Blackstone acquires Napa Valley resort amid region’s AI boom

Dive Brief:

Blackstone bought Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley, California, at a foreclosure auction on March 27, after its previous owners defaulted on a $220 million loan, Bloomberg first reported.
The New York City-based investment firm purchased the 135-room Auberge Collection resort, located one hour away from San Francisco, Blackstone confirmed in an email to Hotel Dive. According to the company, the hotel will continue to be managed by Auberge. The property sold in foreclosure for $195 million, the Napa Valley Register reported.
The acquisition signals Blackstone’s growing optimism for the Bay Area. Scott Trebilco, senior managing director at Blackstone Real Estate, said in a statement that the resort is “well positioned to benefit from rising group and leisure demand for wellness and experiential travel, alongside the continued growth in corporate travel to the region as AI adoption accelerates.”

Dive Insight:

Blackstone’s Bay Area buy follows its purchase of Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco in late 2025, which it bought for nearly $130 million, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The firm’s investment in the greater San Francisco area is driven by an ongoing “AI revolution,” Blackstone President and COO Jon Gray previously said in a LinkedIn video, as it’s home to major technology players like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Stanly Ranch has a unique backstory. Founded as a working farm in 1856 by Judge Edward Stanly, it was transformed into a luxury resort on 712 acres of “rolling vineyards” and ranch land that opened in April 2022, per a release from Auberge.

The property features three outdoor pools, private event spaces, wellness programs, a farm-to-table restaurant, an all-day coffee shop and a bar, per its website. It also offers recreational opportunities such as vineyard tours, falconry sessions and cycling tours.

Blackstone has been snapping up hotel properties at a steady clip across the U.S., including the 785-room Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor in Florida for $200 million and the 292-room Kimpton Hotel Eventi in New York for $175 million.

According to real estate and investment management firm JLL, global investment volumes are expected to see a “robust increase” in 2026, in part due to improved market conditions and steady travel demand. Luxury is still forecast to be a winning asset class for investors, with heightened consumer demand for luxury hotels and resorts.