{"id":259253,"date":"2026-04-09T12:07:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/259253\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T12:07:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:07:09","slug":"billionaires-california-resort-teases-reopening-after-6-year-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/259253\/","title":{"rendered":"Billionaire’s California resort teases reopening after 6-year closure"},"content":{"rendered":"

After six years, there are several indicators that Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner and his team will soon reopen the doors to the fabled Four Seasons Resort the Biltmore Santa Barbara<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The Montecito resort, which closed down in March 2020<\/a> during the height of the COVID-19 shutdowns, has been a subject of much speculation and legal battles, including a $6 million class-action lawsuit<\/a> on behalf of the resort\u2019s former employees, which was eventually settled in 2024.<\/p>\n

In the six years since the Biltmore bid farewell to its last guest, Warner has also been busy with other projects in the area. Across the street from the resort lies his Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club<\/a>, a private club that closed down at the same time as the Four Seasons but opened back up in early 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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When Coral Casino reopened, membership fees skyrocketed to $2,500 per month, up from $500 to $700 per month. Famed chef Thomas Keller<\/a> also reportedly took charge of the food program at Coral Casino, including restaurants La Pacifica, Coral Cafe and Fins. But Tydes, the club\u2019s signature restaurant<\/a>, which was set to also be open to the public, has yet to reopen.<\/p>\n

\"Chef<\/p>\n

Chef Thomas Keller attended the Yountville City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to discuss the proposed Yountville Commons affordable housing project.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Screenshot via Yountville Town Council<\/p>\n

Warner\u2019s other portfolio properties in the area include the Sandpiper Golf Club, San Ysidro Ranch and Montecito Club. All of these are currently open. The fact that his other properties are operating has helped perpetuate the ongoing intrigue about what\u2019s going on with the Four Seasons.<\/p>\n

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While potential visitors are unable to book a room at the Four Seasons right now, an update banner at the top of its homepage hints toward an opening: \u201cThank you for your interest in Four Seasons Resort The\u00a0Biltmore Santa Barbara,\u201d the message states. \u201cThe Resort remains temporarily closed and is expected to reopen in 2026 as we continue renovations and enhancements. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you back to our celebrated property upon reopening. Stay tuned for updates on our opening date, which will be shared here on the website.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In the meantime, several capital improvement projects have taken place even as the Four Seasons remains dark, such as a controversial retrofit<\/a> to the pool area, including a lazy river.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The road to the Four Seasons Resort the Biltmore in Santa Barbara is lined with palm trees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alexander Spatari\/Getty Images\"FILE:<\/p>\n

FILE: Ty Warner, creator of Beanie Babies toys, shakes hands in a rare appearance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Beanie Babies toy line at the American International Toy Fair on Feb. 16, 2003, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chris Hondros\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

For some, the new pool area represented a death knell to the legendary property\u2019s origins, which date back to its opening in 1927. The property was designed by\u00a0Reginald Davis Johnson<\/a>, the famed California architect whom many credit with bringing Santa Barbara\u2019s signature Spanish colonial revival architecture (white-washed buildings, red tile roofs) to life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cHave we now gone beyond the point that we have lost the heart and soul of this building?\u201d John Watson, chairman of the Montecito Board of Architectural Review, said during an August 2024 hearing on the proposed pool area<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Project planners said they later met with Watson, who suggested specific changes be made to one of the new buildings in the pool area known as the palapa. The building, originally planned to be 25 feet high, was lowered to 16 feet, and the pointed roof was made round, Mark Lloyd, president of L&P Consultants, the firm working on behalf of\u00a0Warner\u2019s team on the development plans, explained to the Montecito Planning Commission at its Oct. 16, 2024, meeting. Lloyd underscored the intent of the pool portion of the project during his presentation:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe design of this is for a five-star luxury hotel,\u201d he\u00a0explained. \u201cThis is not a cheek-to-jowl, chaise lounge and umbrellas, wide expanse of concrete you would see in a water park. This is to be a tranquil, peaceful area.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Montecito Board of Architectural Review initially denied the pool project, but the Montecito Planning Commission approved it after some of the\u00a0 tweaks were made, including a change in work hours. The architectural review board eventually got on board and green-lit the project in November 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Since those plans have been put into motion, construction crews have been spotted coming in and out of the Four Seasons property. Last week, another indicator that the property is getting ready to reopen came in the form of a special hearing of the Montecito Planning Commission to go over some finishing touches, including the installation of a half dozen driveways and 20 new parking spaces.<\/p>\n

Hill Road, the frontage street to the hotel, is also set to receive new curbs and sidewalks.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The grounds at Four Seasons Resort the Biltmore in Santa Barbara. The famed hotel owned by reclusive billionaire Ty Warner was shut down in March 2020 with no reopening date scheduled.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Screenshot via Google Maps<\/p>\n

\u201cWe still do not have a clear opening date,\u201d Four Seasons\u00a0spokesperson Drew Clarke wrote SFGATE in an email on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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So while the actual opening day for the resort\u00a0remains a mystery, the prospect of getting the Four Seasons back up and running is the current goal for many.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s generally a benefit to the hotel and a benefit to the community, so I fully support the project,\u201d Montecito Planning Commissioner Bob Kupiec said last week as he joined the rest of the planning commissioners to vote in favor of the project updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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