Monte Rio

VACATION WONDERLAND ON THE RIVER

Monte Rio grew into one of the Russian River’s classic resort towns in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when redwood-era river travel and rail access helped turn this bend in the river into a summer playground. Just up the road in the surrounding redwoods sits the Bohemian Grove, adding a notable (and often talked-about) neighbor to the town’s story. Monte Rio’s social life has long centered on entertainment—once including a dance pavilion that drew crowds in the resort era—and the Rio Theater remains a beloved landmark for movies and community events. A standout tradition is the Monte Rio Variety Show, founded in 1911 and still staged each summer; it’s widely billed locally as the longest-running variety show anywhere, and it continues to raise funds for local community causes. The Monte Rio Bridge has long linked both sides of town and kept the river corridor moving, and the Monte Rio Recreation & Park District continues the tradition of gatherings, recreation, and summertime fun. Local lore even credits the historic riverside hotel with an early “first elevator west of the Mississippi” boast, reflecting the town’s longtime pride in welcoming visitors. Today Monte Rio still feels like a small, lively river town—equal parts nostalgia and outdoors—known for its redwoods, river access, and that enduring vacation spirit.