Tor-House Foundation

What a lovely experience we had today touring the little Cottage by the sea with our docent Erin. She gave us an extensive intro to the Jeffers family history and the relationship with Jeffers and Una. I felt transported in time as we went thru the little
home so lovingly built. The tower is an amazing thing when you imagine Jeffers built it by hand and used rock from the property below. It was enchanting to see and listen as Erin wove the family history into a tale of yesterday. Since the tour is only an hour long I would definitely go back to hear more stories and to gaze upon the detail of the rocks and little nooks and crannies in this quaint little cottage. And to top it off a hawk flew overhead and swooped in as we were climbing the tower. Hmmmm maybe Jeffers is still there…

What a wonderful little tour. Our Docent Elliot, was very knowledgeable and entertaining. One doesn’t need to be poetry literate to enjoy the grounds and poems.

Now a small lot, but still a big presence
THE GOOD
Touring the home, garden and Hawk Tower you will see and feel how the Jeffers lived.
The docent will give you facts.
You get to touch and sit and roam.
After a few minutes in the house you will sense the rhythm of life when the house was young.
Climb the stairs to the top of the tower and take deep breaths.
The sea and fog will invigorate you today as it did the Jeffers yesterday.
THE BAD
Nothing is bad, here.
I was saddened because the family had to sell land to keep Tor House alive.
At the same time, I am grateful for their effort.
OTHER
I recommend reserving the first tour time — parking is scarce.
Also, after the tour, walk the neighborhood and imagine life less crowded.

A MUST SEE !Beautiful, Inspiring, Romantic. Small tours with volunteer
reserve a tour, and bring cash or check… it’s inexpensive at $ 10 person, and there are books also
Available for purchase. We had a hard time finding it, we parked, walked, asked locals… and actually missed 2 tours and luckily they accommodated us for the final tour of the day. Steeped in history, a fascinating look into Robinson And Una Jeffers life and home, a home he built by hand from stones he dragged up from the beach. A lifetime labour of his love for his wife, and for stones. This was. their «inevitable place «where «Lovers make their own dreams».The docents read some heartbreaking beautiful poems by Jeffers at various points from poems about the family dogs (tear jerker alert!)his grandaughter, his death bed, his wife, and his house. The gardens are absolutely beautiful. The views spectacular. We saw whales blowing. Our tour ended with an young man proposing to his love, and she said she said
was epic.

I love this place! One of the Monterey region’s must-​sees. It is full of fascinating details, history, and juicy scandals. Its history begins with the First World War and Carmel’s first golf course, and it features a man who was perhaps California’s premier poet.
Tours are limited to Fridays and Saturdays (10 to 3), and not open to kids younger than 12. Allow a little extra time to find the place. The tours are about 75 minutes, which is not nearly enough. Plan to return. I guarantee it won’t be redundant. Tor House tours are like snowflakes.
Unfortunately, cameras are not permitted during the tour.
The Tor House Foundation also sponsors events in May and October. The Spring Garden Party occurs on the first Sunday in May. Cameras and kids are welcome at the Garden Party. The Autumn event is a weekend-​long event, beginning with a sunset party.

Sure it is fascinating to go on a tour of this house. I recall going on a tour of this place a few years ago. I just was not very impressed. Also, I was wearing an embroidered shirt at the time. When the tour guide took my family and I up the spiral staircase inside the house, my shirt rubbed against the rock wall and that caused the embroidery to unravel. Of course, that was accidental. However, the tour guide did notice and did not say anything regarding it. That would at least been thoughtful. But then, he was not very friendly not courteous. I learned a lot of facts that day about the house and the writer. But I also learned to never wear embroidered clothing when you walk around stone walls.
Pros:
–informative
Cons:
–can be damaging on clothing

I went to the
site, called to make a reservation, and surprisingly enough got through! Note that the phone number is different Mon-​Thurs, from Friday-​Saturday!
That weekend, I’m looking for the 5 digit address on Ocean Drive, or was that Ocean View drive? Even the tour guide on the phone can’t remember the address! What was the last 5 digit address you could recall?
We motor along the one way Scenic Drive, past the first Frank Lloyd house on the ocean, and just before the second Frank Lloyd house, known as the ‘butterfly house’, take a left on Ocean View Ave.
The 3 story stone tower in the backyard stands out like a sore thumb, and is visible from the street.
Gated entrance, brick walkway just like in the Wizard of Oz, but this one is not lined with flowers, but abalone shells!
100 year old granite stone building, with computer written paper sign declaring no photography in the house nor on the premises. And that includes selfies!
Step right up, only $ 10 per person, tours Friday, Saturday 10 – 4 on the hour! Advance reservations required.
A lady in our group inquires about bathrooms –that will be another $ 10 mame! -:) Millions visit the Carmel area every year, but only a few thousand go on the Tor House tour And our tour has only 4 people-​certainly one of the most exclusive tours in California!
First stop is the front entrance room with the wall of pictures: Robinson Jeffrey a the Carmel golf club in 1913, twin sons born in the 1916, 1918 pasture land subdivided into 16 building land plots for $ 200 each to Jeffers, 1920 – 1924 Jeffers builds the Hawk Tower out of granite stones hauled by horses from the pastureland, 1925 national career launched with poet publication, 1946 aerial picture of the approximately 2000 cypress and eucalyptus trees planted as windbreaks –no other houses nearby, 1947 wrote his only play for broadway New York, 1950 wife Uma dies at age 65 of breast cancer, 1962 Jeffers –a life time smoker –dies of emphysema during a rare snowstorm in Carmel, 1970s Tor foundation established with Tor House sold for $ 200k, 1999 last of the direct descendants dies.
We go to the piano room, and passing some foot wide stairwells with 9″ stairs leading to upstairs –not built for today’s building codes!
An old weathered black painted Steinway, with signs saying do not touch –to preserve for future generations to enjoy. Poetry books galore behind glass cabinets, all hardbound, most without covers.
In the dining room, a narwhale horn, that Uma Jeffers wanted to use as a cane, mounted on the wall –at 8′ long a bit too tall for her!
The docent gives pointers on history, architecture and reads passages from poetry –the last poetry I read was in high school English –drab boring stuff, not exactly fond memories, and to think that I paid $ 10 to listen to this!
We leave the house and go outside to the Hawk tower. Three stories, with secret passageways, very narrow stairwell, with steps up to a foot in height –I’m practically on all fours to climb up! Now you see the reason no children under 12 allowed!
Second story of the tower has a marble floor outside, overlooking the gardens –barely enough room for 6 people, the usual limit on tours. Place is built like a castle with turret shaped structure, and openings in the wall to shoot arrows at besieging attackers!
Up I go to the third floor, an outdoor stairwell with only a chain railing on the outside –one wrong step and it’s Hasta La vista baby, to parphrase our ex-​governor! High winds, with a spectacular view of the buildings, the brick walkways, the yard, the surrounding homes, and the Ocean waves crashing a hundred feet away. Highlight of the Tor! Highlight of the tour!

The home is open for docen-​guided tours ever fri and sat starting 10am till 3… calll ahead for Reservations!
On

A beautiful view and an interesting tour. It was a bit creapy – especially when the tour guide got a bit too excited about its former owner. Seriously, it was almost a religious experience for this woman.

Historic home of poet Robin Jeffers who was a poet who also built most of this stone house and tower.
Fascinating history and enchanting tour for literary buffs and historic home lovers.
The location features a shop with his books and other items for sale. I recommend this tour as the docents are amazing and so it was both an intimate and educational experience.
Perfect for anyone who is into literature, history of the area, or seeking an unusual option, this is off the beaten path and something you’ll remember for a long time.

We were looking for things to do in Carmel and found this tour for the Tor House online so we called that morning and luckily, there was an opening for two. Enjoy the drive here as you’ll see many beautifully designed homes.
The tour was $ 10 an adult, tax deductible. It was about an hour long. Our young docent was very knowledgeable and informative in telling us the history behind the owner, Robinson Jeffers, who was an American poet. He showed us the house, gardens, and the Hawk tower, which Robinson apparently built for his wife. During the tour, he stopped to read us some of Robinson’s poetry. The view of the ocean from this house was beautiful as well. If you love history and/​or poetry, you’ll definitely enjoy the tour, but make sure to make reservations in advance!

I will always love this place. They do tours on Th, Fri and Saturdays only.
We got a last minute tour. The tours book up really fast and our tour had 8 people on it. WOW Our tour guide was George. he was fantastic. He gave us all sorts of secrets to the house and secrets of volunteers that get argumentative about the gardens and how they should look and he was just so funny. He was also very informed. He loves the place and you can tell. He enjoys volunteering and I applaud him for that.
The day we went, it was so lovely out. We walked the gardens a bit after. Just so peaceful and I could feel the passion of Robinson Jeffers all around us. I love poetry and Tor House is always a special place for me and my hubby

To me this is one of the best treasures of Carmel!
You will explore a very intimate (6 ppl plus guide) tour of a wonderful piece of true American Family History, Art, Architecture, Literature, Handbuilt Stonework, Woodwork, Gardens, Ocean View, Novelty… Plus the Tower!
Our host was so lovely and well informed… Just a delight. The tour was just over a hour and was very close to downtown/​Carmel by the Sea.
We left feeling inspired. Wondering, how we can live in such a house?!
Open Friday– Saturday, reservation needed.

I loved this tour — the docent was really nice (a guy with curly hair). It was the perfect length. I felt like i really got to know the author. The reading in the dining room was awesome.

So I’m a little biased because Robinson Jeffers is one of my very favorite writers, and I wrote my Master’s thesis on him. His home, Tor House, is one of my favorite places on planet Earth. Even if you have never heard of Jeffers, though, no visit to Carmel is complete without a visit to Tor House. It is absolutely gorgeous, and you have to be impressed with it, especially when you learn about how he built most of the house himself, rolling the stones up from the beach below.
The tours here are top-​notch. The docents are great sources of information, and they read poems appropriate to different parts of the tour. The real highlight of the tour comes at the end, when you get to climb Hawk Tower. Standing at the top of that great stone tower and taking in the breathtaking views as Jeffers once did is a really special experience.
At only $ 7 per adult, this is one of the greatest bargains in Carmel. Tours are only available on Fridays and Saturdays, and reservations are recommended if not required. Kids under 12 are not allowed. I’ve recommended Tor House to many people in the past, and nobody has ever been disappointed… neither will you!

I’d never heard of this place, but loved it. A beautiful hand-​built stone house, buildings, and tower overlooking the ocean. The tour guide told lots of great stories well, and made us clamor for more.
Making reservation can be tricky: they take a single group of six people once an hour, so plan accordingly.