05/25/2026
This Memorial Day, we are looking out at the runways with a deep sense of gratitude.
Before it was a public airport and hotel, this area served as the Santa Maria Army Air Field during World War II. While original plans to train B-25 crews shifted, it became a vital training ground for the Lockheed P-38 Lightning (nicknamed the “forked-tailed devil” by the Germans) and served as the preferred ride for America’s top aces. By the end of the war, 633 brave P-38 pilots graduated from training right here on these grounds in Santa Maria.
As we’ve reimagined our hotel to honor this storied aerial history, we remain mindful of the men and women who served here and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Today, we remember and honor them.