The huge sign in the parking lot was positioned to be visible by cars passing by on US Highway 101. Located just south of San Luis Obispo, the Madonna Inn has been a classic roadside fixture since 1958. Its modern ornate appearance didn't develop until after the fire of 1966 which burned the original Inn to the ground.

The Inn, Restaurant and Bar were served by a huge common parking lot out front. Construction (behind the camera) was underway to enlarge the parking lot. It was not possible to access the Madonna Inn via public transportation.

The Inn bridged the drive leading to rooms behind. Hotel registration was at the right, clearly designed for easy access by automobile. Note the ornate stairs wrapping around a huge boulder to the right of registration.

Ornate stairs led up from in front of a huge boulder. A ramp for disability access was just visible behind the boulder. Note the convenient proximity of disability parking to the ramp.

The classic, often photographed, front view of the Madonna Inn. This is the entry to the tavern and hotel lobby. Note the wild use of stone on the chimney.

Just to the right of the classic front entry was a fountain. Despite daylight, the attractive placement of lights was obvious. The water from the top cascaded down over rocks into the lower basin.

Between the tavern entrance (off camera to the right) and the restaurant entrance (just beyond), a wishing well sculpture rested on a section of lawn surrounded by flowers. There was no sign or placard visible identifying the artist.

The front of the Madonna Inn showing the restaurant to the left and the tavern and lobby straight ahead. Note the Inn's resemblance to a theme park.

The main entry to the restaurant was up stairs from the parking lot. Disability access was via a ramp into the lobby (off camera to the right). Note the brass rails, stone work, and cut glass windows in the doors.

To the left of the restaurant entry were packaged meals on display inside a curved window. Behind the display was a bakery.

Just inside the entry to the restaurant were jars of cookies for sale. These were baked in the bakery to the left (off camera). Ahead and out of focus was the restaurant counter.

On display in a cabinet at the back of the bakery counter were cakes of all sorts. They were for sale either whole or by the slice. A couple took delivery of a huge custom wedding cake while we waited to be seated in the restaurant.

There was always seating at the counter. This was just a small part of a huge circular counter that surrounded the kitchen area. Note the copper-work over the kitchen and the ornate window set into the kitchen's door.

A typical restaurant booth shown nestled within brick and wood. The surfaces of all the tables were copper or perhaps bronze. Wonderful historic tidbits decorated the walls.

Observe the lavish decor in the restaurant. The name "Madonna Inn" carved into the booth's back, replicas of gas lamps, the copper and brass espresso maker, the tufted leather booth backs.

The three little pigs welcomed each diner to a table. Note the cocktail menu featured martinis.

The main lobby was basically a huge dinner restaurant and cocktail tavern. Clearly this part of the Inn was closed during the early afternoon and under maintenance.

Overhead at the front of the dinner area were dolls nestled up among the fake floral trees.

The front lobby was lit by fancy chandeliers which evoked the feeling of the 1800's.

The maître d' table at the front of the dinner restaurant. Note the bar dimly lit in the far background. The bar was double sided, one side faced in toward the dinner restaurant, the other side faced out toward a cocktail area with windows.

Colorful wingback chairs lined the windows of the cocktail area. Note the use of stained glass inserts to evoke the feeling of hung wall art. Note that the same cocktail menu sat on this table as sat on the restaurant table.

The cocktail bar with its sports television faced the windows. On the back side of this bar was the bar serving the dinner restaurant.

Art lined the walls of the stairway leading down to the restrooms. Note the cherub about to sound the cymbals.

At the base of the stairs were the gift shop, restrooms, and additional decoration. Here was a mirror reflecting art on the wall, and wood inlays into a large chest.

The stairs leading down were carpeted in a bold floral pattern. Miniature lights peppered the banister. At the base of each wooden side rail was a barrel.

The men's restroom was lavishly decorated in tile work, wood, and stone. The urinal was constructed from stone and turned on with electric eyes. The man stepped forward into what became a lush tropical waterfall that continued to run for several minutes afterward.

Paper towels were dispensed from a brass dispenser hung on a green tile wall.

A motorcycle was parked in the underneath registration area.

Above and beyond the restaurant were the rooms and the pool. A waterfall could be seen feeding into that pool.

Above and beyond the restaurant were rooms in a building with a fancy circular stairway.