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To prepare the grounds for building, Billings ordered full sized pines,
spruces, and palms from various parts of the California and shipped them
to Santa Barbara via flatbed rail cars. In a matter of months, the barren
hillside was transformed into a forest. Set into this artificial woodland, the
“pink house on the hill,” as it came to be called, had commanding views
of the bird refuge and the sea. Named
Asombrosso,
marble steps led to an
entrance door of ornamental ironwork with an ornately-carved surround.
Twin griffins flanked the entry. In the marble foyer, a fountain bubbled
and lion and tiger skin rugs greeted visitors. Blanche and C.K.G. and 16
servants moved in on January 9, 1919.
Billings also purchased 15 acres of County Hospital land off Salinas
Street where he built his stable and, eventually, several staff cottages and
a garage for his collection of automobiles. Since Knapp and Frederick
Forest Peabody were fellow horsemen and their properties connected to
each other, the three men developed a series of public riding trails across
their lands and beyond. Billings also developed a bridle path around what
is now the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge and could often be seen riding the
King of the Trotters, Uhlan, on the beach or along the trails. During his
1919 visit to Santa Barbara, King Albert of Belgium rode Uhlan when he
joined Billings for a ride on the beach.
In many respects, Knapp had led the way and Billings was happy to
follow. He purchased land near Knapp’s famous mountain lodge east of
San Marcos Pass and constructed his own aerie among the young pines
and mountain springs.
Summit Lodge
was designed to harmonize with
the natural environment, and Billings planned to develop bridle paths
and mountain trails in the backcountry. Since both he and Knapp needed
better access to their lodges, they contributed funds to the city for the
improvement of San Marcos Pass Road.
Knapp owned several Aeolian organs; so did Billings. Knapp was
instrumental in providing funds for Cottage Hospital and the Knapp
School of Nursing; Billings happily contributed. Knapp built a cottage
at the exclusive enclave of Sandyland; Billings moved next door. Knapp
owned several lodges on the ridge of the local mountains and others in
Northern California and Oregon. Billings established a camp and lodge
in Kings River Canyon in the Sierras. The two men collaborated to
establish the Santa Barbara Riding and Hunt Club in Hope Ranch and
commissioned architect Reginald Johnson to design the barn on the site of
today’s Laguna Blanca School playfield.
Together with Peabody and Knapp, Billings became one of the
incorporators of the Montecito Country Club in 1921, and Billings later
became a shareholder in the new Biltmore Hotel on Channel Drive.
Asombrosso
was severely damaged in the June 1925 earthquake, and
Billings commissioned Carleton Winslow to design a new house on the
site as well as four Spanish Revival houses on Rametto Road in what has
become known as Billings Park. Three were seasonal rentals for the use of
To celebrate the opening of his new stable at Fort Tryon, Billings arranged
for a banquet on horseback in Louis Sherry’s famous Fifth Avenue ballroom.
Horses rode elevators to reach the turf-carpeted dance floor, each one attended
by its own groom. Scarlet-coated waiters served the 36 guests who sipped
champagne through rubber hoses attached to iced bottles in their saddlebags.
The photo quickly became the iconic image of the excesses of the Gilded Age.