June 6, 2023 – If you were in Santa Cruz on March 15, 1963, you may recall the hubbub when a new hotel opened on the beach, just steps from the Boardwalk. Sixty years later, that hotel is still going strong and thriving as an icon in our town.
The Dream Inn—which is technically called the Dream Inn Santa Cruz since the shorter name was already claimed by another hotel in Florida—has a rich history that honors our local surf culture and our unique place on the Monterey Bay.
Back in the early 60s, there was a little surf shop right at Cowell’s Beach, which was the origin story of Jack O’Neill’s legendary wet suit innovation. Today, the Jack O’Neill Restuarant and Lounge is the aptly named establishment that is perched in the same location above Cowell’s, with striking photos and surf parafernalia inside that gives a nod to our most famous resident. This is the latest permutation of the restaurant, which has evolved over the last sixty years with many a tale to tell.
The hotel itself began as a smaller, four story structure with 65 rooms, with a popular pool that sat right up above the crashing surf with views of the wharf and Boardwalk beyond. That pool has never changed in these past six decades, aside from getting three feet shallower at the request of worried parents. During the hardest times of the pandemic, it was actually the site of nine poolside concerts, where bands such as Los Lobos and Patti Smith came to play for guests tucked away safely in their pod rooms in the floors above.
In the late 1980s, The Dream Inn hit hard times. Bankruptcy and lack of maintenance corroded the landmark structure, then called the West Coast Santa Cruz Hotel. But about 15 years ago, the current owners, Ensemble Hospitality, recognized the appeal of this place and purchased the property. Turning to the locals, they put out a poll as to what to rename it. 98% of responders said enthusiastically, “Bring back Dream Inn!” So that is what they did.
Since then, the hotel has gone through two renovations, spiffing up the rooms (every single one has an ocean view) with modern-meets-vintage surf chic decor. They have also increased community involvment with partnerships with local organizations like Save Our Shores, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Save the Waves, Santa Cruz Boys and Girls Club and O’Neill Sea Odyssey. As well as fun programming that pulls in collaborations with local businesses like Verve (which has a coffee cart in the lobby) and popular beer tour operation Brew Cruz—which parks its original VW bus onsite. The new “Let’s Cruz” package is a two night stay with a two hour electric Gazelle bike rental (their HQ is right behind Cat & Cloud on the westside) and two picnic lunches.
One of the biggest shifts has been at the restuarant. In late 2020, chef Gustavo Trejo took the helm, coming up from previous gigs at Carmel Valley Ranch and Casa Munras in Monterey. His hyper-attention to local sourcing and direct relationships with nearby farms and producers has given his ever-changing menu a seasonal focus and unique regional appeal that veers from a typical hotel restaurant (read all about his Iron Chef series to understand more). Yes, you’ll still find an avocado toast, but it will have roasted peppers, pea shoots and saba. And your house-baked pastry comes with Schoch farms yogurt and honey from Bonny Doon.
In celebration of the big 60th birthday, chef Trejo created a throwback menu full of old-school dishes like a relish tray, crab delight and meatloaf, classics using quality ingredients. You can see some of these items if you take a stroll down the Dream Inn “History Wall”, with framed menus from back in the day. That crab delight would have set you back $4.50.
There also used to be rate cards at the hotel, marking the nightly price for an overnight stay. This March, the hotel sent out an appeal for any one who still had a rate card from 1963 to 1969. Two different California residents answered the call, appearing to claim the rate listed (about $18) and hand over their little piece of history.
If you can’t find your rate card, or you aren’t ready to fork over today’s going rate for an ocean view room, don’t worry. At least head down to that history wall, soak up some Santa Cruz lore and grab a classic cocktal at the bar. Perhaps give a toast to Jack O’Neill for setting up shop way back then, and for keep us a bit more comfortable in those icy waves. Happy Birthday to you, Dream Inn!
About the author
Amber Turpin is a freelance food and travel writer based in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
