Photo: Elias Funes
If you’ve ever wanted to stay in a historic wheelhouse on Highway 20 just outside Nevada City, you’re in luck.
The building, which many know by its former name, Five Mile House, has been repeated many times over the years. Recently, owners girlfriend Sarah Woerner and her husband girlfriend Tony Norskog gave it new life by offering the upstairs space as her Airbnb.
The couple’s niece, Karen Woerner, runs the rental and runs all the events that take place on the premises and in the old restaurant space.
“The way it came about was because we wanted to keep it as part of our family and community, and they just bought it and didn’t know what to do with it,” Karen explained. “They started having family parties and meetings, so that was the start. They’ve been doing events there for about six months.”
Photo: Photo provided
The vacation rental has already welcomed its first official guests and offers room for eight. I’m here.
“It used to be an apartment for restaurant owners, but it’s become more of a storage space, and it’s really taken a lot of[work]into it,” Karen said. “I needed love, so my uncle started remodeling.”
Karen comes from a longtime contractor background and has a lot of experience in architecture, so she participated in the renovation of the second floor space.
“It was originally going to be a more family-friendly space for our family to stay in. Now we want to run it as an Airbnb. provided to.”
The restaurant area of the old Five Mile House is empty. The Gold Rush Cookie Company uses a bakery on the side of the building, while Granite Construction uses another space as an office while working on Highway 20.
The wheelhouse also hosts events such as weddings and conferences.
Many were disappointed when the Wheelhouse restaurant, which was serving “hamburgers, beer and bicycles,” closed in 2021.
Tony Northcog, the building’s owner, said the eatery did very well, but the timing just wasn’t right.
Photo: Photo provided
“In March 2020, the new coronavirus had just started, so I bought it at the right time.
“We took it over and opened in August of 2020. It went great. It was always a hit. We were probably the oldest and largest restaurant in Nevada County. But eventually, employees either went to college or did something else.”
Labor shortages that became common during the pandemic did not improve the situation.
“We had enough customers. It should be a restaurant, but at the moment it is not for economic and social reasons.”
For more information about Wheelhouse’s Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/h/wheelhouseretreat.For inquiries about event space, please email [email protected].
Photo: Photo provided
To contact staff writer Jennifer Nobles [email protected]or call 530-477-4232.
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