In 1978, James and Sharon Carroll and their three children relocated from Sonoma County to Carmel. They purchased the Horizon Inn & Ocean View Lodge in 1986 at the same time Clint Eastwood was serving his two-year term as Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Those were very exciting times!  Thanks in large part to Eastwood’s popularity, Carmel re-established itself as a premier vacation destination, a title we proudly cherish to this day!

The Second Generation Is Now In Charge

In 1988 after graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Jim and Sharon’s daughter, Pam, took over as general manager of the property and never looked back.  In 1990, Pam married Jim Sheppard and started their own legacy at the property. They spearheaded a major remodel of the Horizon Inn in 1999, and the following year purchased the property from Pam’s parents. For the last 10 years, Pam and Jim have worked tirelessly, continuing the tradition of a family-owned and operated business. 

Our Dedicated Staff Sets Us Apart

Most of the current employees have worked at the hotel for at least 10 years — a fact we are extremely proud of in this era of high employee turnover. Their loyalty to the Inn is a frequent theme in the positive guest feedback we receive.

Brenda, our Head Housekeeper, Quality Control Manager, and Whatever-Needs-To-Be-Done-To-Keep-Things-Humming Miracle Worker, celebrated 10 years with Horizon Inn at a party with Hotel Manager John and owner Pam. Brenda is frequently at our Front Desk, so you may see her there.

Julia, our Senior Housekeeper will be celebrating her 10 year anniversary with us this year. You may not see Julia during your stay, but you are sure to appreciate the impressive attention to your room accommodations that Julia provides.

Continual Improvement Is Our Motto

We sincerely hope our repeat guests notice the continual efforts of the Carroll-Sheppard Family to reinvest in their property. The Annex was remodeled in 2004 with a fresh, new look. In 2009, we completed the first phase of our cable upgrade project which will expand the channel lineup for our guests. While doing this upgrade we were able to add a sophisticated soundproofing system to all the two story structures at the Horizon Inn and completed the project by installing new carpet in the majority of the rooms at the Horizon Inn. In 2010, we will be continuing our roll-out of flat panel TVs to all rooms of the Horizon Inn (completion of all Horizon Inn rooms will be in 2011) and we will complete the Horizon Inn new carpet project. In the spring, we will continue to freshen the interiors of the cottages and paint the Ocean View Lodge.

A Hands-On Business

As in any small, family-owned business, it is not unusual to have owners wearing many hats.  On any given day you might see Pam and her mom gardening on the property — perhaps freshening the potted plants. Jim is often seen coming in with a new load of supplies for the vending machines. We like to think of him as our “Food and Beverage Manager.” 

A Special Mention For Our Special General Manager

The About Us page would not be complete without a few words on our General Manager, John Haveles. John only came to work for the property in December of 2004, but has known the family for over 15 years. Without a doubt, John has been a wonderful addition to the Horizon Inn family. A graduate of Denver University with a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management, he spent 13 years as a manager at Tall Timber Resort outside Durango, Colorado before coming to the Monterey Peninsula and bringing his warm hospitality and extensive experience to the Horizon Inn & Ocean View Lodge.

Welcome To Our Family

The Inn boasts a very high rate of repeat visits. We love to get to know our guests and are gratified they come here to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. Please stop by the front desk and say hello. We invite you to become part of our Horizon Inn & Ocean View family.