lake Alpine make it a natural choice for a weekend wedding getaway in the Sierra foothills. With on-site coordination, comprehensive amenities, and a genuinely historic atmosphere, the hotel allows couples to host a personal, relaxed celebration that feels both intimate and grand, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the Northern California mountains.

What couples say

• Couples repeatedly praise owner Karl, along with the staff, as responsive, kind, and accommodating coordinators who make the planning process smooth.
• Many reviewers love the venue's blank-canvas DIY flexibility, which lets them customize nearly every detail of their celebration.
• Guests highlight the historic, time-travel charm of the 1851 property nestled in the Sierra Nevada forest.
• Reviewers consistently call the venue remarkably affordable for renting an entire historic hotel and its grounds.
• Couples appreciate the comprehensive on-site amenities, including a commercial kitchen, full bar, pavilion, linens, and dishware for up to 150 guests.