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February 1, 2005

SAN DIEGO’S CLASSIC BRITT SCRIPPS MANSION OPENS AS LUXURIOUS INN

Queen Anne Victorian lovingly restored with a passion for the period

SAN DIEGO– The timeless elegance of the Victorian Era will come to life on February 1, 2005 when the 118-year-old Britt Scripps mansion opens its doors as the newly christened Britt Scripps Inn. After a painstaking 24 month restoration, this extraordinary nine-room inn, a Queen Anne Victorian home located in the Bankers Hill residential area of San Diego, will welcome its first guests.

“A great deal of hard work has gone into preserving the Inn’s quintessential Victorian architecture and detailed craftsmanship,” said, Gordon Hattersley, owner. “But it has also been a labor of love. Our highly skilled craftsmen have created a retreat for the discerning guest who seeks the comfort and genuine warmth of an 1800’s Inn with modern day amenities. Our guest rooms include flat screen TVs and wireless high-speed Internet access, all hidden from view, 1000 thread count sheets, and of course, private bathrooms.”
Intricate Victorian-era touches are found throughout the three-story, 4,000-square-foot inn -- such as hardwood floors, a carved oak staircase, stained glass windows and claw-footed-bathtubs. The centerpiece of the Inn is a two-story original stain glass window depicting morning, noon and night creating changing colors of light throughout the day in the main areas of the house.

This historic mansion, with its decorated period rooms will give our guests a true glimpse of the past while they enjoy the comforts of a sophisticated, contemporary home”.
The Britt Scripps Inn’s distinctively decorated and individually themed rooms are filled with era-specific antiques. Guests can choose from the richly appointed collection of eclectic rooms, ranging from the Gothic Revival Room -- with its Baronial lounge chair and carved oak console -- to the romantic Renaissance Room, featuring views of downtown San Diego and a restored circa 1870 bed dressed in luxurious jacquard-woven gold and wine colored bedding.

In addition to the eight rooms within the house, the ninth room is housed in a separate Carriage House. This intimate Victorian cottage detached from the main house provides guests the ultimate in privacy while offering amenities such as a whirlpool tub with shower.

Significant work went into the interior and exterior of the structure including extensive upgrades to the gardens and grounds. The manicured lawn area – with brick patio, romantic fountains and wedding arbor – is available for special events, such as wedding ceremonies, social happenings, and elegant sit-down dinners.

The Britt Scripps Inn, at 406 Maple Street, is just steps from the world-renowned Balboa Park museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo. A number of popular restaurants, bars, coffee shops and boutique retail shops are also nearby.
Rates for this historic landmark Inn, which include full American breakfast and early evening wine and hors d’oeuvres in the dining room and wrap-around front porch, start at $299 with introductory rates available. For more information or reservations, please call the Britt Scripps Inn at 888-881-1991 or visit the website at www.brittscripps.com.