The spacious two-room suites in the Jesse James building feature a bedroom with one king or two queen beds and a separate living room with a pull-out sofa and kitchenette area. Deluxe amenities and features in the Jesse James Suites include double vanity bathrooms, Keurig Coffee Makers, Bath & Body Works toiletries, and in select rooms, outdoor private spa tubs. Suites are subject to availability and are available by calling the hotel at 805-238-2660.
Each suite is named after significant individuals from the Paso Robles Inn's rich history:
The Blackburn Suite (1857) – Daniel and James Blackburn came from West Virginia to California to strike it rich in the gold fields. That success, along with a profitable lumber business, provided them with the money to purchase Rancho El Paso de Robles which consisted of 25,993 acres of land, the naturally flowing hot springs, and the well-established stagecoach stop. When Daniel moved to the rancho, gangs of lawless men were roaming the countryside robbing stages and wagons. Soon Daniel got involved with the “Vigilance Committee” whose goal it was to stop the lawlessness – and not long after the group made him sheriff. Now that stagecoaches could travel through the area, the regularly scheduled stage stopped in Paso Robles, bringing with it visitors to the area. For the next two decades, the Blackburns made improvements to the “resort” including building a bathhouse and hotel, and the fame started to grow. For more information turn to page 11 of “The History of Paso Robles Inn” by Ann Martin Bowler.
The Jesse James Suite (1868) – Two infamous outlaws, Frank and Jesse James, were busy robbing trains and getting themselves on the “Most Wanted” list. Then Jesse got shot and his lung wasn’t healing properly. In the spring of 1868, the duo headed to California to “cool off” and give Jesse a chance to heal. Frank made the overland journey by train and stage. Jesse, too weak for the overland journey, took a steam around the horn to San Francisco, and then traveled by stage to San Luis Obispo County where they sought refuge with their uncle. The hot springs in Paso Robles helped Jesse heal from his gunshot wounds and he and his brother were soon restless. The very next summer, their uncle bought them steamship tickets back to New York. For more information turn to page 26 of “The History of Paso Robles Inn” by Ann Martin Bowler.
The Paderewski Suite (1913) – Famous pianist Ignace Paderewski nearly had to end his career when his hands could no longer play. In an effort to save his career, Paderewski ventured to Paso Robles where he spent three weeks bathing in the mineral waters until his hands were restored. Now a firm believer in the baths’ health-giving properties, he and his Baroness wife, Helen, returned to the hot springs many times over the next 30 years. Today, the Paso Robles Inn is the proud owner of one of his pianos which sits in the entry to the ballroom. Guests can also dine in the private Paderewski Room located adjacent to the Steakhouse. For more information turn to page 59 of “The History of Paso Robles Inn” by Ann Martin Bowler.
The Pittsburgh Pirates Suites (1924) – The famed Pirates made Paso Robles and the hotel their designated spring training location from 1924 to 1934. Each year, the players were warmly welcomed into town. When the Pirate’s hosted a game, many businesses closed their doors so that everyone could watch. It was said that the hotel’s hot sulfur baths were the main reason for choosing Paso Robles as a training site – and greatly appreciated by the players to soothe stiff elbows and other aches and pains. During this era, Paso Robles developed one of the finest baseball diamonds in the nation. While other towns tried to lure big league teams with large sums of money, Pittsburgh actually paid Paso Robles $150 to use the local field. For more information turn to page 63 of “The History of Paso Robles Inn” by Ann Martin Bowler.
The J.H. Emsley Suite (1940) – Paso Robles Hot Springs Hotel’s golden era ended abruptly due to a massive fire on a cold December night in 1940. Despite arriving on the scene within minutes of the alarm, firefighters were quickly driven out of the hotel’s central hallways by scorching flames. Realizing that the central part of the hotel was doomed, firefighters concentrated their efforts on saving the gracious dining room wing of the hotel – now what we call the ballroom – and the only part of the hotel that survived the fire. This suite is named after J.H. Emsley, a brave night clerk who discovered the fire on the third floor. He hurried down the stairs and sounded the alarm, then ran from room to room to alert the guests. While 200 guests were escaping the fire, he suffered a heart attack and died. He was the only fatality caused by the tragic fire. For more information turn to page 76 of “The History of Paso Robles Inn” by Ann Martin Bowler.
The Tom Martin Suite (1999) – Tom Martin and his family purchased the Paso Robles Inn and immediately began a major renovation to bring the Inn back to its former glory. The first project was the coffee shop. Its 50-foot, circular counter was rebuilt and its original chrome bar stools reinstalled. A 172-square –foot mural depicting a South American cattle roundup was restored. Then onto the gardens… after replacing a dated pool and removing an asphalt driveway that cut through the gardens, bridges and walkways were created. Next, the dining room was updated, the rooms remodeled, and a major floor to ceiling restoration of the then boarded-up ballroom completed. Since then, there have been ongoing renovations at the Inn as the Martin Family continues to serve as stewards of the historic hotel. For more information turn to page 90 of “The History of Paso Robles Inn” by Ann Martin Bowler.
Beds: 1-2 View: Garden or Park
