Big Sur Basin Complex fire update from evacuated Ventana Inn resident
Laura Elliott has been living in Big Sur, at the Ventana Inn & Spa, since January of this year. She’s also been blogging and taking lots of Big Sur and Basin Complex fire photos, some of which are excerpted below from her most recent updates posted here.
Laura has evacuated but e-mails that she may be allowed to return to Big Sur and the Ventana Inn as early as this coming week. Stay tuned for more on-the-ground updates from Laura; check the Ventana Inn website for official opening and closing updates.
[Ventana Inn, Big Sur]
[Big deer at the Cottage, outside the Ventana Inn & Spa]
[View of Post Ranch Inn, from Ventana Inn & Spa]
Here are a couple of images from the early days of the Big Sur Basin Complex fire, from June 22-23.
[Deer outside a guest room cottage]
[Driving into Big Sur from the north on Highway 1, June 22, 2008]
Related L.A. Times news + links >>:
Reader-submitted Your Scene photos + video from Big Sur
Big Sur residents blog from fires (July 6, 2008, Associated Press wire story excerpted below)
“BIG SUR, Calif. — Tired of waiting for timely, detailed information about the fires threatening their homes, some residents of this scenic coastal community are using the Web to publish firsthand reports from behind the fire lines.
“Bloggers Stan Russell, Steve Harper and other Big Sur residents are communicating through the smoke and shifting hot spots on Surfire2008.org. The site has become a way for residents to dispel rumors and glean information left out of official government statements.
“Russell has taken refuge at the Post Ranch Inn, where he has a good view of the wildfire that has so far charred more than 71,000 acres and destroyed 22 homes.” [continues....]
What are your most trusted and helpful online sources for updates on the Big Sur Basin Complex fire?
— Andrew, senior producer, Los Angeles Times Travel
[All photos courtesy Laura Elliott / laurasmagicday]
Editor’s note: Laura is a former L.A. Times senior multimedia designer
[Laura Elliott and her dog Oso rest outside the Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur after the resort was evacuated July 2. Her husband is building and refurbishing housing units at the facility. Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times]
13 Comments on “Big Sur Basin Complex fire update from evacuated Ventana Inn resident”
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July 7th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Hi Laura,
I found your travel blog at Alltop.com. My mom lives in Carmel Meadows and her neighbor’s son had to evacuate from Big Sur.
I wish you speedy clean up and safe travels back to Ventana.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Laura,
What is the outlook for Ventana Inn? The place is part of our lives!
Jim and JoAnne Martin
Nashville, TN
July 8th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
My husband and I spent his 65th birthday at Ventana first part of June. We were so happy to be there, and enjoyed our dining at Cielo and seeing our favorite waiter,Richard, again. It has saddened us greatly to watch all this tragic situation, not knowing exactly how Ventana’s doing. So it’s with gratitude that we can now see photogs of it still standing. Thank you, and our prayers continue to be with you.
Carol Ann and Jerry Brantley
Texas
July 9th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Hi Nancy,
I’m sorry to hear about your mom’s neighbor’s son that had to evacuate from Big Sur. Hope he’s doing OK. Didn’t lose his home did he?
Thanks SO much for your good wishes. Means so much to Joe and I [and Oso too!]. I’ll pass them along to the folks at the Inn today. Hope your mom isn’t getting too smoked out in Carmel.
The sound of hammers and saws never sounded so good! We’re busy today. We’ve many construction crews here today back at work at Ventana.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your experience.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Jim,
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. The outlook for Ventana is good, as long as the heat and winds don’t kick up the hot spots around us. Ventana will probably be closed for a few weeks and we’re hoping to have guests back by the beginning of August. Hope to see you here someday real soon!
July 9th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Dear Carol Ann and Jerry,
Your good wishes and support mean so much to Joe and I and everyone here at Ventana. The firefighters had an amazing fight on their hands in order to save the Inn. We are very fortunate that today our work is renovation and repair and not rebuilding. I’m SO happy you had a wonderful time in June. A belated Happy Birthday to Jerry! What a wonderful way to celebrate. I’ll tell Richard you send your hellos when the restaurant opens up. No ETA on that yet. Do you have a favorite room here? I could take a photo for you and post it if you like. Just let me know. We are smoky/ashy but very good and busy today back on the job:) Thanks again for your good wishes.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hello Ventana
We had a plan to be there in October. Not knowing the conditions but worried about all of you, is it burned directly around the Inn? The press makes it sound as though there is nothing green left. Please say it ain’t so.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Hi Laura,
I am very happy that the Ventana Inn is safe, and that you are well. I was wondering how close did the flames actually come? We appreciated your blog because we are planning our wedding at Ventana in a few months and were eager to stay updated. We still wonder if things are charred and black around the hotel, and in the hills/view beyond. Do you think the smoke damages will be repaired by October?
Thanks for the updates, and we wish you the best!
Alex
July 10th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Hi Laura,
I am very happy that the Ventana Inn is safe, and that you are well. I was wondering how close did the flames actually come? We appreciated your blog because we are planning our wedding at Ventana in a few months and were eager to stay updated. We still wonder if things are charred and black around the hotel, and in the hills/view beyond. Do you think the smoke damages will be repaired by October?
Thanks for the updates, and perhaps we’ll meet soon. We wish you the best!
Alex
July 11th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hi Paul and thanks for thinking of Ventana. We’re looking forward to seeing you in October. Ventana was very fortunate. There is the same greenery around the Inn and the Restaurant and down to the ocean as you remember. We are replanting to fill in a few spots around some of the rooms where ornamental plants were abated during the fire. The hills surrounding the Inn are charred but it is still very green around the Inn. The Cielo restaurant expects to open a week from this Saturday and the Inn anticipates opening to guests in early August.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Dear Alex,
Thanks for thinking of Joe and I and Ventana. Been a very scary couple of weeks but we are now back to work again. The flames came within 100 yards of the Inn, we were very lucky. I posted pictures of the wedding site, not affected by the fire at all, on my blog. I hope you saw them and were comforted that we are green around the hotel and restaurant and down to the sea. The hills beyond the Inn are charred. Currently the Inn anticipates opening to guests in August. We look forward to seeing you in October. And, as always, call the Inn at any time if you have any questions.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Laura,
What a relief that you, Joe and Ventana are all safe.
For years my husband and I have come to Big Sur and Ventana for a much needed healing. My husband passed away last year and I plan a trip alone in September just to support Ventana and see for myself that Big Sur is well. Of course as usual I will get my much needed healing. You are very wonderful to let those of us that know and love Ventana know our Big Sur Families are doing well. Please take care my love and support are with you all - be safe and thank you again - it is very special.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Danna,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I hope your trip in September is healing for you and that happy memories at Ventana will comfort you. Joe and I look forward to meeting you and thank you for your well wishes. Big Sur is recovering well and you will be happy to know that all is green around the Inn and that we are seeing a lot of wildlife too. Many, many deer. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts.