A Resort to Pine For

The new Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla may be the ultimate California bungalow. The 175-room luxury resort is modeled on Pasadena’s Gamble and Blacker houses, Arts and Crafts masterpieces from the early 20th century by architects Charles and Henry Greene. The Craftsman movement emphasized simplicity of design, indoor-outdoor living and materials harmonizing with the natural environment--a fitting aesthetic for a resort situated among pine trees on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The hotel, scheduled to open April 4, is the brainchild of San Diego native Bill Evans, whose Evans Hotels owns the area’s Catamaran and Bahia hotels, and who is on a mission to showcase “pre-Frankie and Annette” California culture. A historian vetted all architectural details in the near-total renovation of an old hotel on the site, from the post-and-beam structure to the lighting fixtures to the William Morris-inspired textiles. Only a few modern conveniences, such as T1 lines, are anachronistic. Guest rooms feature Stickley-style furniture, granite-topped bars and leather chaise longues. All rooms overlook the 18th green of the municipal Torrey Pines Golf Course or the gardens in the central courtyard.

The hotel’s gourmet restaurant, A.R. Valentien, is named for the turn-of-the-century San Diego Impressionist and displays a substantial collection of his works. Chef Jeff Jackson, formerly of Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, will preside over a menu of California cuisine and a list of California wines.

The 1,750-acre Torrey Pines State Reserve nearby is home to 17 types of sage. Guests not rejuvenated by the natural environment can always retreat to the lodge’s 9,500-square-foot spa for a Coastal Sage Scrub.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines, 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla; (858) 453-4420, www.lodgetorreypines.com. Rates: $350 to $900, double occupancy. Hotel guests get guaranteed tee times; golf packages are available.