Fess Parker Inn

Fess Parker, like most Texans, can’t do anything small. Which is why the former television actor, who won America’s heart portraying heroes Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, is thriving as a real estate developer and winemaker in the Santa Ynez Valley.

“After 20 years in show business, I decided to slip away and develop real estate,” said Parker, who owns the 21-room boutique Fess Parker Inn & Spa. “Since I was raised in part on a farm and ranch until I was 16, I thought it would be nice to live on a ranch again and put in a vineyard.”

Located just a few miles from the hotel, the winery draws upon 700 acres of vineyards from throughout the Santa Ynez Valley.

It’s a family affair, with son Eli as head winemaker and wife Marcella as lead decorator for the hotel. “I personally consume a lot of the red syrah, pinot noir and viognier,” said Parker.

“My son is very talented, so we make several reserve wines, include Marcella’s Vineyards, named after my wife. My son also has a label called Epiphany, which is an opportunity for him to do artistic things like blending red and white Rhone. He’s been well received.”

Those who venture to the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa, located about 2 hours from the Los Angeles, will be wrapped in splendor. Each room of the historic inn, built in 1888 as the Los Olivos Hotel, is luxuriously decorated in French country fabrics with cozy fireplaces, a dressing area with separate sink and cathedral ceilings.

The living room is at once grand and cozy, with a roaring fireplace and plush sofas — perfect for enjoying the 4 p.m. wine reception featuring gourmet cheeses and Fess Parker wines — or the Thursday night music sessions around the piano, with Fess Parker leading the pack.

“After dinner, we head for the lobby and sing show tunes from the ‘30s, ’40s and ’50s,” said Parker. “Some of my favorite songs to sing are ‘September,’ As Time Goes By,’ ‘Release Me’ and ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart.’

For breakfast, guests are treated to a Continental spread of pastries, juice and coffee. Dinner is served in the inn’s restaurant, Petros, which serves up California-Hellenic Greek cuisine. Click here for a menu or call (805) 686-5455 for reservations.

Located on historic Grand Avenue, the Fess Parker Inn is a leisurely walk away from a host of Los Olivos’ winery tasting rooms,including Daniel Gehrs, Kahn, Longoria, Los Olivos Vintners, Arthur Earl, Andrew Murray and Bernat.

The Fess Parker tasting room is located a short drive up the street along Foxen Canyon Road. Grand Avenue is also big on art —as evidenced by its 12 galleries featuring whimsical sculptures and fanciful decorations outside each shopfront.

Those in the mood for pampering will enjoy DiVigne Spa, Fess Parker’s spa located a few blocks from the hotel in the historic Glasgow House. Upon arrival, guests are treated to a cup of hot lavender tea by the wood-burning fireplace, and are then whisked into one of three rooms for their treatment.

Here, you can melt your worries away with signature therapies such as The Wine Connoisseur, which includes a 45-minute wine-infused sugar scrub followed by a 50-minute massage using organic grape seed oil. To book a spa treatment, call (805) 688- 7788 or click here to view a full menu of treatments.

“The area is also very popular with bicyclists — hundreds come here to ride,” said Parker of the valley’s picturesque rolling green hillsides peppered with cattle, sheep and quaint farmhouses.

“Over the years, more and more people are referring their friends to us,” said Parker.  “As they in some places, we’re smoking!”

Fess Parker Inn is located at 2860 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos; (805) 688-7323; www.fessparker.com