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Overview

This Santa Barbara outlet of the Biltmore Hotel chain had the Spanish Colonial Revival flavor required by ordinance in Santa Barbara during the 1920s. It continued in the city's grand resort hotel tradition, set by Milo Potter's Potter Hotel, opened in 1903.

Building History

The Santa Barbara Biltmore Corporation was chartered in California in 09/1926. In an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times soliciting money to fund building bonds, the Biltmore was described as occupying 21 acres with beach frontage of over 1,000 feet. Existing facilities in 04/28/1928 consisted of a "reinforced concrete and steel hotel and administration building of Spanish-California architecture, together with annex buildings and surrounding bungalows. The entire plan is designed to be operated as a unit and will contain, upon completion of new bungalows (which will be immediately erected on the property) a total of not less that 187 rentable guest rooms in addition to public rooms, dining rooms, and help quarters. There are also several ground floor stores which are leased to responsible tenants and bring in additional revenue over hotel operating profits." (See "$1,250,000 Santa Barbara Biltmore Corporation," Los Angeles Times, 04/28/1928, p. 11) John McEntee Bowman commissioned Johnson to design this third Biltmore in Santa Barbara, CA. Bowman was President of the New York-based Bowman Biltmore Hotels Corporation.

Building Notes

Pasadena architect Reginald D. Johnson (1882-1952) designed this incarnation of the Biltmore replacing an earlier structure damaged by Santa Barbara's powerful earthquake of 06/29/1925.

Alteration

In 1928, Johnson produced plans for two recreation areas at the Santa Barbara Biltmore, the swimming pool and tennis courts. (See Southwest Builder and Contractor, 04/06/1928, p. 52, col. 2.)

PCAD id: 2469