Teresa Raffo and Chris Hougie are expanding their presence in California’s outdoor hospitality market with the launch of Mendocino Cove, a new boutique hotel scheduled to open in August, approximately a decade after the pair established the nearby glamping destination Mendocino Grove on the same property.
Located on the Mendocino Coast, the new development represents the next phase of the partners’ hospitality business. Mendocino Cove will feature 40 guest suites spread across two buildings, Cypress and Vista Cove, offering a mix of king, queen, double, and accessible accommodations. The interiors were designed in collaboration with San Francisco-based designer Marie Fisher.
The property will include a range of amenities intended to serve both overnight guests and visitors, including eight professional pickleball courts, a Nordic-inspired wellness area with a hot tub, sauna, and cold pour, landscaped gathering spaces, communal fire pits, lawn games, a meditation labyrinth, and direct walking access to Pine Beach. Guests will also have access to nearby coastal hiking trails.
The resort’s restaurant and bar, Frolic, is expected to open alongside the property. Designed by local designer Lisa Haines of Den Modern, the venue incorporates contemporary coastal design alongside restored elements from the building’s previous history. While the restaurant will begin welcoming guests at opening, its full bar and tapas menu is scheduled to debut later this fall.
The expansion follows 10 years of operations at Mendocino Grove, the glamping retreat launched by Raffo and Hougie, and reflects a broader trend of outdoor hospitality operators diversifying their accommodation offerings to appeal to different traveler segments.
By combining traditional hotel accommodations with wellness amenities, outdoor recreation, and experiences rooted in the surrounding landscape, the project illustrates how hospitality businesses are broadening their portfolios while remaining connected to nature-based tourism.
For campground, glamping, and RV park operators, the development highlights the growing integration of complementary lodging types within a single destination.
As guest expectations continue to evolve, some operators are evaluating opportunities to add premium accommodations, wellness facilities, food and beverage concepts, or recreational amenities that can encourage longer stays, attract new customer demographics, and create additional revenue streams beyond overnight lodging.
Teresa Raffo, co-founder of Mendocino Cove and Mendocino Grove, told Boutique Hotelier: “We’ve poured so much care into creating spaces and experiences that encourage people to relax, from mornings on the pickleball courts followed by a cold pour to peaceful moments walking the meditation labyrinth or taking in the natural beauty of the coast. We can’t wait for guests to experience it.”
“From the beginning, our goal was to create a place that feels anchored in the Mendocino Coast while offering an experience that’s unique to the region,” said Chris Hougie, co-founder of Mendocino Cove.
“We’ve spent years thoughtfully restoring and shaping the property into a place where guests can relax, gather, and enjoy the nature that surrounds it. We’re excited to officially open our doors and welcome both travelers and the local community to Mendocino Cove.”
The opening of Mendocino Cove in August marks a milestone for the hospitality partners as they expand beyond glamping into boutique hotel accommodations while continuing to invest in the Mendocino Coast tourism market. The debut of Frolic’s expanded food and beverage offerings later this fall will complete the property’s initial rollout.