SLO’s Madonna Inn is ‘all decked out’ for the holidays. See the dazzling decorations

San Luis Obispo’s Madonna Inn has been celebrating the holidays in elaborate style since it opened for business on Christmas Eve in 1958.

Hotel founders Alex and Phyllis Madonna have always valued family and Christmas, according to Amanda Rich, Madonna Inn artistic director.

“Mrs. Madonna was always really into decorating,” Rich said. “She’s the one who was the brains behind all the rooms, coming up with the different themes.”

The Madonnas believe that “bigger is better,” she added. “That’s why the Madonna Inn is all decked out ... We want to make it special for everybody.”

It takes Rich and her crew — Enrique Santos, Juan Martinez and Jorge Garcia — almost a month to get all the festival displays installed. They start the day after Halloween and finish by Thanksgiving Day.

The Madonna Inn’s Copper Cafe usually takes about eight hours to decorate, Rich said, while the rest of the Inn, including the Gold Rush Steak House, takes “well over 100 hours.”

Rich said that Phyllis Madonna “taught me everything I know when it comes to decorating. One of the most important lessons I learned (was) always place items in odd numbers — for example, three trees, one snowman, five bears.”

Rich said the Madonna Inn currently has two Santas on display, and more than 15 Santas in storage.

“I think everyone loves seeing Santa,” she said. “Personally, I love Mrs. Claus as she reminds of Mrs. Madonna.”

This story was originally published December 20, 2019 at 5:15 AM.