Hotel Paradox is a five-story hotel located at 611 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, California, United States. The building originally opened in 1969 as a Holiday Inn. From 2001 to 2011, the University of California, Santa Cruz leased the property as the University Inn & Conference Center, where it was used for student and faculty housing.
After the lease ended, the building was acquired by BPR Properties and underwent a $13.3 million renovation before reopening in September 2012 as Hotel Paradox. The hotel joined Marriott International’s Autograph Collection in 2016. Since 2023, it has been managed by Pyramid Global Hospitality.
History In April 1969, a contract valued at $1.4 million was awarded to local contractor Werner Jasper for construction of a five-story Holiday Inn on Ocean Street. The hotel operated as a Holiday Inn until 2001, when it was leased by UCSC and renamed the University Inn & Conference Center. After the lease concluded in 2011, the building closed for extensive renovation before reopening in 2012 as Hotel Paradox under the ownership of Palo Alto-based BPR Properties, led by Perry Patel.
Design and features The hotel was redesigned by the San Francisco-based design firm ODADA, led by David Todd Oldroyd. The interior design incorporates an “urban forest” concept using natural materials and locally inspired artwork.
The lobby features a reception desk constructed from a 15,000-pound reclaimed eucalyptus log, along with wood paneling, tree-stump tables, and porcelain tile flooring designed to resemble granite. Ceramic squirrel sculptures reference a live squirrel discovered inside the log during construction.
Guest rooms include custom headboards made from reclaimed snow fence planks and sliding barn-style bathroom doors.
The property includes of combined indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, including a ballroom, flexible meeting rooms, and outdoor areas, such as poolside cabana space and a terrace.
Renovations A second major renovation was completed in 2023, refreshing guest rooms, public areas, meeting spaces, and the pool plaza. Local reporting described the project as a multimillion-dollar update connected to broader post-COVID-pandemic tourism recovery in Santa Cruz.
As part of the renovation, new exterior murals by Santa Cruz artist Jeremiah Kille were installed, later covered by local media.
Sustainability Hotel Paradox participates in local environmental initiatives, including a partnership with the Santa Cruz Bee Company to maintain rooftop beehives and host educational activities related to pollination and sustainability.
See also Autograph Collection Hotels Holiday Inn
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