Highlands Inn, Carmel Highlands

Historic hotel in California, U.S.

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Highlands Inn

Highlands Inn entrance

General information
Architectural style| Arts and Crafts
Location| Carmel Highlands, California, U.S.
Address| 120 Highlands Drive
Coordinates| 36°30′6″N 121°56′14″W﻿ / ﻿36.50167°N 121.93722°W﻿ / 36.50167; -121.93722
Construction started| 1915
Construction stopped| 1917
Opening| July 28, 1917
Management| Hyatt
Technical details
Floor count| 2
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Will Shaw (1981–1982)
Main contractor| Robert Gillett
Awards and prizes| Top Honor Award from American Institute of Architects[1]
Other information
Number of rooms| 48
Number of restaurants| 1
Number of bars| 1
Website
Highlands Inn

Highlands Inn is a historic resort hotel located in Carmel Highlands, California. Constructed in 1917 by Frank Devendorf, one of the early co-founders of Carmel-by-the-Sea and a real estate developer, the inn was built on land acquired in 1906 from local ranchers, south of Point Lobos. This establishment is part of the  Hyatt Hotels Corporation.[2]

## History

[edit]

Views from the Highlands Inn

In 1906, Frank Devendorf, of the Carmel Development Company, acquired land from nearby ranchers. Devendorf developed the Carmel Highlands in 1915, located five miles to the south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Devendorf wanted a resort hotel to be the focal point for further development of the Carmel Highlands. He handpicked the granite rocks nearby for building the walls and stepping stones. Marine artist William Frederic Ritschel helped Devendorf plan sight lines for the best ocean views.[2] Devendorf enlisted the services of building contractor Robert Gillett to construct the Highlands Inn.[3] Its overall architectural style is from the turn-of-the century Arts and Crafts movement.[4]

The Highlands Inn was completed in 1917, with an official opening taking place on July 28, 1917.[5][6][7]

In 1922, Devendorf sold the Highlands Inn to Edward H. Tickle, later California State senator for Monterey.[8] Devendorf undertook the development of the remaining Highlands area for residential purposes.[2] In 1925, the articles of incorporation of the Highlands Inn Co., were filed in the County Clerk office.[9]

The building of the Big Sur Coast Highway in the 1930s opened the area to more tourists. Point Lobos, which borders the Highlands on the north, became a state park in the mid 1930s.[10]

The Highlands Inn was sold in 1981, to a group of investors.[11] In 1984, the Highlands Inn won first place in the historical renovation category of the Project Design Award presented by the American Society of Interior Designers.[4]: p146 The renovation of the Highlands Inn was completed in May 1985. Will Shaw won a Top Honor Award from the American Institute of Architecture for the design.[1]

The Highlands Inn came under the ownership of Hyatt in 1995, and the company continues to operate the establishment as a hotel.[12] In 1998, Condé Nast Traveler selected the Highlands Inn as one of the top 50 resorts in the U.S. for offering rooms with views.[13] In 2011, Hyatt's Carmel Highlands was included in the Travel + Leisure list of the 500 Best Hotels in the World for that year.[14]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Frank Devendorf at the Highlands Inn in the 1920s.

* Highlands Inn lounge and viewing area.

* The Highlands Inn sign.

* Highlands Inn building and driveway.

## See also

[edit]

* List of hotels in the United States
* Timeline of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Robert White (October 27, 1985). "Monterey Bay Aquarium spurs middle coast tourism". The Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. p. 78. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
2. ^ a b c Gilliam, Harold; Gilliam, Ann (1992). Creating Carmel: The Enduring Vision. Salt Lake City: Peregrine Smith Books. pp. 15, 80–81. ISBN 9780879053970. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
3. ^ Hudson, Monica (2006). Carmel-By-The-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Publishing. p. 53\. ISBN 9780738531229. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
4. ^ a b Gary Diedrichs (November 1985). "Romance at the Highlands". Organe Cost Magazine. pp. 146–157. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
5. ^ "Carmel Highlands Inn". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. July 19, 1917. p. 5. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
6. ^ Grimes, Teresa; Heumann, Leslie. "Historic Context Statement Carmel-by-the-Sea" (PDF). Leslie Heumann and Associates. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. p. 22. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
7. ^ "At Carmel Highlands". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. July 29, 1917. p. 39. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
8. ^ "Carmel's Historic Highland Inn Sold". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. August 29, 1946. p. 3. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
9. ^ "Articles Filed By Highlands Inn Co". The Californian. Salinas, California. March 30, 1925. p. 4. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
10. ^ "Carmel Highlands Association". Carmel Highlands. Carmel Highlands, California. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
11. ^ "Highlands Inn In Carmel Sold". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. November 1, 1981. p. 6. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
12. ^ "Carmel Highlands Inn is building on its history". Orange County Register. November 11, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
13. ^ "Highlands Inn Highlights". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. March 15, 1998. p. 364. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
14. ^ "Hyatt Carmel Highlands ranked". The Californian. Salinas, California. January 24, 2011. p. 2. Retrieved August 28, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Highlands Inn, Carmel Highlands.

* Official Website
* Highlands Inn, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California by Ella M. Shaw
* Inventory of the Carmel Development Company Collection
* Carmel Highlands – History and Artists on the Wild Coast