For far too long, a discriminating visitor to Santa Barbara in search of five-star luxury had to be content with the oceanfrontFour Seasons Biltmore, a large, commercial, albeit satisfactorily run resort, or the small, very pretty, but hideously expensive San Ysidro Ranch, hidden in the Montecito foothills. Both of these properties are the playthings of Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner.

July/August 2015