Join
the Club
By Alain Gayot
Since
1948, The Balboa Bay Club & Resort on the sunny
bay of SoCal's Newport
Beach has been known as a very exclusive private
club for luminous guests including presidents, royalty
and Hollywood's A list. John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart,
Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon and Lauren Bacall have frolicked
here. Today, The Balboa still attracts an elegant crowd
but what most people don't know is that there's also
a vast hotel portion open to the public.
Beverly
Ray, the widow of the man who bought the place in 1971,
has poured $65 million into its restoration and since
May 2003 the tradition-rich property shines in new splendor
as the only luxury resort on the bay in Newport Beach.
As
luminous as some of the guests are the people behind
the scene. Ringmaster and well-trained, award-winning
hotelier Henry Schielein (formerly of The
Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel; he has managed luxury
resorts worldwide) adds his 50-plus years of experience
in the biz. The hotel restaurant's (First Cabin) long-term
chef has retired only to be replaced by a real talent
from Austria, Josef Lageder. The swanky bar, Duke's
Place (named after former Balboa Bay Club member and
yachtsman John Wayne), is in the firm hands of Joe Divine,
the mix master that's over 80 years old. And finally,
we enjoyed Marc LeBrun piano/jazz trio.
Mrs.
Ray, with the help of Schielein and a well-trained,
brand-new staff of nearly 300, is certain that the hotel's
original wealthy club crowd will not be impeded by the
new developments. They have their own private entrance
and besides, the hotel portion is absolutely luxurious,
service and everything are topnotch, from the 132 elegant
rooms and suites to the huge ballroom space, excellent
spa, racquetball and maple wood floor basketball court.
Hotel
guests enjoy spacious suites with marble baths, duvets
filled with down and oversized pillow shams and twice-daily
maid service. Many have private outdoor patios furnished
with comfortable lounge chairs; there are tennis courts
at nearby Balboa Bay Racquet Club, nearby golf and the
full-service destination 17,000 square foot luxury Ladies
and Men's Spa. The Resort's gardens are lush with Bougainvillea,
hibiscus, dwarf bamboo, daylilies, sea lavender and
beds of English daises, delphinium and foxgloves. Finally,
there's the prime attraction, the Pacific Ocean and
the fabulous bay with million-dollar yachts bobbing
on the water. John Wayne liked it here and so do we.
The history of The Balboa Bay Club & Resort has
only begun.
 Going to Newport Beach? Check our guide.
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(Updated: 01/27/10 HC)
