Nepenthe is part lore and location, but mostly part of a spirited community.

Every once in a while, Mother Nature turns on Nepenthe. Fires have forced the restaurant to close on several occasions. And the mudslide that tore apart Highway 1 during the winter of 2016-17 again isolated the place.

But each time, the legendary location digs in and shows why it’s going on 70 years as a destination.

Nepenthe Chief Operating Officer Kirk Gafill lists the vision and business practices that guide a restaurant through good times and bad. But there is a spirit – an investment of family, character and commitment – that is evident in the place and the surrounding community that also accounts for its longevity.

When the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge closed in 2017, Nepenthe was only accessible via a bypass trail for hikers. Supplies were helicoptered in.

“Our community, hardy and intrepid guests and neighbors who hiked the trail, phenomenally flexible and supportive employees, and schoolchildren who hiked the trail at dawn and dusk every weekday to go to school, allowed for an extraordinary and intimate experience to share meals, drink, companionship – and play a lot of games on the Nepenthe terrace,” Gafill says.

Nepenthe is part of a community with a rich history (and some awesome views). The cabin on which it is based was built in 1925. Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth purchased it, though never spent a night in the place. The Fassett family picked it up in 1947, building a restaurant that suited the wooded and rustic space, which they opened in 1949.

The secret to success? It’s not just the view, Gafill says.

“In our case, it is creating a viable and sustainable business that can be passed on to future generations,” he explains. “To accomplish this, we seek to consistently serve our community with respect, care and attention.”

Clinging to the edge of the continent, overlooking the Pacific can captivate diners – until the Ambrosia burger arrives at the table. Sunset can be mesmerizing, but the atmosphere created by Nepenthe’s staff makes enjoying the scene possible.

Gafill says exceeding the expectations of each guest is the most rewarding aspect of the business. And that thinking in terms of generations, rather than quarterly or annual benchmarks, has ensured survival despite the fickle ways of nature: “We are celebrating our 70th anniversary next April, and are planning for the next 70 years and beyond.”