Orient-Express will reopen El Encanto in March in Santa Barbara, Calif.
The property’s Craftsman and Spanish Colonial bungalows have been restored with an eye toward history and consideration for the environment. Construction materials include salvaged timber and roof tiles.
The seven-acre resort offers 92 bungalows, including 22 suites. Some guestrooms have fireplaces, private patios or gardens, and sofa beds.
The Los Angeles office of Gensler is serving as architects for the project; Toronto-based Project 3 Sixty is working on the interior design. Regional Manager Ali Kasicki, formerly of Montage and the Peninsula, is overseeing the renovations.
El Encanto’s Dining Room has relaxed indoor seating and a terrace for al fresco dining. The Wine Room, located within The Dining Room offers a private space. Chef Patrice Martineau’s California coastal menu will include ingredients from an on-site herb and vegetable garden; El Encanto also has a dedicated cow on a farm in central California whose milk will be used only to make a bespoke cheese. The property also has a branded, unpasteurized beer that is brewed nearby.
The Spa at El Encanto has seven treatment rooms, including one for couples and one for wet treatments. The resort also offers a fitness center, bar, lounge for afternoon tea, and specially designed electric bikes.
Orient-Express bought the property in 2004 and began renovations in 2006. El Encanto first opened in 1918.