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 The Orton family brings a cheerful ambiance to the Storybook Inn the Orton own and operate. From left,
daughter Liz Casberg, Carol Orton, Chip Orton.

From top: a world of canopy beds and feather comforters, rooms furnished with elegant antiques, follow storybook themes from Hans Christian Andersen's tales.

Thumbelina takes a boat
ride on a lily pond - wall paintings by Nancy Phelps elaborate the fairy tale
theme of each room.

Carol Orton in
The Steadfast Tin
Soldier room

The Storybook Inn
by K. RekaBadger

Soaring three floors above a quiet corner in Solvang, the Storybook Inn casts its spell over passersby who marvel at its Old World charm, and trim, detailed exterior. Window boxes explode with colorful flowers, and balconies seem to wink a welcome, promising comfort, and maybe even a touch of enchantment.

Inside, illumination spills through skylights, bathing antiques and framed watercolors in a soft glow, and sets up a sparkle in shiny windowpanes. Plush carpet mutes the happy clamor of guests as they climb the stairs to rooms with fanciful names like The Emperor's New Clothes and The Little Mermaid. Drifts of potpourri and polished wood waft along the hallways, invisible, yet nearly palpable.

Through imagination and sheer love of their work, Chip and Carol Orton, proprietors of the Storybook Inn, have created a wonderland of conviviality within the walls of their Danish-style villa. They have blended open-hearted ebullience and European elegance into a winning combination that includes every aspect of the business, from the hearty breakfasts they serve, to the wine and cheese salons they host each afternoon.

Born to ranching and farming, a far cry from inn keeping, both Chip and Carol descend from a long line of Santa Ynez Valley residents. Chip's people, whom he describes as "renegade Mormons," came to California in 1847 from Salt Lake City, landing first in Santa Cruz, then working their way south. In 1909, Uncle John Orton settled in Buellton to farm beans and hay, and later, the family bought a spread below Sedgwick Ranch where they ran cattle.

Carol's grandfather emigrated from Denmark, and made his home in Solvang in 1911, at a time when gymnastics and folk dancing still ruled the local social life. With all the Larsens, Poulsens, and Nielsens in its branches, Carol's family tree reads like a who's who of founding members of the Valley's Danish community.

Chip and Carol worked the ranch until 1998, then sold it to move to eastern Idaho, but when they learned their granddaughter was seriously ill, they opted to stay in the area. Luckily for Solvang, and all those in search of a gracious hostelry, they agreed to tackle the inn business.

When asked about the transition from ranch life to inn keeping, Chip quips, "It's just like cattle, only people don't complain as much."

The only true bed and breakfast in Solvang, the Storybook Inn boasts nine cozy rooms, each named for one of Hans Christian Andersen's magical tales, and furnished accordingly. Painted lily pads float on the wall in Thumbelina, and a lush garden scene unfolds above the headboard in The Ugly Duckling.

A Victorian canopy shades the bed in Princess and the Pea, while the Swan's Nest, with its wicker fainting couch and snowy orchid blooming in the window, opens appropriately onto a lofty balcony. Antique furniture, some culled from shops, others handed down as family heirlooms, lend style and authenticity to each room.

Carol has taken the storybook theme a step further by scouring antique stores and yard sales for vintage publications of each tale, and placing the books in their respective rooms. Sojourners in The Emperor's New Clothes can peruse the classic tale of deception and herd mentality, while denizens of Thumbelina can re-live the harrowing adventures of the tiny Flower Queen.

Visitors also find a guest book/diary in each room, where many record their thoughts and experiences while staying at the Inn.

"These journals get you very emotional reading them," Chip confesses. "When you're in the inn business, you forget why we're here. If you start reading what's in them, it's so full of emotion: our first time away from our baby, our anniversary, things like that. The only bad review we got was this guy going on about how terrible the service was and how bad the food was. I felt awful 'til I looked at the date and saw it was April first, the guy was making a joke!"

The Ortons three daughters, son, and son-in-law contribute to the Inn's smooth operation, from cooking and answering phones, to managing staff and maintaining the website (www.storybooksolvang.com). Even Grandma Anna, Carol's mother, gets in on the action, sharing her stories with guests and baking her famous Danish apple cake for Sunday breakfasts.

"The family is accessible the whole time visitors are here," Chip explains. "We do the cooking, breakfasts mostly, but we will do a sit down dinner if someone requests it. We don't want to make it too fancy or regimented, we want it low key."

Of continuing delight to the Ortons, as well as their patrons, are the happy hours that commence every afternoon around four o'clock. Chip opens an impressive array of wines, mostly local, and sets out two dozen mis-matched glasses, along with platters of nuts, crackers, and exotic cheeses.

Guests plop into cushy sofas to sip, nibble, and converse about everything from history and literature, to cowboys and tycoons. Chip listens attentively, and when the time is right, launches into tales of Valley life, cattle punching, and wild rides with the Rancheros.

"We like to incorporate our Danish history, the cattlemen's aspect, and the wineries," he says. "Everybody wants to be a cowboy…[but] our main draw is wine country. If I sit down with someone for two minutes, I can figure out which winery they want. Different personalities go for different wineries."

Making their rounds as twilight falls, the Ortons check for foil-wrapped chocolates on the pillows, and thoughtfully flick on a light in each room to dispel the darkness, attentive to the comfort of their guests, and the quiet rules of enchantment.