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Santa Ynez Inn Construction Progresses
May 23, 2001 - A VIP group recently took a hard hat tour to view progress
at the busy construction site of the Santa Ynez Inn, 3627 Sagunto Street,
a luxury lodging property in the heart of Santa Barbara County's wine country.
The two-story 14,000 square-foot Victorian-style Santa Ynez Inn is projecting
a late summer completion and now accepting room reservations for October
1, 2001 and beyond.
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Pictured in hard hats in front of the Inn's entrance are:
(left to right) John Martino, General Manager; Rachel Cane, KEYT-AM Radio;
Chris Rubin, Travel & Leisure Magazine; Douglas Ziegler, Principal,
Z Bar Inc.; David Michael Cane, KEYT-AM Radio; Bryon Vaughn, Sante
Magazine; and Jim Burns, The Underground Wine Journal. |
| The Santa Ynez Inn is owned by Z Bar, Inc., whose
principals are Douglas and Christine Ziegler, native Californians and Santa
Ynez Valley residents since 1995. Previously, Mr. Ziegler was Vice-President
of Westco Products, Inc., a major wholesale bakery/restaurant supply firm
with headquarters in Los Angeles. The architect is F. Evans Jones, AIA,
of Los Olivos. General Contractor is Coastal Builders of Santa Ynez under
the direction of owner Jim Quick. Carol Puck Erickson of Los Olivos is
the landscape architect.
The Inn's one-acre property was purchased by Z Bar, Inc. in 1997 and
includes the existing Vineyard House Restaurant (leased) and the Coach
House Antiques store, which is operated by Mrs. Ziegler. Z Bar, Inc. is
spending over $2 million in developing, building and furnishing the Santa
Ynez Inn from the ground up. It is the first new luxury lodging property
to be built in the Santa Barbara County wine country since 1985.
The Santa Ynez Inn will feature 14 individually decorated guest rooms
and suites, fitness facility with sauna and private massage room; Parlor
and Library meeting rooms, full service kitchen and catering facilities,
outdoor heated whirlpool and sundeck, as well as extensive gardens. Guest
rooms and suites will offer king or queen-sized beds, luxury Frette linens,
thermostatically controlled heat and air-conditioning, color TV with DVD/CD
entertainment system, two telephones with voicemail and |
| Thirty-year hospitality industry veteran John Martino is General
Manager, responsible for all staff hiring, training and development, daily
operations including front office, housekeeping, maintenance and food/beverage
service as well sales/marketing and financial administration. From 1984-2000,
Martino served as Resident Manager at the renowned Alisal Guest Ranch Resort
in nearby Solvang. He came to Santa Barbara County in 1980 as General Manager
of the Belle Terrase Restaurant/Tivoli Square complex in downtown Solvang.
Previously, Martino owned and operated the historic Adobe Hotel Resort
and Iron Gate Restaurant & Lounge in Palm Desert, California for 16
years.
A native of San Jose, California, Martino attended San Jose State University
and majored in Business Administration. Martino's extensive hospitality
industry experience began early with positions as busboy, waiter, PBX operator
and front desk clerk and lead to management positions in Las Vegas and
Lake Tahoe. He is a founding member of the Santa Ynez Valley chapter of
the Chaine Des Rotisseurs gourmet organization. Martino is a long-time
elder of the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church and is a board member
of the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society. |
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dataport, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, illuminated
mirror, bathrobes and fresh cut flowers. Fireplaces and whirlpool tubs
are available in most rooms. |
