Kennolyn

The first event venue in Santa Cruz County to earn the prestigious Diamond Certified Award, Kennolyn...

The first event venue in Santa Cruz County to earn the prestigious Diamond Certified Award, Kennolyn offers a variety of facilities with their own personality, unique features and considerable charm. The Hilltop Hacienda, set literally on top of one of the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooks redwood forests and Monterey Bay. It not only has a fabulous view, but it’s so quiet up here you can truly hear yourself think (or not think, as the case may be). You enter this Spanish-style building through a sun-drenched courtyard, with a four-tiered fountain bubbling in its center and pots of vibrant flowers all around. Step into the banquet room and you’ll find it equally welcoming. Spacious and unpretentious in design, it has a wood-beamed ceiling with wrought-iron chandeliers that convey elegant simplicity. At one end of the room, a lofty fireplace mantel of rich chocolate brown provides a striking contrast to the light tan walls. Sets of white French doors along two sides open onto either the courtyard or a heavenly patio that faces the bay. When the sun goes down, you can extend the day’s warmth by lighting a fire in the fireplace. As you might imagine, weddings here are delightful, and for corporate seminars or retreats you’d be hard pressed to find a more restful spot.

Located in another part of this 300-acre redwood paradise is Stone Creek Village, a miniature “town” reminiscent of a bygone era when logging and mining were going concerns. It contains a terrific lodge, sports facilities and Kennolyn’s overnight accommodations. While this area is most often used for weekend reunions and retreats, it has become very popular for wedding weekends. This is a wonderful arrangement, where over the course of a weekend, the bridal families and wedding party spend quality time together in the Village, and join their extended family and friends at the Hilltop Hacienda for the wedding reception itself. Some couples and their overnight guests start off the wedding day with a ropes course, then join the rest of the wedding guests for a ceremony on the Hacienda lawn followed by the reception. Afterwards, they can all go back to Stone Creek Village and relax.

The old-fashioned Lodge, with its great river rock fireplace, is Stone Creek Village’s main space. Your guests can stay in cabin cottages appointed with antiques, down comforters and old-fashioned stoves.

Kennolyn’s gorgeous surroundings will bring beauty and serenity to any event.