Historic Boutique Hotels That Make Highway 99 a Destination All Its Own

Take the road less traveled.

Highway 99 , or California State Route 99 , is the route less taken by tourists in California , most of whom choose for the scenic Pacific Coast Highway or zoom up and down I-5 between San Francisco and Los Angeles , but history runs deeply along this main road . California State Route 99 was once part of the US Route 99 , which ran from the US – Mexico border in California to the US – Canada margin in Washington . Known as the Golden State Highway , it was a vital route in California , especially for Dust Bowl immigrant farm worker traveling across the state . The I-5 Highway has mostly replaced the US Route 99 , but a section stay and is now State Route 99 and runs through California ’s Central Valley from Bakersfield to Red Bluff .

The Central Valley is a major agricultural area not just for California but for the body politic . The area bring about about 250 unlike crops , which make up at least a third of the country ’s fruit and vegetable , not to mention addict , but that also means that most travelers to Central Valley are there on business . In the past few class , though , new hotel along this route have brought new life to historical property along the Golden State Highway . All of which is happening in parallel with other revitalizations in the region . So , the next time you journey along Highway 99 , skim the basic business sector hotel and detain at these attractively restored historicboutique hotel or else .

The Padre Hotel

Bakersfield , CAInitially opened in 1928 , The Padre Hotel in business district Bakersfield was at one percentage point most known for its haunted status . That is , until the refurbishment and reopen in 2010 . The Padre is an eight - story hotel built in the Spanish Colonial Revival fashion , and it had its fair share of trouble and fell into disrepair in the 1960s . Now , it has been modernized and is Bakersfield ’s only AAA four - ball field hotel .

The historical art deco elements are present throughout the lobby , and the voguish Western - themed ( “ Cowboy chic ” ) decor is a nod to Bakersfield ’s secure agricultural standoff . The rooms are all fashionable and modern with retro colors . Each room boasts memory board froth beds , Malin+Goetz toiletry , and prostrate - screen TVs .

The Padre has multiple dining selection on the property , include the second - storey rooftop legal profession Prairie Fire , the all - day Farmacy Cafe serving locally roasted Cloud 9 coffee , and Brimstone , a modern - mean solar day gin mill with daily glad time of day . room at The Padre Hotel start at $ 159 per dark and can be bookedhere .

Photo courtesy of The Padre Hotel

The Darling Hotel

Visalia , CAThe building that now houses The Darling Hotel was originally the Tulare County Courthouse Annex , a five - story art deco bodily structure build in 1935 . The master courthouse was destroyed in an earthquake in 1952 , but the annex building remained standing . Tulare County used it as role before it was finally forsake in 2008 . In 2020 , it was renovate and reopened as The Darling Hotel .

Perhaps even more singular about The Darling is that it was purchased and restored by five local category alternatively of a corporation . The hotel has 32 rooms with art deco - revolutionise furnishings , marble - tile bathroom , and mod wight creature comforts like Smart TVs and steeped java bags from a local roaster , Component Coffee Lab . There is an outdoor heated swimming consortium and a 24 - hr fittingness center .

The Darling has Visalia ’s only rooftop restaurant , The Elderwood , which serves wiliness cocktails and food from locally sourced factor . room at The Darling get at $ 179 per night and can be bookedhere .

Courtesy of The Padre Hotel

El Capitan

Merced , CAThe original El Capitan hotel was built in 1872 on 16th and N Street , but it was rupture down to make way for a newfangled railroad place in 1900 and rebuilt at its current location on Main and M Streets in 1912 . The newfangled El Capitan , which opened in 2021 , incorporates fresh construction and a historically preserved annex backstage rebuild in 1936 follow a fire . Even the new make portion of the hotel includes materials from the original El Capitan , from the terracotta floor to wall paneling . Historic train store inspire the lobby and common areas , and throughout the hotel are original nontextual matter that were created by local artists or limn the region ’s farming tie .

The 114 rooms combine vintage touches like record instrumentalist and rotary earphone with modern conveniences , including flat - CRT screen TVs and Beekman 1802 toiletries . El Capitan is also dwelling to Merced ’s undecomposed ok dining restaurant , Rainbird , which offers tasting menus train using local ingredients from farms in Central California . The hotel initially reopened as a Joie de Vivre place but recently alternate to new management . elbow room at El Capitan start at $ 175 per night and can be bookedhere .

The Citizen Hotel

Sacramento , CAThe Citizen Hotel occupies one of Sacramento ’s old skyscrapers , a 14 - story building built in 1925 for Cal Western Life Insurance by California ’s first province designer , George Sellon . The beautiful Beaux Arts construction was converted into a hotel in 2008 and recently underwent another major renovation . The original arched howling entranceway leads to a lobby that maintains the 1920s look and sense more like a subroutine library with shelves of books and velvet armchair . On the other hand , the guest rooms received a new contemporaneous makeover with a subdued colour pallette and jewel - toned accents .

Because of The Citizen ’s proximity to the state capitol , which can be seen from parts of the hotel , it seems appropriate that the room sport vintage political sketch instead of traditional art . Each Edgar Albert Guest room also swash high-pitched - thread Italian linens , down pillows , and a spacious study desk . Stay primed using the hotel ’s physical fitness centre or grab dinner party at the on - property restaurant , Grange Restaurant & Bar . Grange features a two - story wine vault and a farm - to - mesa bill of fare , making the restaurant one of Sacramento ’s best . Rooms jump at $ 273 per night and can be bookedhere .