Riverside Hotel

The Riverside Hotel was established by Alfred (Fred) and Mary Ellen Barson on thirty acres along the San Lorenzo river, south of Soquel Avenue, in 1870 (today’s Barson Street was the northern boundary of the property). The Barson family ran it successfully until 1945. With its extensive gardens, river access and home-grown meat and produce for its restaurant, the Riverside was a unique and attractive tourist resort.

• History Pages: 31 – Paris on the San Lorenzo: Second Empire style noted the hotel’s distinctive “Second Empire” architectural style, characterized by the mansard roof seen in the photo.