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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

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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] In August 2024, it was reported that Warner intends to add a huge pool and beach area to the property, including a "lazy river waterway" and waterfall. This has created conflict with the Montecito Board of Architectural Review, which feels the alterations would damage the historical character of the resort. Warner's representatives have said the new pool complex is essential, because hotel guests no longer have access to Warner's adjacent Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club. They stated that "this property cannot open without another pool complex area."[10]

Coral Casino

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Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club, built across the street in 1937, was also purchased by Warner in 2000.[11]

References

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  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. ^ https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/billionaire-pushback-lazy-river-california-hotel-19664658.php [bare URL]
  11. ^ Pridgen, Andrew (November 25, 2023). "Reclusive billionaire to reopen Montecito property, details remain secret". SFGATE. Retrieved November 26, 2023.

Further reading

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