The Montecito Inn is a boutique hotel in the southwestern part of Montecito, California. It is considered a Santa Barbara landmark. Located on Coast Village Road in Montecito, adjacent to

U.S. Route 101 U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101 (US 101), is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States. It is also known as (The Royal Roa ...

, the inn is 2.5 blocks from Butterfly Beach. Pleistocene gravel deposits are evident nearby. The hotel was built by Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle,

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

and friends in 1928 as an escape from show business. The inn has a complete library of Chaplin's films; his image is seen in etched glass doors and in the hallways which are lined with movie posters. The 1936 Rodgers and Hart song, " There's a Small Hotel", drew inspiration from the Montecito Inn.

History

Construction began in 1927, and was completed the following year at a cost of US$300,000. Similar to a Hollywood premiere, the February opening gala included Wallace Beery, Marion Davies,

Janet Gaynor Janet Gaynor (born Laura Augusta Gainor; October 6, 1906 – September 14, 1984) was an American film, stage, and television actress. Gaynor began her career as an extra in shorts and silent films. After signing with Fox Film Corporation (later ...

Carole Lombard Carole Lombard (born Jane Alice Peters; October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942) was an American actress, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Lombard 2 ...

, Gilbert Roland, and Norma Shearer. The inn was the inspiration for the 1936 Rodgers and Hart song, '' There's a Small Hotel''. But the original wishing well that was inspiration for this song was destroyed in a 1950s renovation. The US$225,000 remodeling occurred subsequent to the property's purchase in 1956 by Avery Brundage. The renovation included adding a parking facility and gardens. Though he sold the inn in 1960, he repossessed it the following year before selling it again in 1970 for over US$400,000. In 2003, the hotel underwent another interior renovation characterized by a Mediterranean style. In 1938, the inn could accommodate 100 guests, with rates starting at US$2.50 for singles. In 1988, it reportedly had 53 rooms; there were 60 rooms in 2004. The Inn was damaged by the

2018 Southern California mudflows A series of mudflows occurred in Southern California in early January 2018, particularly affecting areas northwest of Montecito in Santa Barbara County. The incident was responsible for 23 deaths, although the body of one of the victims has never ...

Architecture and fittings

The inn is a three-story Mediterranean-style hotel with a red tile roof, whitewashed walls and "overflowing flower boxes". Many of the rooms contain French provincial furnishings; bathrooms are of Italian marble, which is repeated in the lobby. Chaplin's favorite room was the Tower Suite which is popular today with honeymooners.

Richard Rogers Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside (23 July 1933 – 18 December 2021) was a British architect noted for his modernist and Functionalism (architecture), functionalist designs in high-tech architecture. He was a senior partner a ...

wrote of the hotel in 1936, "A small hotel, it's the kind of place where one of Chandler's dissolute heiresses might easily have hung her Lily Dache hat." The hotel has a small fitness room, an outdoor swimming pool and spa, and wooden checkers tables in the hallway. Its Montecito Cafe, which serves California Nouveau cuisine, sits on the location of the original wishing well. There are many images of Chaplin throughout the hotel. These include movie posters and glass etchings of Chaplin. The hotel has a Charlie Chaplin film library. With the 2003 renovation, photos of Santa Barbara were added.

Gallery

File:Montecito Inn1.jpg, Swimming pool File:Montecito Inn2.jpg, Corridor File:Montecito Inn3.jpg, Old-fashioned elevator

References

External links

Official site
{{Charlie Chaplin Hotels in California Montecito, California Buildings and structures in Santa Barbara County, California Charlie Chaplin Hotels established in 1928 Hotel buildings completed in 1928 1928 establishments in California