HOTEL LA HONDA  Beautifully situated In the redwoods. New acetylene gas. Good trout fishing. Long distance telephone. * Send for booklet. MRS. I. J. SEARS. La Honda, San Mateo county, Cal. (1.)

John Howell Sears built the Hotel La Honda, seen here, in 1878. It was originally called the Sears Hotel. Sears “was an early pioneer of Searsville and La Honda, two cities in San Mateo County, California. He directly influenced the development of these cities.” (2.) The La Honda Historical Society notes that the “Hotel burned down in 1914 and another hotel was built there, which also burned down in 1949.” A horse-driven coach can be seen to the right in front of the hotel.

1. Advertisement- Summer Resorts- The San Francisco Call, Tuesday, July 6, 1909.

2. John Howell Sears- Wikipedia accessed 2024