Santa Barbara’s historic El Encanto hotel has been sold in an $82.5 million deal to a group led by Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen, his brother Tyler Mateen, and Garrett Cayton of Culver Capital. The property was acquired from luxury conglomerate LVMH, marking the end of the company’s only U.S.-based hotel.
Highlights
- The new owners plan to spend up to $40 million on property upgrades.
- The 92-room hotel will continue operating but will no longer be affiliated with a major hotel chain.
- Plans include converting select rooms into retail offerings such as a coffee shop and creating a private membership club.
Investors to Pour in $40 Million in Renovating El Encanto
Opened in 1918, El Encanto spans approximately 80,000 square feet at 800 Alvarado Place and has long been considered one of Santa Barbara’s most prestigious luxury hotels. The new ownership group aims to restore the property to place it in league with other high-end local destinations.
Renovations will begin with the hotel’s grounds, which landscape architect Mark Rios is tasked with transforming into what Cayton described as a “mystical garden.” Santa Barbara-based developer Tyrone McKillen has joined the team to oversee design and construction.
Though details on the restaurant’s future remain under wraps, the team is considering replacing some conference room spaces with a private club, signaling a shift toward an exclusive experience.
With a significant capital injection and experienced leadership behind the project, the team hopes to reimagine El Encanto as a top-tier, independent boutique destination. The hotel will remain open during renovations, preserving its presence while preparing for a new future.
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History note: When the hotel opened in 1918, the local paper described the interior decorations as “luxurious and tasty.” Tasty? That sounds odd to us today, but a century ago, “tasty” did not mean “yummy.” According to my Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary of 1913, “tasty” meant, “Having or exhibiting good taste.”
As Euell might have said:
“Many parts of upholstery are edible.”
Hope this improves the service. Recent (last couple of years) experience is that the restaurant/bar/brunch service did not want “locals” and went out of the way to ignore and generally discourage their attendance.
I hope they will welcome the local community again. There was this air of not being wanted as a restaurant patron as a local as well as the collapse of the gym and pool membership for locals. Foreigners only. I called them as recent as 2 weeks ago and was told again hotel guests only, spa guests only for your booked treatment in designated room. Ok, you want our money but dont dare spend an extra moment at our facility. There are other spas…not worth the bad attitude.Bring the local community back with newr gym / pool memberships again please. This was a beloved tradition by many.
“Locals” are simply not their target market. If you feel that you are not being treated properly anywhere, then bring your business elsewhere. Like back in the day when Pascual’s went a bit upscale when it became ‘Trattoria Vittoria’ and some of the long-time Pascual’s customers were told that their business was no longer appreciated. The owner of TV no longer wanted the optics of folks who would fall asleep with their heads on the bar. Pascual’s certainly was a great place that’s deeply missed by many.
Who would want those optics???
You really come up with some odd stuff.