Inside the Hal Mar Inn

320 High Street in Delano, California is home to the iconic California hotel, The Hal Mar Inn. Hal and Martha Whitfield built this hotel in the 1940s, and during the 50s and 60s the hotel was a fixture in Delano's nightlife. As the estate was being liquidated this weekend, locals came to grab some memorabilia from the hotel, which for many served as a symbol of their own family history. The elegant speak-easy style bar and card room was a popular road stop for travelers in between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and many of the bargain hunters were telling their own stories of proposals, weddings, and first dates at the inn. Despite the chipping paint and abandoned pool, the inside of the hotel maintains its old-school glamour and eclectic flair. I myself made the pilgrimage to the historic hotel, tantalized by the promise of vintage clothes from the 1920-60s. I brought my camera along wanting to get some cool pictures, and I was not disappointed. By the time I left I had my arms full of vintage sweaters and dresses, and my camera full of the pictures you can see below.

The exterior of the house. After being closed for years, the pool has been drained, the paint is peeling, and the windows have all been boarded up. Heavier winter coats are sold out on the pool deck.

The famous speak-easy style bar, which was the setting for many proposals and weddings, and the kitchen that made it run. The antique dishes and furniture that have been used for generations are yours to take home.

Inside the main house, the walls have been taken over by wildflower wall paper. The two bedrooms upstairs both have walk in closets filled with vintage dresses, spanning over three generations, as well as beautiful antique chairs that I'm now kind of obsessed with. The estate sale ends tomorrow, so if you're looking for something fun to do, take a road trip and pick up a piece of history!