Glen Ellen
Valley of the Moon
A charming wine country village nestled in Sonoma Valley — home to world-class wineries, Jack London State Historic Park, and the best of Northern California's outdoor living.
The Heart of Sonoma Valley
Glen Ellen is an unincorporated village in Sonoma County, tucked between the slopes of Sonoma Mountain and the gentle floor of the Sonoma Valley — a region romanticized in literature and celebrated for its wines. Often called the "Valley of the Moon," a name immortalized by Jack London himself, Glen Ellen occupies a rare place where rural charm, wine culture, and natural beauty converge.
The area was named after Ellen Stuart, wife of Charles V. Stuart, who established a 1,000-acre vineyard here in 1868 following purchase of land from the Rancho Agua Caliente land grant. The surrounding village took the same name, and wine has been at the heart of Glen Ellen's identity ever since.
Perhaps most famously, Glen Ellen was the beloved home of author Jack London. He purchased land he called "Beauty Ranch" in 1905 and lived there until his death in 1916, writing many celebrated works inspired by the valley and its people. His legacy is preserved today in the 1,400-acre Jack London State Historic Park.
Today, Glen Ellen balances its historical character with a thriving wine scene, world-class dining, and easy access to parks and trails — making it one of Sonoma County's most beloved destinations for visitors and residents alike.
Quick Facts
What Glen Ellen Is Known For
World-Class Wine
Boutique wineries and tasting rooms showcase Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grown on Sonoma Mountain's diverse, rocky hillside terrain. Intimate experiences that larger Wine Country towns can't match.
Jack London Legacy
Jack London's "Beauty Ranch" — where he wrote many of his most celebrated works — is preserved as a 1,400-acre State Historic Park with 29 miles of trails, museum access, and the haunting ruins of Wolf House.
Outdoor Living
From the Valley of the Moon Trail to the Sonoma Botanical Garden's rare Asian plant collections, Glen Ellen offers exceptional outdoor recreation year-round in a stunning Mediterranean climate setting.
The Man Who Made the Valley Famous
Jack London was born in San Francisco on January 12, 1876. By the time he was 30 years old he was internationally famous — celebrated for The Call of the Wild (1903) and The Sea Wolf (1904) — a writer whose adventures at sea, in the Yukon, and in the fields of California had captured the imagination of millions worldwide. His works were eventually translated into as many as 70 languages, and between 1900 and 1916 he completed more than 50 fiction and non-fiction books and hundreds of short stories.
But behind the rugged, globe-trotting legend was a man who craved peace, soil, and a place to put down roots. He found all three in Glen Ellen.
In June 1905, London purchased the Hill Ranch on Sonoma Mountain — 130 acres he described as "the most beautiful, primitive land to be found in California." He had come tired of the city, tired of what he called "the man trap" of Oakland, and looking for somewhere he could write, farm, and live close to nature. Glen Ellen gave him all of that, and he spent the rest of his life — eleven years — expanding, farming, building, and writing here in the Valley of the Moon.
His novel The Valley of the Moon (1913), written right here at the ranch, immortalized the Sonoma Valley and gave Glen Ellen a name that has stuck in the hearts of visitors ever since. London died here on November 22, 1916, at age 40 — full of ambition and plans, even at the end. Today, 1,400 acres of his land are preserved as Jack London State Historic Park, one of California's most meaningful historic sites.
"I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."— Jack London
"All I wanted was a quiet place in the country to write and loaf in and get out of Nature that something which we all need, only the most of us don't know it."— Jack London, on coming to Glen Ellen
From First Ranch to Final Chapter
Jack London is born on January 12, 1876. He grows up in poverty in Oakland, working from a young age — on the waterfront, as an oyster pirate, a sailor, and a laborer — accumulating the raw experience that would fuel his writing for the rest of his life.
The Call of the Wild (1903) and The Sea Wolf (1904) make London one of the most famous authors in the world. His stories of adventure, survival, and the struggle for dignity resonate with millions of readers across dozens of languages.
London purchases his first parcel on Sonoma Mountain in June 1905 for $7,000 — 130 acres he calls "the most beautiful, primitive land to be found in California." He writes to his publisher: "This is to be no summer residence proposition, but a home all the year round. I am anchoring good and solid, and anchoring for keeps."
Restless as always, London builds the sailing ship Snark and sets off to sail around the world, serializing the adventure. The voyage reaches the South Pacific and Australia before failing health forces an early end. Discouraged and heartbroken, the Londons return to Glen Ellen and dig deeper into ranch life.
London purchases adjoining farms and expands his holdings to 1,400 acres on Sonoma Mountain. He calls it "Beauty Ranch" — also known as the Ranch of Good Intentions — and throws himself into scientific agriculture. He rotates crops, uses natural fertilizers and green manures, builds California's first concrete block silo, and pioneers farming methods a century ahead of their time. By 1916 he employs nearly fifty people on the ranch.
London hires renowned San Francisco architect Albert L. Farr to design his dream home — a massive Arts and Crafts stone and redwood mansion designed to "stand for a thousand years." Construction runs from 1911 to 1913 at a cost of between $50,000 and $75,000 (equivalent to roughly $1.9 million today). On the night of August 22, 1913, just as final cleanup begins, a fire breaks out and destroys the interior. Only the massive masonry walls survive. A 1995 forensic investigation concludes the likely cause was spontaneous combustion from linseed oil-soaked rags left by workers. London and Charmian never spend a single night inside. He plans to rebuild, but never does.
London's Glen Ellen years produce some of his most celebrated work. Burning Daylight (1910), The Valley of the Moon (1913), and Little Lady of the Big House (1916) all draw directly from life on the Sonoma Mountain ranch and his love for the valley. He maintains his discipline of writing 1,000 words every day, regardless of location, health, or circumstance.
Jack London dies at the ranch on November 22, 1916, at the age of 40, of gastrointestinal uremic poisoning. He had been suffering from a variety of ailments but was, by all accounts, still full of plans and boundless enthusiasm for the ranch's future up to his final hours. Words of grief poured into the telegraph office in Glen Ellen from around the world. He is buried on a hillside on the ranch property, at a site he had chosen himself.
Historic Sites at Jack London State Historic Park
Wolf House Ruins
The haunting stone shell of London's dream mansion stands exactly as it did the morning after the 1913 fire — massive, silent, and still eloquent. The ruins are one of the most visited historic sites in California Wine Country. Free docent-guided tours of Wolf House and London's grave site are available at the park.
Design by architect Albert L. Farr. 15,000 sq ft, 26 rooms, 9 fireplaces. Never occupied.
Learn More →Beauty Ranch
Walk the same meadows and farm structures where London conducted his pioneering experiments in sustainable agriculture. The Pig Palace — his circular, labor-saving pig enclosure designed in 1915 — still stands. So do two concrete block silos over 40 feet tall, the stone barns, the winery ruins, and remnants of the spineless cactus experiment with Luther Burbank. Free docent tours available.
1,400 acres. London employed nearly 50 people here by 1916.
Learn More →House of Happy Walls Museum
Built by Charmian London after Jack's death as a memorial to her husband, the House of Happy Walls is now a California State Parks museum housing London's personal belongings, travel artifacts, manuscripts, photographs, and collections gathered from his voyages around the world. It offers an intimate window into who Jack London really was beyond the public legend.
Open daily. Included with park admission.
Learn More →Notable Works Written or Set in Glen Ellen
Visit Jack London State Historic Park
Walk the land where London farmed, dreamed, and wrote. Tours of Wolf House, Beauty Ranch, and the Cottage are available daily. 29 miles of hiking trails, a full museum, and one of the most beautiful settings in Sonoma County.
Address: 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Phone: (707) 938-5216
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Daily
Closed: December 25
Plan Your Visit →Featured Glen Ellen Businesses
Benziger Family Winery
Address: 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Phone: (707) 935-3000
Hours: Open Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
A pioneer in Biodynamic farming, Benziger has crafted world-class Sonoma County wines since 1981. Take a tram tour through their certified Biodynamic estate vineyard on Sonoma Mountain. Family and dog friendly.
Visit Website →B.R. Cohn Winery
Address: 15000 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Hours: Open Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Known for spectacular vineyard views and award-winning wines, B.R. Cohn offers a laid-back tasting experience with warm, friendly hospitality. Premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel wines with a unique musical heritage.
Visit Website →Glen Ellen Star
Address: 13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Phone: (707) 343-1384
Hours: Dinner Nightly 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Fri-Sat until 9:30 PM)
Michelin Bib Gourmand wood-fired California cuisine. Chef Ari Weiswasser sources from nearby farms for seasonal pizzas, pasta, and roasted meats. Reservations recommended.
Visit Website →Glen Ellen Village Market
Address: 13751 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Hours: Daily 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM
The heart of the village. High-quality groceries, full deli, hot food bar, salad bar, rotisserie chicken, local wines, and fresh produce. The perfect stop for picnic supplies before visiting Jack London State Park.
Visit Website →Natural Treasures of Glen Ellen
Jack London State Historic Park
jacklondonpark.com →Sonoma Valley Regional Park
sonomacounty.ca.gov →Sonoma Botanical Garden
sonomabg.org →Plan Your Visit to Glen Ellen
Getting Here
- Located along Highway 12 (Sonoma Highway) in Sonoma Valley
- 6 miles north of the City of Sonoma
- 12 miles southeast of Santa Rosa
- 50 miles north of San Francisco via Hwy 101 & Hwy 12
- ~35 miles from Oakland International Airport
- ~15 miles from Sonoma County Airport (Charles M. Schulz)
Best Times to Visit
Spring
Wildflowers bloom, hillsides turn brilliant green, mild temperatures ideal for hiking.
Summer
Peak season — warm weather perfect for wine tasting and outdoor adventures.
Fall
Harvest season, colorful foliage, fewer crowds — a local favorite time of year.
Winter
Peaceful scenery, uncrowded tasting rooms, seasonal events throughout the valley.
Community Resources & Services
Glen Ellen is an unincorporated community — local governance and services are provided by Sonoma County. Glen Ellen is located within Sonoma County Board of Supervisors District 1.
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Address: 575 Administration Drive, Room 100A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707) 565-2241
Website: sonomacounty.gov
North Sonoma Valley Municipal Advisory Council
The North Sonoma Valley MAC serves Glen Ellen, Kenwood, and Eldridge — providing community representation and a bridge for communication with County government.
Emergency Services
Emergency: 911
Fire Protection: Sonoma Valley Fire District
Law Enforcement: Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
Schools & Education
Glen Ellen is served by the Sonoma Valley Unified School District.
Address: 17850 Railroad Avenue, Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 935-6000
Website: sonomaschools.org
Explore the Sonoma County Network
Local business directories covering communities throughout the California wine country region.
Grow Your Glen Ellen Business Online
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Get a Free Consultation →
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