# Weird Hotel & Restaurant in California **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431 "2009-07-27T15:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/1 "2009-07-27T15:29:06Z")
There was a Travel Channel documentary recently about weird hotels, and there was one that was mentioned whose name I have, regretfully, forgotten. I believe it was in Santa Barbara, and the original owners were an eccentric old man and woman who decorated each room with a ridiculous devotion to kitsch. The restaurant was decorated in an abundance of pink flowers and vines – the narrator described it as “if Liberace had a hunting lodge.” Does this ring any bells? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/2 "2009-07-27T15:35:23Z")
Can you check out anytime you like but can never leave? ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/3 "2009-07-27T15:49:12Z")
I don’t suppose OP is thinking of the **Madonna Inn** in San Luis Obispo, CA? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/4 "2009-07-27T16:17:48Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > I don’t suppose OP is thinking of the **Madonna Inn** in San Luis Obispo, CA? Yep, that’s it! Thanks! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/5 "2009-07-27T16:39:57Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Yep, that’s it! Thanks! 🆒 Yes, but only a few rooms have taken to excess decor. And in at least one case- the cave room, it’s often booked months in advance so the idea worked. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/6 "2009-07-27T17:40:30Z")
I’m so intrigued by this hotel… ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/7 "2009-07-27T17:49:56Z")
We had a Dopefest there back in July 2001. A few people stayed in the Pick and Shovel room, and that’s where a lot of the weekend’s activities took place. The restaurant was indeed a pink Pepto-Bismol like nightmare, and the men’s bathroom had a waterfall in it. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/8 "2009-07-27T17:55:29Z")
As soon as i saw the thread title, i knew what hotel it was going to be. My wife and i periodically drive from San Diego to San Francisco, and we’ve promised ourselves that one of these days we’re going to stay at the Madonna Inn for a night on the way up. San Luis Obispo is a pretty quaint little town too, and the surrounding area is beautiful. For a slightly different kitsch experience, last time we drove home we stopped in Buellton to have lunch at Andersen’s, the split pea soup place. ---
**Author:** ![Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/9 "2009-07-27T17:57:48Z")
My family stayed there a few times back in the day. For a kid with an active imagination it’s unspeakably awesome; the Cave Room is the coolest goddamned thing in the world when you’re nine. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/10 "2009-07-27T18:01:02Z")
> [@psycat90](#): > > The restaurant was indeed a pink Pepto-Bismol like nightmare… How was the food? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/11 "2009-07-27T18:49:38Z")
I’ve stayed at the [Madonna Inn](http://www.madonnainn.com/). It’s a riot. The food is quite good, for that sort of thing. And the real benefit is that the [Hearst Castle](http://www.hearstcastle.org/) is right up the road for a visit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/12 "2009-07-27T19:17:33Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > How was the food? I don’t think I ate there, but a few of us had a few drinks there one night. It was a long time ago, and the weekend was…kind of a blur. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/13 "2009-07-27T20:37:16Z")
From the Caveman Room description: > [@](#): > > Caveman has a king bed and will accommodate two primates. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/14 "2009-07-27T20:43:47Z")
I think the [Carin room](http://www.madonnainn.com/rooms/218.php) would give me nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/15 "2009-07-27T21:23:20Z")
I’ve never stayed there, but have used the men’s bathroom with the waterfall. Quite trippy. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/16 "2009-07-27T21:27:33Z")
I’ve stayed there, in a Western type room. I don’t recall the food as being that great. The men’s room is amazing. One time we stopped there I checked to see that no one else was in it, and invited my wife and daughters in for a look. Nothing nearly this interesting in Santa Barbara. I used to stay at Davy Crockett’s hotel (Fess Parker) all the time for a workshop, but that is just a standard resort Doubletree across the road from the beach. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/17 "2009-07-27T21:27:50Z")
Holy smokes. That’s a hell of a place, all right. I can definitely see taking the right woman there for the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/18 "2009-07-27T21:59:49Z")
I’ve lived in San Luis Obispo for the past 6 years. Madonna Inn is definitely worth seeing, if you’re out this way. I’ve eaten in the cafe a few times - the food is OK, but nothing special. The cakes are pretty fabulous though. Pink was Alex Madonna’s favorite color, which is why there is so much of it! Here’s another unusual place in the county : [Nitt Witt Ridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitt_Witt_Ridge). It’s about 45 minutes up the coast from San Luis Obispo, in Cambria. It’s pretty amazing, in a weird way. Oh, and “Luis” is pronounced like “Louis”, not “Loo-ey.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/19 "2009-07-27T23:47:51Z")
Looks like Central California is now in the running for next year’s honeymoon. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431/20 "2009-07-28T01:19:36Z")
> [@Wednesday\_Evening](#): > > Oh, and “Luis” is pronounced like “Louis” You really pronounce it like that? Being fluent in Spanish I don’t think I could bear pronouncing it any other way than the original way: loo-EESE But then again I live in Los Angeles and I definitely use the gringo pronunciation for the name of this city, so I’m not exactly consistent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-hotel-restaurant-in-california/504431.md?page=2)