R.D. OLSON

Sprawled along the foothills of the Topa Topa Mountains is one of the world’s most renowned luxury resorts – the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Since 1923, this upscale Spanish colonial-style resort has drawn the attention of spa-goers, golfers and vacationers alike. Now, after two years of renovation and construction, the resort makes its debut as a newly designed and restored landmark – with hints of its original architecture, but completely recreated.

The work was completed in nine phases with construction divided into upper and lower campuses. Existing areas were updated and several new hacienda-style structures wrap around fountain-dotted courtyards, adding 100 or so rooms to the resort. Each compound has its own personality – one features a peacock mosaic in Malibu tile, another is landscaped in fiery hues, and a third has a Moroccan theme. Inside, the guest rooms are lavish and each opens onto a private patio.

Sharing the feeling of private residences are the business facilities and new lobby, which adds to the resort’s historic tone with its soaring ceilings, wide and graceful arches and antiquated sconces. A new signature restaurant, with three distinctive dining rooms, is a seamless addition that overlooks the oak-studded valley.

From the exterior’s brilliant white stucco walls crowned by red tile roofs to the intricate details of the inlaid tile artwork, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa has blossomed into a 21st century icon. This transformation, with more than 165,000 square feet of multi-tiered new construction and renovation, took the expertise of R.D. Olson Construction to accomplish while the world-class resort remained open.