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Q. Who founded the Institute?
A. The nonprofit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy established the Institute in partnership with the National Park Service.
Q. What types of programs does the Institute offer?
A. The Institute hosts and convenes working groups on a wide range of environmental topics, such as sustainable food systems, eco-tourism, and next generation leadership. It also provides lectures and other events for the general public. Many of the Institute’s activities are designed and offered in partnership with other organizations.
Q. What is the relationship between Cavallo Point and the Institute?
A. Cavallo Point is a privately operated lodge with 142 guest rooms and nearly 30,000 square feet of meeting space. The Institute is a program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service. The Institute uses a portion of Cavallo Point’s lodging and meeting space for selected programs. The Institute’s small staff uses office space at Cavallo Point.
Q. Are Institute programs open to the general public?
A. The Institute convenes both invitation-only programs and programs for the general public. Click here for more information on how to attend an Institute event.
Q. How do I partner with the Institute to offer a program or event?
A. Please contact Paula Vlamings, Director of Programs at pvlamings@parksconservancy.org or (415) 561-3556 to discuss partnering for a program or event.
Q. How is the Institute funded?
A. The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, foundations and private donors provide funding for the Institute. Fee-for-service programs, such as park tours, and a small fee applied to the lodging rate generate additional funds for Institute operations.
Q. Who staffs the Institute?
A. Institute staff members are employees of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
Q. Where is the Institute located?
A. The Institute at the Golden Gate is a program of the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy (not a building). Institute staff offices are at Cavallo Point while Parks Conservancy staff offices are located at Fort Mason in San Francisco. The Institute’s first programs and events will use meeting and lodging space at Cavallo Point, but future programs may not be limited to that location. Cavallo Point is located at the northern entrance to the Golden Gate, in the Golden Gate National Parks, one mile from the city of Sausalito, and seven miles from downtown San Francisco.
Q. What is the nearest airport?
A. San Francisco International Airport (SF0) is 21 miles from Cavallo Point. Oakland Airport (OAK) is also convenient to Cavallo Point.
Q. How do I get from the airport to Cavallo Point?
A. To get to Cavallo Point from SFO, we recommend taking the Marin Airporter shuttle service to the Spencer Avenue stop on Highway 101 in Marin County. From there, you can coordinate a Cavallo Point shuttle for the 1-mile trip to Cavallo Point. This service is also available upon return to SFO. Please make these arrangements with our Concierge prior to your arrival. You may reach the Concierge at Cavallo Point at (415) 339-4700. For information about ground transportation from SFO, including door-to-door shuttle service, click here.
Q. Can I drive to Cavallo Point?
A. Parking is available at Cavallo Point, but is very limited. Lodge guests and Institute attendees are encouraged to take a shuttle to the site.
Q. Is there a fee for parking?
A. Parking at Cavallo Point is free during the day. Overnight parking is available for $20/night.
Q. What is the Institute’s Complete Meeting Package rate?
A. The Complete Meeting Package Rate is a special rate for qualified programs for overnight events held through the Institute. It includes lodging, meeting space, catering (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and basic meeting equipment. Food and beverages for morning and afternoon breaks and a complete range of meeting equipment and supplies are available for a fee. Tents, other audiovisual equipment, meeting planners, facilitators and other services can also be provided for a fee. Please contact Nickie Kluge at nkluge@instituteatgoldengate.org or (415) 561-3559 for details.
Q. How do I qualify for the Institute’s Complete Meeting Package rate?
A. Nonprofit organizations, government agencies, academic institutions and businesses interested in applying for the special Institute rate at Cavallo Point must hold meetings in keeping with the Institute’s mission and meet other criteria outlined in the Program Qualification Application.
Q. Do for-profit entities qualify for the Institute rate?
A. Certain for-profit businesses may qualify for the Institute rate if their meeting purpose is in keeping with the Institute’s mission and they meet other eligibility criteria. Please submit a Program Qualification Application or contact the Institute at (415) 561-3559 to discuss your interest in holding a qualified event at Cavallo Point. The Institute refers other meeting requests to Cavallo Point staff.
Q. Can I use my own caterer?
A. Food and beverage service is provided solely by Cavallo Point—the Lodge at the Golden Gate. Institute participants receive special pricing for meals, under the terms of the Complete Meeting Package rate. The menus feature locally grown and organically produced ingredients.
Q. Am I required to hold a public event in conjunction with my program or meeting?
A. No, however your event must be in keeping with the Institute’s mission and meet other criteria outlined in the Program Qualification Application.
Q. How do I book meeting space and accommodations?
A. Submit a Program Qualification Application or contact Nickie Kluge at nkluge@instituteatgoldengate.org or (415) 561-3559 if you are interested in partnering with the Institute or holding a meeting in keeping with the Institute’s mission. Institute staff will review your application to determine if your organization qualifies for the special Institute rate. All other meeting and event requests may be booked through Cavallo Point by calling (415) 339-4700.
Q. Do I have to book meetings during certain months?
A. The Institute hosts overnight meetings in Cavallo Point facilities (and provides the special Institute rate to qualified organizations) between November 1 and April 30. Cavallo Point hosts meetings year-round.
Q. How many guest rooms are available?
A. There are 142 guest rooms (154 bedrooms). There are 68 historic rooms and suites and 74 contemporary rooms and suites, including 12 two-bedroom suites.
Q. What type of Internet connection is available?
A. Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet connections are available in all guest rooms and meeting facilities.
Q. How can I offset the environmental impact of my meeting and travel?
A. To offset the environmental impact of your meeting and travel, consider purchasing carbon credits from one of the many companies in this emerging industry. These offsets fund renewable energy and other projects that result in direct, measurable reductions in carbon emissions. Click here for a partial list of organizations selling carbon credits.
Q. Can I hold a meeting at Cavallo Point if I don’t qualify for the Institute rate?
A. To organize a meeting unaffiliated with the Institute, please contact Cavallo Point directly at (415) 339-4700.
Q. How do I arrange a site visit?
A. Contact Nickie Kluge, Institute Marketing and Reservations Manager, at nkluge@instituteatgoldengate.org or (415) 561-3559 to arrange a site visit to Cavallo Point.
Q. Who operates Cavallo Point?
A. Passport Resorts LLC operates Cavallo Point—the Lodge at the Golden Gate. Fort Baker Retreat Group (comprised of Passport Resorts, Equity Community Builders and Ajax Capital Group) restored the buildings and constructed new facilities. The National Park Service owns the site and buildings.
Q. Why is a private lodge in a national park?
A. Throughout America’s parks, historic buildings are places for overnight visits and educational activities. Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park and Asilomar in Monterey are prime examples of this. When Fort Baker transferred from the US Army to the National Park Service, one of the major challenges was to ensure the long-term care of the buildings and grounds. After an extensive public planning process, the NPS determined that development of a lodge and institute would be compatible with the parks’ mission and generate the significant resources needed to rehabilitate and maintain the site’s historic structures. Cavallo Point is the first national park lodge in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Q. Is the facility ‘green?’
A. The first national park lodge to achieve LEED Gold certification, Cavallo Point—the Lodge at the Golden Gate emphasizes sustainability and environmental ethics in its facilities and guest experiences. Measures range from energy-efficient building design to use of solar power, wastewater reuse, and environmentally responsible purchasing. Landscaping features native plants and the habitat surrounding Cavallo Point is being restored for wildlife. Click here for additional information on Cavallo Point’s commitment to sustainability.
Q. Is the restaurant open to Institute attendees and the general public?
A. Murray Circle, the 104-seat restaurant at Cavallo Point, is open to lodge guests, Institute program attendees, and the general public.
Q. Is the Healing Arts Center open to Institute attendees and the general public?
A. Lodge guests, Institute attendees, and members of the public may enjoy the Healing Arts Center, at fees set by Cavallo Point.
Q. Can Institute guests attend Cavallo Point programs?
A. Institute attendees may attend Cavallo Point programs for a fee as free time around Institute events allows.
Q. What is the difference between Institute programs and Cavallo Point programs?
A. Institute programs focus on environmental protection and sustainability. Cavallo Point programs are ‘lifestyle’ programs and include culinary arts, creative arts and healing arts. Visit Cavallo Point's website for details.
Q. Is Cavallo Point accessible to people with disabilities?
A. All Cavallo Point rooms and common areas are ADA compliant.
Q. What are the Golden Gate National Parks?
A. The Golden Gate National Parks stretch 70 miles north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge, creating a 80,400-acre greenbelt along the Pacific Ocean. From Tomales Bay in the north to the San Mateo watershed in the south, the parks include ancient redwoods, historic landmarks, miles of trails, rocky shorelines, rare and endangered species, lush coastal wilderness, and breathtaking vistas. Learn more about the Golden Gate National Parks (officially known as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area) by visiting its website, the Presidio Trust's website, and the visitors' area of the Parks Conservancy's website.
Q. What is the history of Fort Baker?
A. The Coast Miwok inhabited the Fort Baker area prior to its exploration and settlement by Europeans. The US government acquired the site in 1866 and established a military reservation to safeguard the region. Relatively simple earthwork batteries, including Battery Cavallo, were constructed in the 1870s. In the 1890s, massive concrete batteries with long-range guns were built along the bluffs. The Colonial Revival buildings around the parade ground were built between 1901 and 1915 and the post remained active through World War II. During the Cold War years, the buildings at Fort Baker were used for training Army Reserve troops and as headquarters for the anti-aircraft missile units defending the Bay Area. When Congress established the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972, Fort Baker was included in the park boundaries, to become part of the park when no longer needed by the Army. Official transfer of the post to the National Park Service occurred in 2002. Click here for more information on Fort Baker’s history.
Q. What other park sites are near Cavallo Point?
A. Cavallo Point is just minutes from the Marin Headlands, which offer miles of trails, beaches, picnic areas, and spectacular views. Muir Woods, a few miles north, features an ancient redwood forest and network of trails. The historic Presidio of San Francisco is directly across the Golden Gate. Alcatraz Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is accessible by ferry from the San Francisco waterfront. Click here for details on sites throughout the Golden Gate National Parks.
Q. How do I arrange a park tour?
A. Institute staff can customize park tours, hikes or outdoor adventures for meeting attendees. Contact the Institute's Director of Programs at pvlamings@parksconservancy.org or (415) 561-3556.
