Pierpont Inn facts for kids
| Pierpont Inn | |
| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | 550 Sanjon Road , Ventura, California, USA, 93001 |
| Coordinates | 34°16′24″N 119°17′00″W / 34.27333°N 119.28333°W |
| Opening date | September 1910 |
| Developer | Josephine Pierpont |
| Architect | Sumner P. Hunt |
| Management | DKN Hotels |
| Owner | DKN Hotels |
| No. of restaurants | 1 |
| No. of rooms | 77 |
The Pierpont Inn is a historic hotel in Ventura, California. It sits on a high bluff overlooking the beautiful Santa Barbara Channel. The Inn was built in 1910 in a special style called Craftsman bungalow. It was made for people traveling by car. Today, it is known as City of San Buenaventura Historic Landmark Number 80.
In 2002, the Pierpont Inn and Spa became part of Historic Hotels of America. This is a special program by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It helps protect important old buildings.
Contents
The Pierpont Inn's Story
How the Inn Began
In 1908, a woman named Josephine Pierpont bought land in Ventura, California. She wanted to build an inn there. She thought many people would travel along the Pacific Coast by car. They would need a nice place to stay and eat.
Josephine hired an architect named Sumner P. Hunt. He designed the Inn in the Craftsman Style. It opened in September 1910. At first, it was called "The Wayside Inn." Later, its name was changed to "The Pierpont Inn."
Family Ownership and Growth
Josephine's son, Austen Pierpont, managed the Inn for many years. In 1925, he added two new buildings. These were Tudor-style cottages. They were surrounded by lovely gardens. Austen also thought about turning the Inn into a country club. However, this idea never happened.
The Inn was sold a few times and started to look old. But in 1928, Mrs. Mattie Vickers Gleichmann saved it. Mattie's husband, Gus Gleichmann, was a baseball player. He had to stop playing after an injury. So, they decided to work in the hotel business. Mattie borrowed money from her father to buy and fix up the Inn.
The Inn reopened in 1929. It was a family effort. Mattie, her husband, her mother, her sister, and her children all helped.
New Leadership and Modern Changes
In 1938, Gus Gleichmann died in a car accident. Mattie decided to keep running the Inn by herself. She wanted to make sure her children had a good future. Her dream came true when her son, Ted, returned from World War II. He became the general manager.
Ted Gleichmann made the Inn more modern. In 1954, he added a new East Wing. This part had 12 guestrooms, some with fireplaces. Later, he added the Bluff House and the West Wing. This brought the total number of rooms to 72.
Ted was also a great amateur golfer. He won many awards, including the 1963 Bing Crosby Invitational Tournament. Because of his golf success, many famous people came to stay at the Inn.
In the 1950s, the Ventura Freeway was built. It runs below the bluff where the Inn stands.
Changes in Ownership
In 1976, Spencer and Scott Garrett leased land next to the Inn. They were Mattie Gleichmann's sister's grandchildren. They built "The Pierpont Racquet Club" there. It was one of the first big sports facilities in the country.
After Mattie died in 1996 at 100 years old, the Inn was sold to the Garretts. In 2005, the Garretts sold it to Central Coast Management Inc. Then, in 2009, it was sold again to the Pierpont Group LLC. This group was led by Grace S. Ahn.
In late 2012, the property was sold again to Brighton Management. It was renamed Wyndham Garden Ventura Pierpont Inn in 2013. The new owners started to fix up the rooms and grounds. In 2015, DKN Hotels bought the property. They continued the renovations and kept the Wyndham name.
Famous Visitors to the Inn
The Pierpont Inn was a popular spot for many important people.
- Hollywood Stars: Many famous actors and directors stayed there. People like Cecil B. DeMille, Bette Davis, Edward G. Robinson, and Charlie Chaplin visited. They came to relax away from filming in Hollywood.
- Private Getaways: The Inn was also a quiet place for couples who wanted privacy. For example, Clark Gable & Carole Lombard and Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall stayed there. The Inn's quiet location was perfect for escaping public attention.
- Writers and Leaders:
- The writer Erle Stanley Gardner used the Inn in his "Perry Mason" books. He wrote many of his stories in his office nearby. The Inn was a setting in his novel "The Case of the Velvet Claws."
- George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara also spent time at the Inn. Their son, George W. Bush, was with them. They stayed there between 1949 and 1950. At that time, George H. W. Bush was learning about the oil business.
