Pelican Hill Stays Open This Winter, but Its Famous Pool Will Not

The Resort at Pelican Hill begins major amenity closures on November 2, 2026, ahead of its conversion to a St. Regis Estate in fall 2027. The Newport Coast resort will keep welcoming guests, but the Coliseum Pool, main lobby and several restaurants will be out of action during parts of the work. For a winter booking, the facilities available on your dates matter more than the future brand name.

What will a winter stay actually include?

The resort's official project guide shifts the guest experience toward the Villa Clubhouse, with dining, the Villa Pool and an alternative spa at the North Villas. Bungalow and villa accommodation remain part of the operation. Guests should ask which arrival point and pool access apply to their reservation, particularly if they have previously stayed near the Main Estate.

This is a large coastal property: Pelican Hill occupies 504 acres, with Italian-inspired architecture, bungalows, multibedroom villas and ocean-view golf. Those ingredients still make a longer stay conceivable during construction. A guest travelling chiefly for the circular Coliseum Pool or a familiar restaurant has a different decision to make from someone booking space for a family and rounds of golf.

When are the closed facilities expected back?

The guide's headline schedule lists the Coliseum Pool for March 2027, the lobby and Pelican Grill for May, and the Coliseum Restaurant for June. Its FAQ gives an earlier pool target of late February. The Main Estate spa also has conflicting June and July references. Treat these as provisional planning dates and request written confirmation before making a nonrefundable booking around a particular facility.

Does the St. Regis debut mean all work is finished?

The published plan carries accommodation work into 2028, beyond the fall 2027 brand debut. That distinction matters for guests saving this address for a special occasion: a new flag does not, by itself, establish that every section is complete.

For golfers, the South Course restoration is an earlier milestone, with the course reopening in May 2026. Before booking, compare the exact room location, the cancellation deadline and the facilities you expect to use. An attractive rate is easier to judge against a specific stay plan than against photographs of the resort at full operation.