When Danny Hyde decided on the vibe he wanted for the hotel he’s creating out of a historic beachfront property in Dana Point, he didn’t want to clutter the bungalows with TVs, he said.
The property, an early example of a California motor court-style hotel, is more than 80 years old and steps from the ocean. “It’s important to us,” he said, “that you know you’re in Dana Point. A black screen can be a portal out of that.”
Instead, the focal point of the rooms in the EL Caminante Bar and Bungalows is a king bed sitting on handcrafted Saltillo tiles with a view of the expansive beach. The TV is there, but framed to disappear into the room’s decor.
Each of the bungalows is decorated to create its own unique experience, helped through varied artwork, vintage light fixtures and one-of-a-kind mosaics created on Mexican white tile in the bathrooms. The idea, Hyde said, is for the ambiance to create a “sense of place.” Overnight stays will be priced between $300 to $1,500.
The property was once the Capistrano Seaside Inn and served as a getaway spot for early Hollywood stars. Over time it’s luster wore off and it was even listed among the nation’s 10 worst motels on Yelp before being shuttered for years and red-tagged by the city. Following a spin through the courts, the property ultimately went to a foreclosure sale.
Hyde, president of the San Clemente-based Artist Guild Hospitality, purchased the property in 2021 out of the foreclosure. With his partner, Jeff Finn, the two assured city officials that they would renovate with an eye to its historical importance and followed the standards of historical restoration for the exterior. And the community has since been watching closely how the project has unfolded.
Twenty-two of the hotel’s 30 rooms are on the lower level and will have private patios – equal to the size of the room – with cozy seating and a custom-designed outdoor fireplace to give an indoor-outdoor feeling to the…
Read the full article here