Despite being buffeted by the one-two punch of record-setting wildfires and the ongoing pandemic, the high-end California resort destination of Napa Valley has sustained a remarkable comeback with occupancy levels reaching 72 percent last June, according to data benchmarking company STR. Even the loss of foreign travelers was offset by increased visitation by U.S. wine aficionados making bucket list trips closer to home.

With new builds delayed, renovations took precedence. The 125-year-old Mayacamas Vineyards, for example, opened its Estate Hospitality Center, which references a historic structure destroyed during 2017’s fires. Napa-based Backen & Backen Architecture and New York designers Bradfield & Tobin turned to colors, tones, and textures borrowed from the winery’s palette. Recent inn revamps include the addition of several luxe rooms at the retro Calistoga Motor Lodge (originally designed by AvroKO) and multimillion-dollar passion projects for a pair of historically registered Victorian mansions, the six-room McClelland House by owner Choolwe Kalulu and the nine-room George with interiors done in-house by the Theodorides family.

The outdoor seating area at Mayacamas Vineyards’ hospitality center

Several bigger efforts have grabbed headlines, too. The former Las Alcobas Napa Valley rebranded as the Alila Napa Valley last year, Hyatt’s third outpost of the recently acquired luxury brand in California. The original design of the 68-room property by New York- and Toronto-based Yabu Pushelberg has been maintained and features a series of outbuildings connected by pathways that add a “sensitive, modern layer” to the property, says principal Glenn Pushelberg.

Despite a tumultuous few years, the area is on track for an exciting resurgence, thanks to a handful of properties, including the four below, that show off the best the wine region has to offer.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley

A natural material palette adds rustic charm to the lobby at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley

Unveiled last fall in Calistoga, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley evokes a village that has expanded over time with a collection of buildings by Frisco, Colorado-based O’Bryan Partnership Architecture situated along meandering walkways. In addition to the hotel’s 85 bedrooms and villas, these structures house residences, meeting spaces, a spa, and Truss, a restaurant designed by EDG Interior Architecture + Design. Also part of the Calistoga development are two new tasting rooms for the Elusa winery, where materials including copper and Zellige tile “are luxurious in craftsmanship and detailing but casual enough” to connect to the earth, says Sarah Hullinger, senior project designer at San Francisco firm HBA. It’s a combination of the rustic and sophisticated that “befits the agrarian setting of Napa Valley,” she adds. In the hotel, some “guestrooms are characterized by darker colors with richly toned and textured fabrics, while [others] are light and white with vaulted ceilings and warm wood floors,” says HBA associate Jacob Royster, who worked in collaboration with local designer Erin Martin on room interiors. Elements such as a hotel reception desk crafted from reclaimed logs “surprise and delight guests as they explore the village,” he says.

Stanly Ranch

At Stanly Ranch, white oak and metal recall Napa’s cooperage history and the site’s past life as a working ranch

The new-build Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley from Auberge Resorts Collection includes 78 standalone guest cottages set amid the vineyards and gardens of an operating winery. With architecture led by San Antonio firm Overland Partners, Atlanta-based CCID handled interiors, finding inspiration from “Napa’s historic provenance as an early tannery center through the use of leather,” says CCID principal Janice Clausen. “Napa’s cooperage character is reflected in the light hues and white oak lining walls and ceilings, while the many dark metal details nod to the site’s history as a working ranch.” Artisanal touches, such as handwoven rugs featuring patterns reminiscent of the indigenous Wappo tribes that once inhabited the area, also contribute to a distinct sense of place. The resort’s signature restaurant, Bear, comes courtesy of AvroKO’s San Francisco office, which took design cues from the site’s farm history. Shaker-style wood dowels informed much of the furniture, while a large brass-topped bar evokes “unexpected glam and levity,” says design director Andrew Lieberman.

“Napa has evolved into a vibrant city,” says Auberge chief creative officer Kemper Hyers. “With Stanly Ranch, we hope to broaden the Napa experience by offering a world of adventure, culture, makers, and entertainment that shows a different side of the rich life in this area.

Solage

Backen & Backen and Studio Collective revamped Solage in Calistoga to showcase an expansive outdoor area with a new pool and cabanas

Auberge also pulled back the curtains on a $30 million renovation of Solage in Calistoga last May that included a redesign of the existing 89 guestrooms; the addition of 11 suites; the freestanding poolside restaurant Picobar; a new pool deck and cabanas; the outdoor expansion of Solbar, the resort’s signature dining venue; and an indoor event and meeting space. “The furniture is a little oversized and very plush to allow guests to truly relax,” says Adam Goldstein, partner and design director of Venice, California-based Studio Collective. (Backen & Backen handled the architecture.) “We worked with a combination of earthy, nature-inspired colors and a natural material palette, which blends in with the surrounding landscape,” he continues. “The entire redesign paid careful attention to creating open-air spaces—such as outdoor showers and soaking tubs in the new suites. It is these moments that enhance the overall guest experience.”

Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs

Drawing on a 70-year history steeped in mineral waters and mud baths, the goal of the recently introduced renovation of Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs was to “augment its quirky, authentic legacy with today’s wellness sensibilities and a healthy dose of fun,” says Jennifer Johanson, CEO of San Francisco-based EDG Interior Architecture + Design. Created in tandem with local firm SB Architects, the revitalization of the 50-room property in Calistoga includes the addition of eight guestrooms, the restoration of three historic buildings, the expansion of the spa, and the transformation of an asphalt parking lot into a fun-packed paradise replete with picnic tables, lawn games, hammocks, a fire pit, and a new restaurant concept, the Southwestern-inspired House of Better. “We designed the spaces for a youthful, independent-minded Napa Valley visitor,” she says, adding that a vibe of “retro-inspired with a modern twist” was the guiding design principle throughout. Touchpoints pulled from the brand’s heritage include a 1952 Buick (referencing the year of its founding), neon signs, pastel pink robes and chaise lounges, and a statement water dispenser that welcomes guests in the lobby and nods to the resort’s historic treatments.

This article originally appeared in HD’s February/March 2022 issue.

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