The Gilded Drifter Inn

The Gilded Drifter is an absolute gem! Every corner of this charming old mansion is full of antiques, books and treasures, it's like staying in a movie set. Each room is thoughtfully outfitted for a comfy stay and the beds are super comfortable. The rooms are spacious and light filled, many overlooking the Sierra Valley which is stunning in every season. Watching the sunset from the bay window in the Clemens Suite is such a treat. The outdoor patio area and shared living room are both lovely places to hang. The Drifter's Table downstairs serves excellent dinner and is most definitely worth a visit if you come in season. I also highly recommend the frog-sty, the cutest little burger and ice cream shack down the street for lunch, and Smithneck farms for coffee and a pastry in the morning.

Staying at the Gilded Drifter is a completely unique experience that we love recommending to friends. We will be back again and again!

Another fabulous stay at the Gilded Drifter. I don't know what I love most. Enjoying a slow cup of pour-over coffee in the homey kitchen, the charm, warmth and detail of every room, the excellent internet access and quiet that allows for writing retreats and solitude, or the free bicycles to explore this adorable town. This is one of those places you almost don't want to tell others about because you're afraid if everyone knew about it, then you'd never get a room! But this place is truly an incredible experience and everyone should go!

A charming, historic building with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Perfect for stopping along the way on your travels, or just to get away from it all for a bit. Convenient self-check-in with clear instructions make you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the front door. Grocery store and food options within walking distance. I will be back, again.

I was in Loyalton for business, and was delighted with the accommodations at the Gilded Drifter Inn! The other rooms were occupied by my colleagues, and we were able to unwind at the end of the day, gathered in living/dining room (plenty of books, boardgames, records, and other entertainment to be had), in the kitchen (sorta tight, but completely functional and comfortable), or outside on the patio around the fire pit. Yes, the floors are a bit creaky, and some of the windows don't quite close all the way, but for a 130-year old building, it's in remarkable shape! (It actually very much reminded me of the old farmhouse I grew up in, which wasn't nearly as well-maintained!) I stayed in the Clemens suite, which is the only single-bedroom, non-shared bathroom suite. It also has a lovely sitting room that looks out onto the plains of the Sierra Valley...utterly idyllic to sit and watch the mist on the plains while doing the crossword puzzle and drinking my morning coffee. It's worth it to spend the nominal fee to stay in the Clemens suite!

"Gilded" is an understatement! There is interesting art hanging everywhere, and bookshelves stuffed with books on just about every wall! Beautiful vintage (yet comfortable) furniture everywhere, and really anything you could want in the Butler's Pantry to make your stay comfortable (extra heaters, blankets, fans, etc).

My only caveat is that if you are planning to spend time in Loyalton, plan ahead! Although it's a cute little town, as of October 2023, there is one cafe in town that closes mid-afternoon, one farm-to-table restaurant (next door) that is only open for dinner on weekends, and one grocery store open daily until 8 pm. I'd recommend stopping in Truckee or Reno for groceries; the kitchen has reserved shelf and refrigerator spaces for each suite, as well as a pretty well-stocked spice cabinet, so plan to eat in!

Thanks, Chelsea, for an amazing stay at the Gilded Drifter!

I have so much appreciation for what Chelsea has done with this, once fated to fall apart, property. Super cozy interior, excellent color palette, excellent amenities, overall very restful and joyful experience. I am glad we have discovered this gem when looking for a place to stay near Sierra Hot Springs. It was raining outside but The Gilded Drifter was a perfect refuge for the night.

I recommend bringing your food and using the full kitchen on premises over a restaurant in town.

Definitely coming back.

This place was an awesome place to stay for 4 people in a pinch. We go the two room suite, and the beds were amazing, especially after being rained on at Walker Lake early that same morning. Cheyenne, the housekeeper was sweet and extremely helpful. Hope to come back again sometime.

The Gilded Drifter is a beautiful, quaint inn. We love the shared kitchen so we can prepare some meals and not eat out every mea. The common room is well stocked with games and books and is super comfortable. It’s the perfect place to stay while you’re exploring the beautiful land around Loyalton. I look forward to every opportunity we can go there.

From 2000 miles away in Elkmont AL, we booked a long weekend at Drifter Inn to attend the last Reno Air Races. Flew into Sacramento so we could explore Lake Tahoe on the way. What a delightful, charming eclectic Inn!! Ditto the town of Loyalton - rode the Inn bike all over town. Esp enjoyed the thrift shop (beautifully organized and run by Phyllis) and town museum (curated by Gary), full of history and donated memorabilia donated by its people! Friendly, genuine folks! Ate great meals in surrounding area. Chelsea at the Inn was a wonderful host - anything we needed or asked was a text away, w immediate response. A trip back, even without the air races, would be totally called for! Sandy and Debbie Ellis

Chelsea is such a wonderful host. The Gilded Drifter has a charm you bring with you when you leave. When it is in season, the Drifter's Table provides deliciously home cooked options made with so much love and care.

For the off season (or for those who enjoy their own kitchens). She goes above and beyond to ensure everyone has an opportunity to make their stay their own. There's well stocked supplies, a grocer nearby, and a shared kitchen space with an amazing ambiance. There's even a butchers cabinet stocked with a variety of self serve items you may have left behind. The place is really beautiful space and honestly, a work of art etched with history and lots of love. Old buildings are such a treat and definitely not for the faint of heart, as the floors creak and the walls talk (personally, I love the charm and history). It's the type of space you run off to and never want to leave, but you come home feeling energized and refreshed. There are note cards in places you might be curious and books galore. I woke up feeling invincible.

Thank you for the incredible stay and I hope to come back time and time again to experience the different rooms. We stayed in the Clemens Suite which is upstairs and has beautiful views of the farms, mountains, and the scenic views are imacculate.

This has become my favorite go-to local vacation spot. We only live an hour away but a visit to the Inn always helps us relax and reset. This was our first time eating at the Drifters Table and it really made the whole experience that much more wonderful.

Truly an amazing experience last August, next to the the drifter table, such an amazing time to bbq in the summer time on a comfy couch, just bring some mosquito spray they do get quite a bit! But overall if you want to get away from the big cities and take a calm few days in the Sierra Nevada this is the place for you!

Lovely cozy old house with a lot of character. Chelsea has a great eye for detail and you feel right at home, fluffy towels, easy to make coffee and tea and a huge array of all kinds of snacks/beverages for purchase. We were able to bring our two small dogs without any extra cost or even any limitations. This was our first 3 days off in months from our own business and this was a perfect place to relax and read.

A very quiet and relaxing time in a nicely eclectic inn. All the rooms have a literary author theme with tons of books and decorated to provide comfort.

Such a sweet place! Truly worth every penny. The energy here is so good and it's very cozy and warm. Nice shared kitchen as well as shared restrooms.
It is about a 15 minute drive from the hot springs.
I highly recommend it and have the intention of coming back here next time.

What a remarkable place! Chelsea has transformed an abandoned house into a first class, eclectic, art/library inn that is such a welcome alternative to the sterile motels that dominate American towns. There is so much curiosity and personal investment evident in every room and all through the garden that you feel like you have gotten to know Chelsea personally. I treasure places that have this kind of energy and imagination, and can't recommend the Gilded Drifter Inn highly enough.

The Gilded Drifter Inn is absolutely stunning. Extremely affordable, clean, spacious, and well kept. Chelsea (Inn keeper / proprietor) is very kind too. There is also a restaurant next door associated with the Inn that looks excellent but I didn’t get a chance to check it out. Definitely stay here!

I usually stay at the Globe Hotel in Sierraville when in the area visiting the hot springs during winter. But so glad it was booked up over the holidays because I never would have discovered this gem! The place is beautifully and artfully done and the library was so cozy and well stocked and curated that I never wanted to leave! I stayed in the Clemens suite and had come up to do some writing. The little sitting room with table overlooking the mountains through the bay windows was exactly what I needed for inspiration. And the gas fire pit in the backyard was a lovely place to sit and chat with other guests. Will definitely be coming back.

This place is beautiful! We found it last minute when in Lake Tahoe. Our original Motel 6 in Carson City was super sketchy and we declined a stay there, but did not want to drive back 3 hours to Lodi if we didn't have to. We finally found this place on Airbnb. Not only did Chelsea save the day last minute, when we arrived we were more than pleasantly surprised with the charm. Chelsea is doing a great job restoring this place and it's in a small town location right in the Sierra Valley; perfect for peace and quiet.
The place is super clean. We stayed in the master suite. Unfortunately we were only there over night and did not get to enjoy more time in the inn. This will definitely be a place we would like to return to.

Absolutely the best place to stay in the town of Loyalton. If you’re looking for nostalgia or just taking a trip back in time this is definitely a very cozy place. My connection here was Chelsea and she was busily working on the place when I checked in. Definitely a lot of care and attention has gone into the upkeep of this old mansion. Would definitely recommend and would definitely stay again if the opportunity came up.

Let me say that I never thought I would spend the night in Loyalton because of a bad experience we had at a different hotel eight years ago. My sister in law suggested your Inn. We could not have been more pleased and surprised of the authentic charm and warmth of this gem. Our suite was Clemons Suiteat. Thank you for disclosing more than necessary in your agreement. There were no surprises. I suggest everyone read your emails and feel free to text any issues. We had none, yet felt confident knowing we could contact you at anytime. What a gift to experience such a treasure. We would stay no where else in or near Loyalton after staying here. The only issue we had was we didn't book for a longer stay. Thank you Chelsea.