The Santa Maria Inn

The Santa Maria Inn, a north county institution since 1917, was the brainchild of Frank J. McCoy, one of Santa Maria’s most esteemed citizens. McCoy was born in 1879 while the family was on a visit to Ireland. He largely grew up in St. Louis, and then attended the University of Missouri for two years before ending up in San Francisco in 1900. In 1901, he accepted a position with the Union Sugar Company in Betteravia. He steadily rose through the ranks, and, after making a profitable investment in ranch land, he left the company in 1916.

Still in his thirties, McCoy cast about for another challenge. He saw that automobile travel was increasing yearly in California and felt that a well-run hotel in the Santa Maria area would have great appeal to those making the long trip between San Francisco and Los Angeles. He purchased a property on the southern edge of Santa Maria with substantial highway frontage and, on May 19, 1917, the Santa Maria Inn opened for business.

The inn was a success from the get-go. Each of the hotel’s 24 rooms had its own bath. McCoy transformed the grounds into a wonderland of color; the cactus garden won international acclaim. McCoy saw to it that the dining room and every guest room were supplied with fresh flowers daily. The hallways and lobby became showcases for McCoy’s collection of pewter and copperware, as well as his assemblage of works by California artists, including cowboy artist Ed Borein. Such was the success of the inn that by 1928, the proud owner had expanded the hostelry to 85 guest rooms.