If there’s one dominant film that comes to mind when thinking of San Diego, it has to to be Top Gun. Arguably, no movie did more for San Diego (and men’s competitive volleyball) than that 1986 classic. It was quintessential 80’s.

The very same decade that gave us singing fighter pilots also produced a very memorable approach to interior decorating, as exhibited in the design of the two
bedroom, two bath Split rooms.

These guestrooms are utilitarian to their core. They are an absolute hit with small families familiar with ‘roughing it’, or groups of friends more concerned with what bars they’ll be visiting rather than where they’ll sleep.

As the name implies, rooms are split into two and divided by french doors. Most will sleep four comfortably in a combination of one King bed and either a Queen or sofa sleeper. These rooms also provide a 2.7 cu. ft. refrigerator and small microwave.

After all, real travelers understand that there is often little correlation between a hotel room’s asking price and its real value.

Characteristic of the same ‘Let’s Party!’ post war mindset that spawned plans for the entire hotel, these thirty-two rooms are not what you’d expect to be hidden behind the plantation style Manor. Yet here they are, a pair of two story motel style buildings lining the sides of the 52-meter pool. Each of these rooms feature a set of French doors opening directly onto or overlooking the famous Weissmuller Pool.

Bright and spacious, guests feel less like visitors than locals who’ve dropped by for a swim and a drink from the bar. Most of the poolside guestrooms have two Queen beds and enough space to blow up a raft.

Said to have been Conrad Hilton’s favorite rooms upon purchasing the hotel in the 1950’s, guests soon understand why. That same post war party atmosphere still remains.

Guest’s can drink, sunbathe, and party just like Sammy, Frank, and Dean.

Design-wise, the greatest achievement of the Manor building today is that it creates an impression little has changed since 1946. Most of the building’s seventy-one rooms have at least one distinct characteristic not to be found elsewhere throughout the hotel.

European travelers will find Manor rooms familiar and comforting. Domestic travelers commonly find solace from typically Motel 6 depression. The ambiance and atmosphere of the four story Manor comes not from a decorator, but by the hand of time.

Rooms are available as one King bed, or two Queens. In conjunction with the historical rehabilitation, the bathrooms, no two the same, have received a slight refresh. Every room in the Manor also features brand new 37 inch LCD televisions.

Maybe the most significant Hollywood contribution was from former Tarzan and Olympic gold medalist swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, who’s said to have assisted in the design and construction of the 50-meter terrazzo pool. Shortly thereafter San Diego native and athlete Florence Chadwick used the pool to train for her then record breaking swim across the English Channel.

In the 50’s, San Diego Charger owner and hotelier Conrad Hilton purchased the Lafayette, making several significant changes to the complex. Hilton reduced the room count by demolishing and relocating several of the hotel’s apartment buildings and painted the brick façade. The most evident Hilton change may have been the removal of Imig’s signature from the large terrazzo star in the main lobby floor.

With the construction of California Interstate 8 in 1960’s the hotel experienced a significant decrease in occupancy. Over the next 40 years, the Lafayette saw a handful of changes in ownership and appearance, with developers and hospitality visionaries seeking to revitalize and restore the hotel to its former glory.

Hampstead Partners acquired the property in 2004 as part of an urban redevelopment venture that was to include development of hotel residences on the south portion of the complex. The project was abandoned due in part to the declining real estate market.

Realizing the beauty and potential of the now 131 room historic hotel, JCG Development began a plan to rescue the hotel from certain demise. With the assistance of the San Diego Redevelopment Agency and State of California a new strategy was formulated. In late 2010, the hotel embarked on a 4 million dollar historical renovation seeking to uncover the rich 65-year energy of the complex while carefully respecting the edifice’s historicity and the easy nonchalance of the neighborhood’s spirit.

In consideration of Mother Earth, our guests, and the hotel’s historic designation, we are employing environmentally friendly processes to complete the work in intervals.

Fear not dear traveler. Several of the larger and more disruptive projects have already been completed:

Retrofitting and replacement of the hotel’s signature and period era red shingled roof.
Exposing the original 1946 terrazzo lobby floor, for decades entombed in multiple layers of glue, carpet, and dirt.
Installation of a comprehensive collection of state of the art fitness equipment.
Refurbishment of the historic terrazzo Johnny Weismueller designed Olympic pool.
A complete restoration of the historic Mississippi Ballroom.