Always dreamed of living like a renowned literary figure? Here’s your chance! The charming Northern California lodge where the late author and journalist Jack London spent many blissful days is now up for sale. Known as Wake Robin, this enchanting estate is set on a 3-acre parcel in the lovely village of Glen Ellen, nestled between the Sonoma and Mayacamas mountains. It’s currently listed for just under $5 million with Matt Sevenau of Compass.
London was particularly taken by his editor Ninetta Eames’s niece, Charmian Kittredge, during his first visit in the summer of 1902 with his then-wife Bessie and their two daughters. He returned the following year, eventually marrying Charmian after a highly publicized divorce. Wake Robin became his home for about eight years, where he wrote bestselling novels like White Fang and The Sea Wolf, while also acquiring seven nearby parcels he called the Beauty Ranch, now known as Jack London State Historic Park. Originally part of a vast Mexican rancho and later a 160-acre ranch, Wake Robin was transformed into a lodge in the 1890s by Joshua Chauvet. The property has changed hands several times since, with Ann and Alexander Frick renovating it in the 1990s before passing it on to current owners Malcolm Walter and Elizabeth Fisher in 2020.
Spanning two stories and approximately 4,300 square feet, this modern three-bedroom, three-bath home features an octagon-shaped living room that once served as a lobby. Highlights include a cozy fireside dining area connected to a kitchen equipped with Caesarstone countertops, an eat-in island, Dacor and Sub-Zero appliances, and a climate-controlled wine cellar with space for up to 500 bottles. Additional spaces include two offices, a library filled with books, a media room, and a screened porch. The upper level boasts another octagon-shaped room that houses a primary suite with a private deck, a walk-through closet, and a luxurious bath featuring a spa tub.
Outdoors, the gated grounds are adorned with oak trees and include a pool and spa, a firepit, and a fully equipped barbecue station. There’s also a barn that can serve as a garage, gym, or flexible space, along with a horseshoe pit, bocce court, fruit orchard, raised garden beds, and covered parking for two vehicles. A tree stump where London often sat to write still remains on the property.
Water and Fisher, who invested around $300,000 in upgrades during their time there, are relocating due to work commitments in Sonoma. “While we love living in Glen Ellen, we have found a home in Sonoma that offers many of the same amenities, but lacks the rich history that 4100 Wake Robin provides,” the couple said in a statement. “This is a bittersweet move.”
