Welcome to San Martin
Located in the southernmost quadrant of the Santa Clara Valley, San Martin is a sleepy little community with very few neighbors and a great deal of open space. Technically a census designated place and unincorporated, San Martin enjoys relative anonymity from its neighbors by virtue of its isolation. With the Diablo Mountains to the east and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west, San Martin’s closest neighbor is Gilroy to the south and Morgan Hill just to the north. San Jose, at over thirty miles to the north, is the closest major city. San Martin is named after Martin Murphy, the father-in-law of Morgan Hill, after whom the neighboring town is named.
Lay of the Land
San Martin has surprisingly high population for an unincorporated town, with over 7,000 residents calling the area their home. While relatively isolated, residents are still close enough to the heart of Silicon Valley to commute to various jobs within the area, leading to a median household income of $92,575 and an average median home value of $729,435.
Transportation
Ground transportation in San Martin is limited to U.S. Route 101, the only major roadway to pass within a reasonable distance of the town. While the town does lack any dedicated transit stations on a local level, there are various options available in nearby Gilroy and San Jose. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority maintains numerous transit options for the residents of Silicon Valley. These include light rail services, bus lines, and connections to the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. Additionally, CalTrain operates commuter train services that travel the length of the Santa Clara Valley and into the nearby Bay Area.
Local Highlights
San Martin is mostly known as a producer of garlic, table mushrooms, and wine of all varieties. However, San Martin’s isolated location and unincorporated status mean it offers very little in the way of organized amenities and services. When it comes to retail locations and most community services the residents of San Martin rely on the nearby Morgan Hill and Gilroy. This includes school services, fire services, and police services, though schools such as the San Martin/Gwinn Elementary School are located in San Martin.
The primary point of interest in San Martin is the Rosewood Cordevalle resort. In this case, the word resort is mostly a misnomer. Located on over 1700 acres of pristine land and snuggled against the Santa Cruz Mountains, Rosewood is best described as an experience.
Rosewood features a total of 45 rooms, with options for bungalows, fairway homes, and traditional suites. Each room offers guests a host of amenities, including king sized beds, goose down comforters, original artwork, a fireplace, and a garden bath separate from the shower. Each room is fairly isolated from other guests and provides a unique view of the resort and the surrounding countryside.
In addition to vineyard and winery tours to excite the palate, the Rosewood also offers guests the option of dining at one of four unique locations around the resort. The Il Vigneto is a classically themed Italian restaurant that prepares meals infused with modern Californian inspiration. Lion’s Peak Grill is the most casual of the four locations, featuring an outdoor patio setting and lighter, traditional American cuisine. One Iron Bar is a contemporary themed restaurant with an emphasis on an extensive drink selection. Finally, A Sense of Taste provides guests with a 5 course seasonal tasting menu prepared by the executive chef.
The Rosewood also provides guests with access to a variety of activities and traditional resort services. The Sense Sap is a full service spa that relies on the local scenery as well as local herbs, minerals, and fruit to accentuate the spa experience. Guests can maintain the personal health by taking advantage of the fully equipped fitness center or numerous local walking trails. Finally, guests can take advantage of the professional level golf course or one of four Plexi-cushion Tournament Tennis Courts.
