Fall - 2022

F or people from all over the world, Big Sur is a dream destination, but for residents of the Central Coast, it is a paradise in our own backyard. Originally home to the Ohlone, Esselen and Salinan tribes—with archaeological evidence of the Esselen dating back to 3500 BC—theVentana Wilderness around Big Sur is federally designated as protected land. In this pristine wilderness, set among the redwoods on the cliffs overlooking the crystal blue Pacific Ocean, lies Alila Ventana Big Sur. Previously known as Ventana Inn, the resort opened in 1975, built by pro- ducer and entrepreneur Lawrence A. Spector with money earned from the iconic film “Easy Rider.” Spector created the resort as a getaway for himself and his Hollywood friends, with Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw as regular guests. Recently renovated and reimagined as AlilaVentana Big Sur, the resort still plays host to Hollywood elite desiring a getaway into nature in a place where privacy and anonymity prevail. The pull of Big Sur has been felt by artists of many generations, but the generation most associated with the area is the Beat Generation of the 1950s. Rachel Fischbach, principal and lead designer of BraytonHughes Design Studios, the San Francisco firm responsible for the most recent ren- ovations, drew inspiration from the Beatniks and the laid back, free spirit of 1960s California when envisioning the project. With updates that create a strong connection to nature, the redesign served to refresh the interiors while deepening the resort’s incredible sense of place. The winding ascent from Highway One brings you above the redwoods into the golden California hills, then back down through a dramatic red- GETTING AWAY CLOSE TO HOME B i g Sur, Ca l i for n i a B Y AME L I A WARD D E S T I N AT I O N S C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 2 167 Photos: Courtesy of Alila Ventana Big Sur