Few Napa resorts came as close to total destruction during the 2017 wildfires as Silverado Resort and Spa. The flames that swept across Atlas Peak reached the resort’s golf courses, scorching portions, burned surrounding homes, and threatened several permanent structures. But fortunately, the historic Mansion and its surroundings remained unharmed and in tact. And while today it’s possible to spot signs of the fires in the blackened hillsides, the resort is fully functioning in all its glory, and fans (such as myself) of the iconic Napa Valley spot are relieved.
I was first introduced to Silverado three and a half decades ago when my college roommate married into an esteemed Napa Valley winemaking family. The wedding reception was held in the Silverado ballroom and it was one of the most refined events of my young life. The champagne flowed freely as glittering guests mingled on the veranda overlooking the impossibly green golf course. While the marriage didn’t last, the elegant glow of the evening was forever emblazoned upon my memory.
Outdoor Terrace at Sliverado Resort, Napa Valley
Fast forward a few years to a profession which led me time and again back to Silverado. As a member of the Golden State Warriors executive team, Silverado was our second home. Staged there were our annual golf tournament and season ticket holder events, as were our annual marketing retreats. Our tight knit front office group swam in the pools, drove at the driving range, and imbibed at the Mansion Lounge. And all these years later, we continue to laugh about the time we placed our sleeping co-worker’s trundle bed in the middle of the fairway – which, now older and wiser, we do not recommend.
My memories of Silverado are happy and warm, so it was with great pleasure that I returned recently for an overnight stay to find that everything I once loved about the place continues to resonate. For me, Silverado was always ‘quintessentially Napa,’ and it still is. The Mansion Lounge still serves great cocktails while a Sinatra soundtrack plays in the background; the great lawn is greener than ever, and the swimming options have expanded to include the tranquil Spa pool and a remodeled central pool with luxe cabanas.
The Mansion at Silverado Resort
At its epicenter is the iconic Mansion, a California landmark for nearly 145 years, and to many, a symbol for Napa itself. One need not be a golfer to appreciate the serenity of the two championship courses that surround the 1,200-acre property and its vast open spaces, expansive grounds, and large inviting patios and porch settings. And while guests are likely tempted to step off-property to explore the Valley and its winery and restaurant offerings, Silverado’s 17 plexi‐paved tennis courts, ten swimming pools (one surrounded by luxe cabanas), three restaurants, a 16,000 square foot spa, exercise facilities, and salon ensure that one need not explore in order to experience the best of Napa Valley.
Despite the proliferation of luxury resorts, inns, and B&B’s throughout the Valley over the past many years, Silverado is and will always be the epitome of genteel Napa hospitality, and a celebration of the Valley itself. And it doesn’t take a personal history with a trove of warm memories to ‘get it.’ Book a room, or simply enjoy a cocktail on the fairway veranda, and you’ll ‘get it’ too.
Article by: Fran Miller
Silverado Resort and Spa, 1600 Atlas Peak Rd., Napa
