Joie de Vivre Hotels has announced that it will add a new property in downtown Merced, California to its portfolio in late 2019. The new hotel, El Capitan, will debut inside a former 19th century hotel property in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley city. Revitalized by San Francisco-based interior design Nicole Hollis, the four-story hotel will comprise a historically preserved wing as well as a newly constructed extension.
Original hotel signage will continue to welcome visitors, while elements including terracotta floors, beadboard wall panels, and heritage-style lighting will be featured to recall the site’s storied past. Art Deco and Spanish Revival influences will be evident in the redesign, which will draw inspiration from the aesthetic of a 19th century train depot—a nod to Merced’s roots as a transportation hub. Hotel artwork will celebrate the city’s agrarian past and other cultural traditions. Featured among the onsite F&B options, a casual 30-seat grab-and-go café and market will be outfitted into the corner of Main Street, while the 66-seat restaurant will reflect a local culinary emphasis. Three dedicated meeting and event spaces, such as a large ballroom and 2,500-square-foot outdoor courtyard, will be featured as well.
All 114 oversized guestrooms, including three one-bedroom and nine junior suites, will echo the frontier spirit of early California and the American West. Reflective of the golden vibrancy of the valley, accommodations will be adorned with natural, handcrafted materials and textures that channel the landscape. The new wing will also frame views overlooking a new courtyard.
