Treebones Resort
Treebones is a family-built off-grid glamping resort of yurts and unusual structures on a Big Sur bluff, powered by its own micro turbines and solar and fed partly from its organic garden.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.6/5 · 366 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
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Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
3.2/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 55%
Green flags
- Energy and climate, level 3/4.
The impact page (2026) says the resort runs fully off the grid on micro turbines and solar, with skylights, efficient systems and low-voltage lighting cutting demand. The turbines' fuel is not stated.
Source · 2026-10-29 - Waste and plastic, level 3/4.
Treebones recycles cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and batteries, composts or feeds kitchen scraps to its chickens, and uses compostable materials (impact page, 2026).
Source · 2026-10-29 - Buildings, heritage reuse and land use, level 3/4.
The resort was planned to 'perch lightly' with yurts rather than heavy buildings, reuses recycled oil-industry steel, and fabricates many elements locally at its own forge.
Source · 2026-10-29
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 2/4 · A named area of habitat kept undisturbed, or one named native planting or conservation activity | 15 / 30 points | Low-voltage, downcast lighting is used to limit light pollution on the wild Big Sur coast. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 3/4 · Several systems, such as on site renewables plus at least 80% LED lighting, natural ventilation and metered monitoring; the stay's own vehicles and boats count here | 11.25 / 15 points | The impact page (2026) says the resort runs fully off the grid on micro turbines and solar, with skylights, efficient systems and low-voltage lighting cutting demand. The turbines' fuel is not stated. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Water | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 3/4 · Composting plus recycling plus no single use plastic in rooms and food service | 7.5 / 10 points | Treebones recycles cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and batteries, composts or feeds kitchen scraps to its chickens, and uses compostable materials (impact page, 2026). Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 2/4 · A named own garden or named local farms supply part of the menu | 7.5 / 15 points | An on-site organic garden supplies much of the produce, with other ingredients sourced locally (impact page, 2026). Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 3/4 · Several practices, such as reuse of existing structures, local natural materials, passive design and a small footprint on the land | 11.25 / 15 points | The resort was planned to 'perch lightly' with yurts rather than heavy buildings, reuses recycled oil-industry steel, and fabricates many elements locally at its own forge. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 2/4 · Specific practices, systems and named suppliers published | 2.5 / 5 points | The Our Impact page lists specific practices such as off grid power from micro turbines and solar, composting and an electric vehicle fleet. No third party certificate or measured data is published. “Clean-burning micro turbines and solar provide electricity” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Accommodation Eco Score weights: Nature, biodiversity and regeneration 30%, Energy and climate 15%, Water 10%, Waste and plastic 10%, Food, farming and sourcing 15%, Buildings, heritage reuse and land use 15%, Measurement, transparency and certification 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years. Guest travel is not scored; everyone gets there how they can.
Purity, what touches your body
1.2/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 5%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as fresh or organic with no named source | 5 / 20 points | The Our Impact page says an on-site organic garden supplies much of the produce, but no certification, share or plant based menu is stated. “An on-site organic garden supplies much of our produce” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Linen, towels and mattresses | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 5 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Purity Score weights: Water you drink and bathe in 25%, Food on your plate 20%, Grounds and pest control 15%, Cleaning, laundry and fragrance 15%, Linen, towels and mattresses 10%, Air and quiet 10%, Pool and bathing water 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
People, ownership, work and community
2.1/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 27.5%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 2/4 · A named owner, with the share held locally or by the family stated | 15 / 30 points | The Handy family built the resort and live on site with their grown children, and the story page names John and Corinne Handy. No public record of local ownership is cited. “Today, we are fortunate to live on site with our now grown children, alongside more than thirty employees.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Community benefit | 20% | 2/4 · A named community programme, such as a school, fund or training | 10 / 20 points | The Our Impact page names several local bodies the resort serves or funds, including the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Education Initiative and Henry Miller Memorial Library. “Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade Big Sur Education Initiative South Coast Land Trust Big Sur Health Center Ventana Wilderness Alliance” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Access to beach and land | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | The resort says arts matter to Big Sur and lists local arts events it supports, but no named makers or interpreted heritage are presented. “The arts are an important part of life in Big Sur and the experience we share with guests.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. People Score weights: Ownership and control 30%, Local work and fair pay 25%, Community benefit 20%, Access to beach and land 15%, Culture and heritage 10%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
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Collected research sources
These source pages were captured on 2026-10-02. Capturing a page does not establish a rating or verify its claims. Only the reviewed pillar evidence above earns assessment points. Missing findings remain unavailable.
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