Everything flows from the land.
Watershed is a Sonoma County hospitality brand built on 60+ years of regenerative land stewardship.
With the people who love and care for the land, a multifaceted ecosystem of food, shelter, and events has proven to be a source of community, joy, and memories.
With help from investors, Watershed is ready to advance its vision to more integrated and maximized experiences.
The demands of modern life nudge us towards disconnect:
from other people, from physical places, from the resources we consume, and ultimately from ourselves.
Watershed envisions an integrated system of hospitality where each experience relates to the other, not just as parts of the same itinerary but materially and systematically supportive of each other; rooted and emerging from a particular place and a particular time, here and now (in beautiful Healdsburg California), with loved ones and new friends.
Built from fire, love, and redwoods.
Shelterwood
Top-rated 400-acre eco resort. Burned down in 2020; coming back stronger and better. Elevated tents, micro-cabins, trails, swimming, event infrastructure, gardens, orchards, solar farm, produce farm, livestock…
The Burrow
Beloved downtown Healdsburg farm-to-table restaurant. Opened May 2025; already at a $1M run rate. Forged from years of experience in NYC kitchens, San Francisco restaurant ownership, and exacting private estate kitchens. Casual without being careless. Local without being precious.
Events
The hospitality savvy and operational rigorousness of Watershed’s food and lodging endeavors, combine with a network of talented designers and planners to produce stellar events including weddings, corporate retreats, and private buy-outs.
The Land
400 Acres under active stewardship
60+ Years of ecological management
100% Solar-powered operations
Farm planning underway (for summer 2025)
Mill Creek runs through our 400 acres. The land (which we affectionately call “The Mountain”) is literally its watershed. Every decision: grazing, trail routing, and building placement is planned and reviewed to protect Mill Creek and the soil downstream. We build with the land, not just on it.
Tragically, the land burned in the Walbridge fire of 2020. But it’s coming back strong with lessons learned and new approaches in place. Goats provide active fire management. The sawmill processes cleared timber instead of letting fuel accumulate. Solar infrastructure eliminates combustion risk.
Redwood forests are among the most effective carbon sinks on earth. Our 400 recovering acres sequester carbon that offsets the resort's entire operational footprint.
Healdsburg, CA
#1 Wine tourism destination in California
$2.4B Annual Spend Sonoma County tourism
4.5M+ Visitors to Sonoma County annually
87% Hotel occupancy peak season
Healdsburg is thriving. Visitors arrive with money to spend and a desire for authentic experiences. Wine harvest (Aug–Oct), wedding season (May–Oct), and growing shoulder seasons create near-year-round revenue. Shelterwood's events program extends the season further.
Despite Healdsburg's status as CA's premier wine destination, and with with Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, and Russian River Valley all within reach, truly differentiated eco-resort accommodation remains scarce.
Nothing comparable to Watershed's land story exists. Post-Walbridge, travelers seek properties that are part of the ecological solution. Shelterwood's goat program, solar, and watershed stewardship are the actual operations, not the marketing.
The People
Watershed is a multigenerational family run business group with experiences in forestry & land management, restaurant ownership, culinary & wine programs, media & entertainment, as well as a love of nature and all things epicurean.
David Baeli
Founder. Chef. Dad.With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.
Elise Baeli
Founder. Visionary. MomWith a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.
Fred Euphrat PhD
Founder. Forester. Educator. With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.
Our Story
"The fire didn't end our story. It wrote the next chapter."
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Institute of Culinary Education. Serious NYC kitchens and dining rooms. The foundation.
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David opens his first restaurant. Elise takes a service job. They find each other. She helps shape the culture before anyone gives her a title.
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David and Elise marry under the redwoods where Shelterwood will soon be founded— tended for decades by Fred Euphrat, Elise's stepfather.
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9 glamping tents. HipCamp award winner. Instant success.
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Pandemic closes the restaurant. Walbridge Fire burns through Shelterwood. Total loss. But, a baby is on the way.
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Beckett is born. A year of only parenthood. David joins Bergman Estate. The Burrow opens May 2025. Shelterwood Act II begins.
Make a Donation
Every act of generosity—big or small—helps build a world that reflects our shared values. Your support moves us all closer to a brighter tomorrow.
