New beds and no neon

After floundering for years, what some locals referred to as Carlsbad's version of the Psycho horror film series' Bates Motel, the city’s last Old Highway 101 motor court–type motel has a new life.

As reported in the Reader in 2014, the Scandia Motel, a 23-unit complex two blocks from the beach, for years has been mostly vacant, even at the height of the summer visitor season.

Since taking over on January 1st, new owner Rog Patel and his general manager Catnbresh Sandhaani say they have replaced all the mattresses and most of the carpeting. Birds of paradise have been planted around the center lawn, and a second phase of renovations will continue for the next six months.

“We now have 90 percent occupancy,” Patel said. Rooms are now being booked for summer for $99 to $299 a night, over the previous owner's $55 room rate.

The former longtime owner, Mrs. Ljubicam, was described previously as being very selective as to who she rented to. Others said she was in over her head since her husband passed away, trying to keep up the family business. Either way, the motel parking lot was mostly vacant for years.

When asked how he was able to get Mrs. Ljubicam to sell, Patel said, “The right time and the right person.” He said he has known Ljubicam for years. Patel also owns the Rodeway Inn on Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia.

The motel at the southbound entrance to Carlsbad, at 2550 Carlsbad Village Drive (Coast Highway) will also have a name change. By summertime, the old, faded, and formerly neon-lighted sign will come down and the motel will be renamed Hotel Surf.

Patel admitted he is taking advantage of the recent shuttering of the longtime Surf Motel at the other end of Carlsbad Village Drive; the two-story motel is being torn down to make way for a three-story Marriott.

(corrected 1/30, 9:15 a.m.)