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Tudor-style Glen Tavern Hotel from 1985 with white and brown timber framing, a brown roof, and a visible "HOTEL" sign. Manicured green hedges and palm trees frame the building's exterior.
Glen Tavern Hotel, 1985.

Ventura County Landmark No. 65: Glen Tavern Hotel

Historical Background

The Glen Tavern Inn was built in 1911 by Hunt & Burns Architects to serve the nearby (now historic) train depot. The Craftsman/English Tudor‑style hotel features two large offset gables and multiple gabled dormers. The interior includes early 1900s European‑influenced décor, original dark wood paneling, some original light fixtures, a stone fireplace, and Craftsman columns (Hughes, 1986). The inn rests on a landscaped site in the center of Santa Paula, once a booming early oil town and now a pleasant community surrounded by lemon and avocado groves (Hughes, 1986).

True to its Wild West past, the hotel’s third floor once housed a gambling parlor and a house of ill repute. During Prohibition, a speakeasy was added. In Hollywood’s early heyday, Santa Paula was a popular filming location for major studios, and the inn welcomed notable guests such as John Wayne, Carole Lombard, Harry Houdini, and Steve McQueen (Glen Tavern Inn, n.d.).

Craftsman Architecture

The Craftsman style emerged in the United States from the Arts and Crafts Movement, which originated in England as a reaction against the loss of traditional craftsmanship during the Industrial Revolution. Emphasizing the use of local, natural materials, simple forms, originality, and handcrafted details, the movement celebrated quality workmanship and honest construction. In 1901, Gustav Stickley published the first issue of The Craftsman magazine, which became a leading advocate for Craftsman furniture, textiles, and architecture. Architects such as Greene and Greene in Pasadena and David Owen Dryden in San Diego were instrumental in popularizing the Craftsman style, making it the predominant residential architectural style of the early twentieth century (City of Santa Barbara, n.d.).

The Building Today

The Glen Tavern Inn remains in operation as of 2026. It has been featured in numerous paranormal television programs due to the many rumored hauntings associated with its colorful past. Several of the rooms highlighted in these stories are available to guests and contribute to both the inn’s character and continued popularity.

Additional Reading

References

City of Santa Barbara. (n.d). Historic Resources Design Guidelines. https://santabarbaraca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/Historic-Architectural-Styles-Guide_Craftsman.pdf.

Glen Tavern Inn. (n.d). A National Historic Treasure in Santa Paula. https://www.officialglentavern.com/history

Hughes, Bill. (1986, December 21). “Glen Tavern Inn: A Spirited History.” Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-21-tr-3914-story.html.

Date Designated: July 1981

Location: 134 North Mill Street, Santa Paula

Photos:

A vintage postcard shows Glen Tavern, a large building with green roofs, a red chimney, and an American flag, surrounded by a manicured garden; text at the bottom reads "GLEN TAVERN, SANTA PAULA, VENTURA CO., CAL."
Historical post card, no date.
Brown brick Glen Tavern Hotel building with "HOTEL GLEN TAVERN" signage, green ivy-covered walls, and a sloped roof, photographed in 1981.
Glen Tavern Hotel, 1981.
Glen Tavern Hotel exterior from 1981, Tudor-style building with white and dark brown facade. Sign displays "ROOMS FOR RENT" and "HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY OCT 31" above the entrance.
Glen Tavern Hotel, 1981.
1982 photograph of Glen Tavern Hotel with its sign advertising "Hotel Dining Room" and Tudor-style architecture, set at a street intersection with palm trees and mountains.
Glen Tavern Hotel, including former signage, 1982.
Glen Tavern Hotel, 1985, features Tudor-style architecture with white and brown half-timbering, a brown roof, and a visible "HOTEL" sign, surrounded by manicured hedges and a sidewalk.
Glen Tavern Hotel, 1985.

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