Last June, L ‘Auberge Resort & Spa re-opened after having been closed for a year for a complete $25 million facelift. Still to be finished is a lavish dining area and spa.

Developed by Del Mar resident Jim Watkins, it opened originally in July 1989 and was the successor to Hotel Del Mar that was demolished in August 1967 the typical village way — with a fiesta featuring eats, entertainment and the whole nine yards.

The highlight was an auction with rock bottom prices. Several thousand people in attendance carried away mementos — everything from doors to doorknobs.

The hotel had been closed for several years and the grounds were covered with weeds, littered with trash and windows were smashed. Homeless and druggies had flopped in it.

During World War II, the U.S. Army took it over to house officers stationed at Camp Callan on Torrey Pines mesa, now the San Diego muni-golf course.

Watkins faced huge obstacles to build the hotel. By the time he was ready to submit plans, residents had adopted a Downtown Initiative. His lavish plans were rejected by 15 votes even though he had committed to contribute $2 million to the library (this pledge has been completed). He resubmitted a scaled-down version and this time it was approved by 200 votes.

Hotel Del Mar was the original Stratford Inn built in the late 1880s by influential friends of the Col. Jacob Taylor, the village developer.

In 1926, it was renamed the Hotel Del Mar and it thrived until the 1950s and 1960s when it suffered several changes in questionable ownerships, at least one bankruptcy and poor management.

For a short period it was operated as a senior retirement home by a religious organization known as Baptist Missionary Foundation.

When Watkins and his associates acquired the property,

he had already built the Stratford Inn at the south end of the village, Canterbury Square, Winner’s Circle Lodge, and purchased the Kockritz Building on 15th Street and Highway 101, renovated it, and renamed it Stratford Square.

During an interview, he recalled that in 1966 when he arrived in the village with his wife, Carol, he had only a few dollars in his pocket and a car that was overheating. Now he takes great satisfaction in watching the renovation of L ‘Auberge as he walks to the post office, although he no longer owns it.