Casa de Tableta
Casa de Tableta is a historic California roadhouse and saloon in Portola Valley, now operating as the Alpine Inn.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Casa de Tableta is a historic hospitality property at the junction of Arastradero Road in Portola Valley, California. Built around 1851 by Félix Buelna, it began as a meeting place and gambling hall serving Mexican-born Californios. Its location connected an established Native American and Californio travel route with traffic associated with the California Gold Rush, logging, cattle operations, and movement between the coastal community of Pescadero and the Santa Clara Valley. The property later became one of the region's enduring saloons and roadside gathering places. The building's early history reflects the social and economic changes that followed the Mexican-American War. Máximo Martínez, associated with the Rancho Corte de Madera land grant, granted Buelna approximately 95 acres. Buelna developed the structure at a strategically placed crossroads and used its relative distance from stricter local regulations to attract visitors for drinking and gambling, including games such as three-card monte. In 1867 he leased the premises, and by the following year he had lost the property in a poker game to William Eccles Stanton. Over subsequent decades the establishment operated under a succession of proprietors and names. Stanton leased it to William Tate Philpott, and later employed F. Rodriquez Crovello, whose prominent black handlebar mustache contributed to the nickname Chapete's, or Black Chapete's. After Stanton's death in 1887, Charles Schenkel took over and renamed the business The Wunder. The arrival of nearby development and Stanford University students added new customers, while the rural setting allowed the saloon to continue operating despite many nearby communities being designated dry zones. During Prohibition, from 1920 to 1933, the business was presented as Schenkel's Picnic Park, with a substantial outdoor area beside Los Trancos Creek. The available historical account states that alcohol service continued despite the era's restrictions. Following repeal, Enrico Rossotti acquired the property, renamed it Rossotti's Saloon, and expanded the operation to include food service. In 1956 it was formally renamed Alpine Inn Beer Garden, although Rossotti's and Zott's remained widely used informal names. Casa de Tableta is also associated with an important episode in computing and networking history. On August 27, 1976, Stanford Research Institute scientists used equipment in or near the property's picnic area for the first two-network TCP/IP transmission between an SRI vehicle and UCLA over ARPANET. The experiment connected the SRI van to the network using cables routed to a picnic table, linking the historic drinking and dining venue with a formative moment in the development of the modern Internet. The property received California Historical Landmark designation number 825 in 1969 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. As of 2020, it was described as the second-oldest saloon still operating in California. In December 2018, ownership changed, followed by remodeling, menu revisions, and the introduction of a seasonal outdoor tent in the picnic area. The venue continues to serve visitors, local residents, cyclists, hikers, and people affiliated with Stanford University under the Alpine Inn name.
History
Casa de Tableta was established in the 1850s by Félix Buelna on land associated with Máximo Martínez's Rancho Corte de Madera Mexican land grant. The structure stood at a crossroads used by Native Americans, Californios, Gold Rush-era travelers, loggers, and cattle operators. The route, later known as the Old Spanish Trail, linked Pescadero on the coast with Palo Alto in the valley. Buelna used the building as a meeting place and gambling hall for Mexican-born Californios. Its rural position also helped it attract patrons from nearby areas with stricter controls on Sunday gambling and alcohol. Buelna leased the property in 1867 and reportedly lost it in a poker game to William Eccles Stanton in 1868. Stanton later leased the building to William Tate Philpott. By 1875, Stanton had hired F. Rodriquez Crovello, an Azorean barkeep whose large black mustache led to the establishment's Chapete's or Black Chapete's nickname. Stanton died in 1887. Charles Schenkel subsequently took control and renamed the saloon The Wunder. The business benefited from nearby settlement growth and the creation of Stanford University, whose students became part of its clientele. Because the property was outside many local dry zones, it continued to operate as a rural drinking establishment. Before 1911, Walter Jelich Sr., a Croatian immigrant and orchard rancher, worked at the site as a bartender. During Prohibition, the business sign was altered and the venue operated under the name Schenkel's Picnic Park. It featured outdoor seating along Los Trancos Creek, and the historical record associated with the property states that alcohol continued to be served during the period. After Prohibition ended in 1933, Enrico Rossotti purchased the establishment, renamed it Rossotti's Saloon, and introduced food service. In 1956, the formal name became Alpine Inn Beer Garden, although local usage continued to include Rossotti's and Zott's. The property gained formal historic recognition in 1969 as California Historical Landmark number 825 and in 1973 through listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It later became notable beyond local saloon history because of a 1976 networking experiment. On August 27, researchers from Stanford Research Institute transmitted information between an SRI van and UCLA over ARPANET, with the van positioned beside the Alpine Inn and cables extending to a picnic table. The event is remembered as the first two-network TCP/IP transmission and gives the site a distinctive connection to Internet history. In December 2018, the business changed owners. The subsequent operation included a remodel, menu revisions, and a winter outdoor tent in the picnic area. The venue remains known as the Alpine Inn and continues to draw visitors for food, beverages, its historic setting, and access to nearby hiking and cycling routes. The site was described in 2020 as California's second-oldest operating saloon.
- 2018
Ownership change and renovation
[1]The venue changes owners in December and undergoes remodeling, menu changes, and the addition of a seasonal outdoor tent.
- 1976
Historic TCP/IP transmission
[1]An SRI van near the Alpine Inn participates in the first two-network TCP/IP transmission between SRI and UCLA via ARPANET.
- 1973
National Register listing
[1]The property is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1969
California Historical Landmark designation
[1]Casa de Tableta receives California Historical Landmark number 825.
- 1956
The property is formally renamed Alpine Inn Beer Garden
[1]The venue adopts the Alpine Inn Beer Garden name, while Rossotti's and Zott's remain common local names.
- 1933
Rossotti's Saloon begins
[1]After Prohibition ends, Enrico Rossotti acquires the property, renames it Rossotti's Saloon, and adds food service.
- 1920
The venue operates as Schenkel's Picnic Park during Prohibition
[1]During Prohibition, the property uses the Schenkel's Picnic Park name and emphasizes its outdoor seating area along Los Trancos Creek.
- 1887
Stanton dies
[1]William Eccles Stanton dies; Charles Schenkel later takes over the saloon and calls it The Wunder.
- 1875
Chapete's nickname emerges
[1]Stanton hires F. Rodriquez Crovello, whose distinctive mustache contributes to the Chapete's and Black Chapete's names.
- 1868
William Eccles Stanton acquires the property
[1]Buelna loses the property in a poker game to Irish teamster William Eccles Stanton.
Products and positioning
A historic California saloon and casual beer-garden destination combining heritage tourism, food and beverage service, and an outdoor setting near Portola Valley trails and cycling routes.
Beer garden and saloon · 1956
Alpine Inn Beer Garden
The property's present-day hospitality operation, combining beverage service with casual food and an outdoor picnic area. Its identity is closely tied to the historic building, the Los Trancos Creek setting, and the venue's long succession of saloon names.
Historic saloon · 1933
Rossotti's Saloon
The post-Prohibition identity adopted after Enrico Rossotti acquired the property in 1933. Rossotti's introduced food service and remained a commonly used name after the formal 1956 change to Alpine Inn Beer Garden.
Brand decisions
2018
Remodel and refresh the Alpine Inn operationStrategyBackground
The venue changed owners in December 2018 after more than a century of changing names and operators.
Action taken
The new ownership remodeled the property, revised the menu, and introduced a winter outdoor tent in the picnic area.
Aftermath
The Alpine Inn continued operating as a historic food-and-beverage destination for local visitors, Stanford affiliates, hikers, and cyclists.
1956
Adopt the Alpine Inn Beer Garden nameStrategyBackground
The long-running saloon had operated under several names, including The Wunder and Rossotti's Saloon.
Action taken
Ownership formally renamed the business Alpine Inn Beer Garden.
Aftermath
Rossotti's and Zott's continued in local usage, while Alpine Inn became the formal operating identity.
1933
Reopen as Rossotti's Saloon with food serviceStrategyBackground
The end of Prohibition created an opportunity to resume the property's traditional saloon role under new ownership.
Action taken
Enrico Rossotti acquired the venue, renamed it Rossotti's Saloon, and added food service.
Aftermath
The Rossotti's name became one of the property's enduring identities before the formal Alpine Inn renaming in 1956.
Sources2 sources
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