Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast

Aptos, United States

4.8

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

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Telephone:
+1 831-688-8005
Website:
www.sandrockfarm.com
Address:
6901 Freedom Blvd, Aptos, CA, 95003
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Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Wi-Fi
Free

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Description

Specialties

Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast specializes in romantic retreats, relaxing escapes to the coast, engagements, elopements, reunions, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. Stop and smell the roses in our gorgeous gardens and wake up to wonderful aromas of hot, delicious and home made breakfast before enjoying some of the many local attractions.

History

Established in 1999.

Something old, something new… Sand Rock Farm was originally a 1000-​acre ranch and winery built by August and Eva Lilliencrantz in the 1880’s. At the height of operations in 1907, over 70 acres of vines were planted and 130,000 gallons of wine were shipped. The property remained in the Lilliencrantz family until the 1960’s when it was purchased for use as a private home. Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast was started in 1999 by Kris Sheehan, who lovingly restored the property with authentic antique furnishings and fixtures. The beautiful grounds and event areas attracted many brides and grooms and under Kris’s ownership, Sand Rock Farm earned an excellent reputation not just for the bed and breakfast, but also as one of the area’s premier wedding and elopement destinations. Today, Derek and Jennifer Hagglof continue the tradition of warm hospitality, offering comfortable, relaxing and romantic accommodations and a variety of gorgeous, natural settings for special occasions.

Meet the Business Owner

Derek and Jen H.

Business Owner

Chef Derek Hagglof graduated from Western Culinary School in Portland, Oregon in 1991, interned at the famous Coco Palms Hotel on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and has worked in the food and beverage industry ever since, with stints on Hollywood movie sets, a private yacht in the Sea of Cortez, hotels in Olympic Valley (Squaw Valley, CA) and restaurants in Hollywood, Malibu, Tahoe and Kauai. His previous companies include D’lish Catering and The Burrito Window in Tahoe City and D’lish Auburn.

Jen Hagglof has worked in the food, beverage, hospitality and special industry since 1986, planning and providing support for special events in California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Canada and Mexico. Her expertise is in logistics, but her passion is in the kitchen and the garden where she finds creative inspiration and the opportunity to learn something new every day.

The Hagglofs goal is to make every guests experience at Sand Rock Farm intimate, effortless and delicious!

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20 reviews of Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Orange, CA
I called a few B&B’s and although consistently I have been pleased wherever I stay, once I made a call last minute, Jen, one of the owners, took personal care of me. I was driving from Napa to the coast where Sand Rock is located and she gave me directions and even texted me to drive safe. I was greeted right away with a wonderful smile and a transparent life which is what I love. I was tired of a long drive so she asked if I wanted a glass of wine. Not only is the service exceptional but the B&B is and I am so so glad I called Sand Rock Farm B&B. I love this place already and want to come back and I have not even left yet!
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
We were married here on September 27, 2014.
The year before my husband had decided to take me on a romantic weekend and, so by chance, chose this bed and breakfast. Immediately, we fell in love with the place and when we walked down to the meadow, we knew it would be the place to be married at (only after five months).
The wedding was beautiful. All of our guests loved the venue and continue to mention how lovely our wedding was. Dancing in the wine cellar was definitely a highlight Our wedding day was perfect — yay!
A year later, we came back to new owners and found there to be some really nice improvements: a new trail to walk, tv in room, updated furniture, retro airstream, and a cool bar in the barn (it’s for weddings; we wish we had it for ours!). The new owners are really friendly and a pleasure to chat with. They seemed like they would put on a fantastic wedding.
Whether you are looking for a charming bed and breakfast or romantic wedding venue, you will find what you are searching for.
Place rating: 5
Pleasanton, CA
I just had my wedding at Sand Rock and couldn’t imagine a better place to get married! Jen, Derek, Amanda and Lynn were all wonderful and planned the most beautiful day. We had a fairly large wedding (170 people) and used several sites throughout the day — Redwood Grove (ceremony), Barrel Room (cocktail hour), Meadow (dinner) and Barn (dancing). Every single location was designed to perfection — and when I say I didn’t lift a figure, I mean it. Jen and her staff took care of everything, from food, to décor, to the cake. Speaking of food, Derek is amazing, the food couldn’t have been better. Our guests had an amazing time and I highly recommend this spot as a wedding venue + we’ll definitely be returning as guests of the B&B because the rooms are incredibly comfortable as well.
Place rating: 5
Clayton, CA
I loved the grounds and charm of this vintage bed and breakfast. I was pleasantly surprised to find a B&B at the last minute that shared my exact taste in décor. The room was very clean, comfortable bed and had a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. The grounds are very serene and tucked away with nature paths and a garden. However, do not open the sun porch door thinking it leads to a garden. I did that and was mortified to find a man in bed. The rooms are labeled different names and that one was a bit misleading but fortunately the man was laughing.
The room was a comfortable temperature at night but could have used a fan during the day because of the humid weather we have been having. Other than that minor issue the room was perfect!
I cannot comment on the breakfast but the woman that runs it was very accommodating to us. We were going on a kayaking whale watch trip and had to leave by 6:00 am. The breakfast starts at 7:30 but the owner offered to make us breakfast at 6:30. Unfortunately we didn’t have time so the owner set a timer for coffee to be ready for us and reduced the price of the breakfast.
This is a great place if you want a quiet little getaway. Wonderful stay!!!
Place rating: 5
San Mateo, CA
The boyfriend and I stayed here over Labor Day weekend and it was an amazing experience.
We stayed in the Morning Glory room and enjoyed every second of it. The room was very clean and the bed was insanely comfortable.
The breakfast Derek made in the morning was absolutely fantastic!
Jen and Derek run an amazing b&b and we will definitely stay there again.
Place rating: 5
Baltimore, MD
My good friend was married at Sand Rock Farm last weekend. My husband and I were coming from the east coast so we decided to just stay the entire time at the b&b and make a vacation out of it. We arrived Thursday to a warm welcome by Jen and Derrick. Our room was a delight of cozy and bright/​airy. They gave us great advice on where to head for dinner and activities. But the real treat was each morning: breakfast. Seriously, on Friday morning my first thought was «I get to have their breakfast five more times!!». The food was delicious at every turn. Then the wedding events: rehearsal, getting ready, ceremony, party, after party. All on site and all pretty perfect! Jen was a great coordinator, doing all the small but important tasks flawlessly. The food was scrumptious. The grounds were beautiful and FUN! The bathrooms in the airstream were so cute, games during cocktail hour were fun and got played, dance floor in the barrel room was a great party. After-​party at the barn/​firepit was low key but worth staying around for. Brides/​Grooms: Get married here!!! I live on the east coast and am already pondering which friends I can convince to have their future/​hypothetical weddings at Sand Rock Farm just so I can return. Oh, and after the wedding was over, we had a couple of days to explore around: hiking, whale watching, relaxing, eating more breakfasts! It was a delightful vacation.
Place rating: 2
Oakland, CA
Let me just start with Sand Rock Farm is a BEAUTIFUL location. The grounds are lovely and the rooms are quaint and comfy. The breakfast we had there was decent (first day was pretty good, second day was awful.) We were there for a good friends wedding that was being held at the location.
Location — Five Stars
Rooms — Four Stars
Derek — Five Stars (seriously, this guy is awesome, sweet and helpful)
Food — Three Stars
Jen — Zero Stars
Jen ruined the bride and grooms night. She was rude to the groom, two of the bridesmaids, the sound guy and their family. The wedding party got ready in two rooms (ladies in one, men in the other). When the reception was over, the wedding party not staying there entered the rooms (attended by the people responsible for the rooms, they weren’t wondering around aimlessly) to retrieve their belongings. Jen came out and yelled at multiple people at this time including the groom (who had a room there, but was grabbing his stuff from our room). The wedding was supposed to end at 9:30 pm, at 9:20 pm the bride announces it’s time to go. This all took place at 9:35 pm.
You know, maybe she was just having a bad night, but she completely ruined what is supposed to be the happiest day for two of my good friends and that is inexcusable. I hope everyone else has had a happy stay here, but for those of us that were witness to this, we will never return.
Place rating: 5
Truckee, CA
Our 2 night stay was as relaxing as it gets! Strolling through the gorgeous property and enjoying the many fountains, the peaceful atmosphere, the historic ‘wine cellar’, the amazing trees. I’m not sure which was our favorite! Only to come back to our cozy room with the fireplace and huge jacuzzi tub (and fresh flowers). Even better was waking up to the smell of fresh baked scones! The new owners have done such a great job with brightening up the property even more than it already was! We will definitely be back!
Place rating: 5
Santa Rosa, CA
The new owners have put a lot of work into the building. They cleaned, painted and updated everything inside. The food was great. Check in was easy. The tub in the room was a great addition. It is a very old building so you can hear every step inside but that should be expected. There is only 5 rooms so it is very personalized. If you are looking for a great place to get away with a loved one or your family this is the place to stay. It is very reasonably priced and you get more then you pay for. All the new flat screen TVs in the rooms and updated wifi for free is a great addition. I will stay here again.
Place rating: 5
San Miguel, CA
Visited Aptos for the first time and stayed here because of the 5 STAR rating on Unilocal.Yes, Unilocal reviewers, you are correct, it was wonderful. The winding driveway is thru a beautiful forest which takes you to the old home. It is so peaceful and relaxing! The room we stayed in was very charming and the bed was incredibly comfortable… the kind you pull all the covers up and sink into a wonderful sleep. The entire home is in pristine condition and takes you back to 1865. The breakfast the next morning was killer! The most amazing French Toast with eggs and apple wood bacon. The new owners are caterers and definitely know how to please. I understand there are lots of weddings here and I can see why. The grounds are beautiful. Can’t wait to go back again!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
We stayed at Sand Rock Farm a fews years ago and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the house, the tasty breakfast and it’s location — tucked in the redwoods of Aptos. We ended up thinking so fondly of Sand Rock Farm, that we chose the venue for our wedding — which was just a few weeks ago.
Prior to the wedding, Kris and I exchanged many emails — detail oriented and always with a quick response. She gave us fantastic local vendor suggestions (so many positive reviews to write!). Her high standards for hospitality were very evident in every aspect of her event planning and how she runs her B&B. My family (who came in from out of the country) stayed at the B&B for the wedding weekend. Kris made a terrific breakfast for them both mornings, also accommodating me and my bridesmaids on the morning of the wedding.
Our wedding day was perfect. We had around 75 guests, our ceremony (in the cellar) and our reception (in the winery meadow). It felt intimate and gave us the outdoor rustic environment we were looking for, without being too manicured. With the help of Kris’ staff and the recommended vendors, our day blew by flawlessly. Our friends and families raved about the venue, the food & the overall feel of the wedding. Most importantly, we all felt at ease — and pretty laid back (considering it was our wedding day)! I cannot thank Kris & Dean (her awesome side kick) enough, for making it happen. I don’t think I could have imagined a better day. Sand Rock Farm will always hold a special place in our hearts!
One final note — after visiting multiple B&B’s on our honeymoon, the atmosphere at Sand Rock Farm is top notch; relaxing, quiet, yummy breakfast, no pressure to hang around and make conversation (if you’re not into that). A fantastic little get-​a-​way!
Place rating: 5
West Sacramento, CA
I will keep it simple… you want a nice little place to get away with the love of your life, you found it:)
Place rating: 4
San Rafael, CA
i just returned from a lovely two night stay at Sand Rock farm B&B. I’m not usually a big fan of B& B’s, but this one was clean, quiet, the bed super comfy, a jacuzzi in the room, and windows that I kept open throughout the night.
The one thing I can’t stand about hotels is the air conditioning. So this was wonderful.
The breakfasts were delicious and extremely generous. Kris, the proprietor, has a 9pm quiet policy, and I slept like a baby. Kris is very helpful if you need recommendations or directions or have dietary needs. She is also respectful of ones privacy.
The only complaint I had was the coffee. If you are a coffee snob, you’ll need to get your own coffee in town.
Place rating: 5
Aptos, CA
My fiancé and I are currently in the process of finding an outdoor wedding venue for our 200+ guest list and today we had the chance to check out this gem nestled in the Aptos woods.
We were warmly greeted by Kris and Dean, then taken on a grounds tour where Dean answered all our questions and explained the logistics of the variety of weddings they’ve had there. He was very kind and definitely made us feel like we could use the property as a blank canvas for whatever we had in mind.
After the tour, Kris went through their packages and pricing, giving us real numbers to work with. She was also very kind and seemed willing to work with couples who book to make sure their event was picturesque.
This place was the first of many venue visits, but it was a great start and a lovely property.
Place rating: 5
Danville, CA
What a wonderful place.
We made a reservation that included Easter, and when I called, the delightful owner of the property said that if we were in the area early, we could call and see if our room was ready– as we would be the only guests. Wasn’t that nice?
The way up to the house is lovely. You feel like you’re in the country. There are millions of birds, and the gardens are just lovely. The house is perfect. Everything a romantic B&B should be. It’s all furnished in antiques, and i loved the wall coverings and rugs. The redwood doors and paneling and flooring are delightful.
We stayed in the morning glory room. Luscious large jacuzzi tub at the foot of your bed, with a lacy curtained window at the end of the tub. The little basket on the tub not only had shampoo and soap, but also herbal salts for the tub. There’s also a shower in the bathroom. The wallpapers and tile and rugs and bed coverings were just exquisite. This room is a little jewel box, and it’s super clean. Everything is just perfect. Out the window you can see trees and the garden and you will wake to the sound of birds. There’s even a little personal stove you can sit by, in the two wicker chairs.
The breakfasts are first rate, and beautifully served. For our first breakfast we had a goat cheese, egg and asparagus wrap, with a lovely spray of flowering rosemary to decorate the plate.
We are spending a personal anniversary here (first date! Many many years ago) but this would be a wonderful place to honeymoon.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Had a wonderful time. My girlfriend and I went on a Sunday and Monday getaway and loved this place. The breakfasts were delicious. The grounds are well kept and Kris the owner was friendly. The rooms and bathrooms are quite spacious which makes this place a great deal.
Place rating: 5
Burlingame, CA
Stayed here a couple weeks ago… Was not sure what to expect, but it’s everything I’d imagine a B&B to be. It’s isolated up on a hill and it’s very pretty up there. Quaint and charming house. The floor boards creak, the light fixtures are turn of the century old. You definitly feel as if you’re in another time/​place.
We stayed in the Honeycomb suite and wow it was super nice, but kind of weird. The room was spacious and clean and nice… lots of olden charm and character to it.
Some other notes:
There was an electric fake-​fireplace heater thing that fanned out some warm air. The bathroom was remodeled and modern (the shower had two working shower heads on opposite ends of the shower!)
There was a hottub jacuzzi on the other side of the room. IN THE ROOM. it was large, it worked great, they didn’t run out of hot water!
Breakfast was great as well. Both days you start off w/​a fruit place, which is so fresh and good. First day we had goat cheese soufflé with asparagus and cinnamon buns. It was very tasty. The second day we had berry sauced frenchtoast and chicken apple sausage. The frenchtoast was so-​so. Portions were large.
The owner, Kris was nice and helpful. Cooked everything herself, told us about the property, made suggestions, but didn’t bother anyone. Her employee, Dean was also super nice and helpful.
It was a great place to stay… had a wonderful time!
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
I have photographed several weddings at this location and it is perfect.
Lovely gardens, lots of privacy, wonderful hosts, great rooms and yummy breakfast.
Place rating: 5
St Paul, MN
We were married here in October 2010 on what was probably the nicest day of the month. We had a small outdoor wedding of about 30 people and chose to have the ceremony in the Pavilion and the reception was held in the 1885 Barrel Aging Cellar.
The owner, Kris, was always professional, enthusiastic, and demonstrated great attention to detail. The people on her staff were also really nice, helpful, and friendly. In addition to the gorgeous grounds, one of the main reasons that we chose this venue was the fact that Kris had relationships with outside vendors and it felt like there were fewer moving parts for us to worry about… Kris handled it all from her end and we just had to make our selections.
Kris gave us sample menus to review and we set up a tasting. She was honest about our choices (the first go-​round we chose food that was all brown!) and she was receptive to our feedback. The caterer (I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten her name) was also really helpful and was willing to help us plan a menu for people with dietary concerns (egg allergies/​gluten-​free/​vegetarian, etc). Our guests were really pleased with dinner!
Our guests also really loved the site and people kept talking about how unique it was. The Barrel Aging Cellar was heated through the day by the sun and retained that warmth at night. We did not have to turn on the heating lamps until about 30 minutes before the reception ended.
We stayed the night in one of the guest rooms at the B&B. We were really impressed with the jacuzzi and our shower had some nifty red lights. Breakfast was wonderful! Kris makes everything herself and she is such a good cook! Yum yum!
We never felt slighted in any way because our wedding was on the small side. In fact, Kris was eager to hear about details during the planning stages as well as over breakfast the next day.
Thank you so much for a wonderful experience, start to finish!
Place rating: 5
San Jose, CA
My fiancé and I finally tied the knot last weekend at Sand Rock Farm. It’s been a few days since the wedding and I’ve finally gotten the chance to decompress and reflect on the wedding, the venue, Kris, and her staff.
I have nothing but kind words to say for Kris and her staff (especially Dean). Kris is detail oriented, Dean is smart and friendly, and the rest of the service staff made our guests feel welcome.
Some details regarding the wedding:
160 people
Ceremony: Redwood Grove
Cocktail hour: Barrel Cellar
Reception: Winery meadow
Dancing: Barrel Cellar
Between Kris, her field manager (Patty), my day-​of planner extraordinaire (Shirin) and my MOH, the day went by with as few errors as possible. We even had comments about how smooth the entire day went. At some point, at the end of dinner I noticed people were starting to mingle so I thought «hey, I should tell Patty to get the champagne started so we can get into the toasts.» Turned out there was no need to tell Patty what to do — she already had the champagne ready for ½ the tables!
I’ve had comments from guests about how accommodating the service staff was — from grabbing clean plates for second helpings (of food) and how nice they were when serving food/​wine/​water/​booze.
As for the location itself, it was an overcast day but I felt it just added to the beauty of SRF. The ceremony was laid out better than I had pictured and the reception literally glowed with candles once the sun set. The redwood grove was perfect for 160 people. The space felt full without feeling cramped. We also got a lot of comments on how «unexpected» and different the venue was compared to most weddings.
One thing I would suggest, is to rent out the entire B&B if you plan to have your wedding here — it allows Kris to be much more accommodating and you’ll just have an easier time getting things set up. We were there from Friday to Sunday and it felt like home away from home. I’ve got a big family — and Kris was welcoming to every one who showed up early and began setting up the wedding. For BRIDES: I would suggest using the hidden garden room as your main camp for getting dressed, etc. There are 3 different ways to get into the room and it’s really convenient for the day-​of when vendors are going in and out and members of your family want to see you. The room is also HUGE and it was comfortable to fit me + 4 bridesmaids + 2 moms + 4 makeup artists + 4 onlookers the day-​of for our pampering needs.
I can’t begin to properly express the gratitude I felt for having such an awesome group of family and friends who were there to help execute the wedding — and the gratitude that I have for Kris and her team for being not only competent, but warm and caring in executing the wedding of our dreams.