Santa Barbara Biltmore

Coordinates: 34°25′01″N 119°38′31″W / 34.41696°N 119.64196°W / 34.41696; -119.64196
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Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
Map
General information
LocationSanta Barbara, California
Address1260 Channel Drive
Coordinates34°25′01″N 119°38′31″W / 34.41696°N 119.64196°W / 34.41696; -119.64196
Opening1927
OwnerTy Warner
ManagementFour Seasons Hotels
Design and construction
Architect(s)Reginald Davis Johnson
Other information
Number of rooms206
Website
Official website

The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara is a luxury resort hotel located in Santa Barbara, California known for its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and gardens. It opened in 1927 as the Santa Barbara Biltmore, part of the Bowman-Biltmore Hotels chain. The hotel closed in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

History[edit]

The Santa Barbara Biltmore was designed by architect Reginald Johnson and landscape architect Ralph Stevens in 1926-1927.[1] Their design of the hotel and outdoor garden rooms synthesizes Mediterranean Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival and Moorish Revival styles of architecture. The $1,500,000 construction cost was funded by the Bowman-Biltmore Hotels Corporation of New York City, with a 5 March 1927 groundbreaking.[2] Since its 1927 opening, the hotel has been known popularly simply as 'The Biltmore'.[3]

Allied Properties of San Francisco bought the Biltmore in 1936. They sold the property in 1976 to Marriott for $5.25 million and the hotel was renamed Marriott's Santa Barbara Biltmore. Marriott sold the hotel to Four Seasons Hotels in 1987 for $55 million[4] and it was renamed the Four Seasons Resort Santa Barbara. In 2000, billionaire Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner purchased the hotel[5] for $150 million,[6] while retaining Four Seasons as the management company. He restored the hotel at a cost of $240 million and brought back the historic 'Biltmore' name soon after, renaming the hotel the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara.[3] The hotel closed in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] The hotel has remained closed, due to a dispute between Warner and the Four Seasons chain.[8] In August 2023, it was reported that Warner and the company were nearing an agreement, and the hotel might reopen in late 2024.[9]

Coral Casino[edit]

Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club, built across the street in 1937, was also purchased by Warner in 2000.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gebhard, David. Santa Barbara Architecture, from Spanish Colonial to Modern. Capra Press. Santa Barbara. 1980. (later editions avail.)
  2. ^ "Santa Barbara Biltmore history - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Herman, Valli (May 27, 2007). "All dolled up -- but no stunner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Ryon, Ruth (March 15, 1987). "Santa Barbara Biltmore to Close Escrow". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Kesmodel, David (May 24, 2000). "Beanie Babies' Warner Buys Santa Barbara Four Seasons". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Hayden, Tyler (March 26, 2015). "Spilling the Beans on Ty Warner's Toys and Troubles". Santa Barbara Independent.
  7. ^ Pridgen, Andrew (February 11, 2023). "The Beanie Babies billionaire is holding a Calif. hotel 'hostage'". SFGATE. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Fickenscher, Lisa (October 2, 2022). "NYC's Four Seasons hotel in standoff with Beanie Babies mogul". New York Post. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Siteline | Ty Warner and Four Seasons Appear to Have a Deal". August 3, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  10. ^ Pridgen, Andrew (November 25, 2023). "Reclusive billionaire to reopen Montecito property, details remain secret". SFGATE. Retrieved November 26, 2023.

Further reading[edit]

  • [1]: Dunn, Jerry Camarillo . "The Biltmore, Santa Barbara: A history". Pub: Santa Barbara Biltmore Associates. 1990. ISBN 978-0-917859-90-8.

External links[edit]

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