The Biltmore, Santa Barbara 1950s/1960s

The Biltmore Santa Barbara, a 22-acre beachfront landmark on the ‘American Riviera,’ was designed by architect Reginald Johnson and opened in 1927. Tucked between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains and admired for its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, the hotel immediately became a retreat for Hollywood’s power players. Guests who stayed at its villas and bungalows included Greta Garbo, Bing Crosby, Lana Turner, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Jack Lemmon and Clark Gable. Film star Rock Hudson married Phyllis Gates at the resort in 1955. The hotel also became famous for its lush ‘jungle’ gardens that include Santa Barbara’s second largest tree, a Moreton Bay fig dating back to the 1800s, and 75 different species of palms. The graciously appointed property on the Southern California coast, located above pristine Butterfly Beach, changed hands over the years and was variously bought by Marriott and Four Seasons. In 2000, billionaire Beanie Babies creator and local resident Ty Warner purchased the hotel for $150 million while retaining Four Seasons as the management company. The Biltmore closed in 2020 because of the Covid 19 pandemic and remains closed at time of writing while substantial improvements are under way. This lovely menu cover , showing one of the hotel’s famous palms, is from the late 1950s or early 1960s. We think. Gallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson Ultrachrome HD archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing. Each order includes a print of the interior menu. All printed in USA.