COMMENT 208630
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2011-08-27 01:27 PM |
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So so sad!! The Miramar was our first sb home inthe 1950s when we were looking for a home to rent .. So many memorable summers on miramar beach ... It is disgraceful this formerly wonderful property has been left to rot !!
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COMMENT 208632P
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2011-08-27 01:31 PM |
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Interesting. It made me wonder about the value of B&W vs. color. Generally, I like B&W, the atmospherics of many of the shots, but for these I would have preferred color since it seems to me that the photographer, the esteemed photographer, is editorializing too much. Many if not most photographers, including myself, editorialize simply by their choice of subjects but I prefer less rather than more. Or maybe it is because I remember well the Miramar, know of its present state and would prefer to see the reality of it.
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COMMENT 208634P
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2011-08-27 01:39 PM |
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Guess it is a matter of opinion. I find the black and white photos much more realistic and sad than color photos would be. But - that said, I admit I have a strong preference for black and white or sepia for this type of photography.
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COMMENT 208635
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2011-08-27 01:40 PM |
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When I was a kid, I used to visit SB with my family...staying at the Miramar a few times. As luck would have it, I ended up moving here. I even worked a couple of years at the Miramar...incredibly sad to see it blow away in the dust...I can still hear Jacques yelling at kids down by the beach....
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COMMENT 208639P
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2011-08-27 01:46 PM |
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It seems that the people living around this property and the powers that be will never agree on what can be done here. Instead of giving an inch, they let the old girl rot. It's really a shame when the people around a property like this have more rights than those who want to make it great again. Gone are the good old days when simple zoning was the rule. Now you are at the mercy of your neighbors. What's next?
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SBJULES
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2011-08-27 03:29 PM |
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It was that wretched Ian Schrader who first bought it and then tore everything down and then abandoned the project. I think it has has had 2 more owners since. It was a perfectly nice modest hotel & I loved the beach there. Here's his website: link Funny he doesn't talk about the Miramar there.
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POWDRELL
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2011-08-27 04:03 PM |
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Interesting link to Ian Schrader, SBJULES. Thanks for the tip. You're right, no mention of the Miramar that I could find. 208632P, I wrestled with color versus B&W. Opted for B&W as my preference; it just felt more appropriate to me. Also, my apologies for the editorialization. It, too, just felt appropriate to me. Clearly, there is lots of heated discussion on this topic, especially among the Montecito community. I'm not picking sides, I just want someone to take action soon. Thanks to many of you for sharing some of your great memories of the Miramar Hotel.
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COMMENT 208668
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2011-08-27 04:15 PM |
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Nice photos. I prefer black & white for stronger effect. My wife and I stayed there while we were looking at Santa Barbara as our new home over 20 years ago. What a shame to see it in its present state. I noticed the new owner who says he can't afford to fix up the Miramar just invested $550 million on a Las Vegas project.
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COMMENT 208671P
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2011-08-27 04:42 PM |
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I'm with you all the way. She was a grand old gal, unpretentious and fun. So many out in that neck of the woods are expensive and require lots of upkeep. I'd like to see her just restored to her funky glory and allowed to be what she always was -- a fun, (comparatively) reasonably priced, beach hotel, with some reasonable restaurants and moderate conference rooms for rent too. It must be a wistful, end of summer day... I'm the one who wants The Timbers to be a reasonable restaurant too -- the old opposite ends of town, but with a similar historical vibe.
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COMMENT 208675
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2011-08-27 05:33 PM |
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Caruso, the current owner of the property, has a deal going on in Vegas and might run for mayor of Los Angeles. The once great Miramar will be a ghost resort for at least the next ten years. It makes me sad that such a wonderfull property has been turned into a dump by Studio 54 guy, Beenie Baby dude, and now Slick Rick Caruso.
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EDONE
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2011-08-27 05:42 PM |
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The Miramar was one of the hotels in the Hotels in Hiatus series we ran a couple of years ago. Not much action in any hotel, it seems.
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COMMENT 208695
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2011-08-27 07:52 PM |
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Without the memories of the past when it was a great property wouldn't it look like a teardown? I think anyone would be foolish to try to refurbish what's left. Tear it down and let someone with imagination buy in and do something wonderful that fits this time. Yesterday is over.
Sorry but to me it looks ugly.
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COMMENT 208700P
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2011-08-27 08:34 PM |
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Sadly, it's a complete "tear down" now. It used to be "the place" in SB.
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STACE
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2011-08-27 10:08 PM |
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Thank you for your post. I love the B & W photos - for me they evoke a feeling of melancholy and sentimentality. As a child I lived on Miramar Beach for a number of years. I learned to swim in the Miramar pool, bought goodies at the gift shop, walked along the railroad tracks, played under the boardwalk and swam to the raft every day that I was allowed to. I also learned to evade the ever-present and sometimes entirely too authoritarian Jaques... other days I dutifully helped him rake the beach...those were truly the good old days and I would relish the opportunity to spend time at the Miramar once again. It's a shame that the events involving the dilapidation of this wonderful property were allowed to occur.
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GRANNYFRANNY
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2011-08-28 07:42 AM |
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With the vast pockets of wealth in the SB/Montecito corridor, why isn't there any effort being made to buy back and restore this wonderful property at the southern gateway to our famed resort area? I stayed at the Miramar on a couple of memorable occasions and have spent lovely days on that beach; it's so sad to drive up the 101 and see it sitting there mouldering -- not a proper testament to our civic pride or our heritage, methinks.
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INFINIDBOND
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2011-08-28 07:56 AM |
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I guess I've become an oldtimer, oh my! Great effect with B&W Dave. I'm sure there were those who questioned Ansel Adam's use of B&W.
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BOOKLADY
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2011-08-28 09:31 AM |
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The black and white photos perfectly evoke the Miramar’s once great past. My grandparent’s stayed in the cottages when they vacationed in Santa Barbara, when they retired and moved to Santa Barbara, they stayed there for several months while house hunting. They moved into a home not far from the Miramar, because they had developed so many happy memories. My grandmother found a hairdresser at the hotel on those vacations and saw her for the rest of her life. It is sad to see it in its present condition.
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COMMENT 208774
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2011-08-28 09:43 AM |
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It's a shame! I remember attending The Writer's Conference there and other events. I always enjoyed going to the Miramar!
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FLICKA
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2011-08-28 10:06 AM |
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I grew up next door to the Miramar and so did my mother. The Doultons started the hotel and it became one of the finest on the west coast. Gawzner bought it in 1939; he painted the roofs blue to attract traveling motorists. When I was a kid (40' & 50s) it was nice, those ugly 2 story buildings weren't there. The pool was surrounded w/little cottages. The Boardwalk had a tiny snack shack and cottages with little lawns and flowers. The place utimately turned into a glorified Motel 6.
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ARCHIE
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2011-08-28 10:16 AM |
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The Montecito Historical Association, located in the Montecito Public Library, currently has a display case of photographs taken in 1999 of the still active Miramar paired with associated antique postcards. Also displayed is a one page history of this gracious destination.
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MTNDRIVER
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2011-08-28 10:19 AM |
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Wonderful photos, very evocative, thanks so much for posting them for us. B&W is perfect for the subject and feel. What a shame to see the place slowly disintegrate.
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ROGER DODGER
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2011-08-28 11:52 AM |
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Well it would make a great museum with all the wonderful memories people have of the place. Balistic Belindas family also stayed there as they were moving into Montecito. It's a wonderful old place, thank you for the pictures.
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COMMENT 208824
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2011-08-28 12:16 PM |
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My first view Of the Miramar was on the way to Basic Training at Fort Ord in May of 1963. There was a neon sign on the roof hawking "rooms for 8 dollars"!! After Moving here in 1974, I went to several Coastal Commission meetings in the 80s. I met Jack O'connell and Naomi Shwartz and Jim Ryerson. It became the start of my state service as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner! Amazing how The Miramar changed so many lives in so many ways. BRING IT BACK!!
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COMMENT 208825
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2011-08-28 12:16 PM |
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It's such a shameful situation. If only Ty Warner were involved. Just look at the San Ysidro Ranch and the Biltmore. Lovely. So many totally caved: the current owner made personal phonecalls to neighbors, threw parties, etc. The Montecito Association gave their stamp of approval and so did the Board of Supervisors except for Supervisor Wolf. Good luck with all of the wild suggestions people are now coming up with. This place is under private ownership, folks. In my opinion this is what is needed: Leadership! Where is the district supervisor!
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COMMENT 208828
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2011-08-28 12:32 PM |
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My first view Of the Miramar was on the way to Basic Training at Fort Ord in May of 1963. There was a neon sign on the roof hawking "rooms for 8 dollars"!! After Moving here in 1974, I went to several Coastal Commission meetings in the 80s. I met Jack O'connell and Naomi Shwartz and Jim Ryerson. It became the start of my state service as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner! It is Amazing how The Miramar has changed so many lives in so many ways. And don't forget Grover the "Mayor of Miramar" !!! BRING IT BACK!!
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COMMENT 208830
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2011-08-28 12:48 PM |
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I know this is nit picking but The Miramar is located at South Jameson Lane and Miramar Avenue. San Ysidro Lane is up north of East Valley Road. Just in case someone with unlimited funds, patience and good taste is tempted by this article to look it up and buy it!!!
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LOURAY
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2011-08-28 01:07 PM |
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Before my family moved to SB, the Miramar was one of our landmarks on trips back and forth between LA & SF. Then it was a marker on our way home at the North end of the city from visits to the LA area. In a way I'm glad I am far away and don't have to watch it crumble. SO sad to see it distressed in this way. The B&W is perfect.
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COMMENT 208844P
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2011-08-28 01:37 PM |
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825, I actually think Biltmore went downhill when Warner took over. It finally got the five stars it was hoping for all those years (it was the only Four Seasons property in N. America without five stars for decades) but at the cost of a real lack of service and originality. It's not the same in any way and I miss the old hotel.
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COMMENT 208888
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2011-08-28 04:14 PM |
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It's Ian Shrager, for the record... The state of the Miramar is truly disgraceful. Never got to stay there myself, but every time I drove past it I dreamed that one day I would..... Had high hopes when Shrager bought it, but those were soon dashed.
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COMMENT 208825
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2011-08-28 04:53 PM |
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Well let's see: Ty Warner v. Rick Caruso. One does projects beautifully and one likes the 'big box' look. Point fingers, share memories, come up with all sorts of totally crazy opinions and off the wall suggestions. . . Bottom line: Rick Caruso is the owner. What is truly needed: Leadership. That means one person: the County supervisor. MIA.
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COMMENT 208941P
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2011-08-28 11:27 PM |
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For anyone who may have missed this story in the Independent earlier this month- Supervisor Carbajal accepted a $15,000 campaign contribution from Rick Caruso. Really, does anything more need to be said? link
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COMMENT 208825
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2011-08-29 08:45 AM |
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For 924P. . . that same supervisor is behind the installation of an unnecessary commercial-like project on San Ysidro Road because of a well-heeled donor who threw him a fundraiser. (Nearly 1,000 people signed a petition against it, but campaign donations reign with him). Just another quid pro quo which seems to be power for the course for him.
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COMMENT 209026P
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2011-08-29 10:35 AM |
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My recommendation is to enjoy the beach there before construction begins and before a big hotel is installed and parking becomes impossible. The longer it takes, the more quiet beach time you'll have. Enjoy!
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FLICKA
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2011-08-29 11:33 AM |
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The Supervisors never should have given a permit to demolish w/o a bond of completion; it could still be running. Carbajal wasn't on the board and what is it you expect him to do now?
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