A new luxury resort on the South Coast started hosting guests a few weeks ago, but hundreds of community leaders and residents gathered for its official opening Wednesday.
Music played and champagne flowed as the reborn Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort celebrated its reopening.
The more than century old resort between Highway 101 and the ocean closed down nearly two decades ago. After two owners failed to get new projects going on the site, Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso stepped up. It took years of public review, but Caruso says it was worth all the effort. Caruso says he wants it to be a welcoming place for the community as well as out of town residents, with people stopping by for dinner, a cocktail, or even to have a cup of coffee and read the newspaper.
Among those on hand for the grand opening ceremonies was actor and Montecito resident Rob Lowe. Lowe says it’s a big boost for the community, which is still recovering from the impacts of theThomas Fire and the deadly 1/9 Montecito debris flow. He calls the opening of the resort a needed shot in the arm.
The new Miramar has 161 guest rooms, more than a half dozen bars and restaurants and 27,000 square feet of event space.
