West County’s Applewood Inn sold

Monday, November 30, 2009, 2:18 pm

By D. Ashley Furness, Business Journal Staff Reporter

Former international manufacturing company executive to run hotel

GUERNEVILLE — After several years on the market, a former successful manufacturing entrepreneur purchased the 19-room Applewood Inn, according to an announcement today.

Innkeepers Jim Caron and Darryl Notter are retiring from the hotel after 25 years at the helm and Ecuadorean native Carlos Pippa and his girlfriend Sylvia Ranyak assumed the reins earlier this month. He officially signed the deed Nov. 24.

In an interview last week, the 61-year-old said he plans to make a few cosmetic updates to rooms and the pool and spa area, but the name and lay-out will remain the same. He is also planning to install a large 80 to 100 kilowatt solar system on the property.

“Basically, I was retired after I sold my import business and I was bored and wanted to do something new,” he said.

“It was love at first sight when I saw the inn. I have traveled throughout the United States and the world due to business, and this is the one area I like the most. It reminds me so much of Italy, where much of my family is from.”

Mr. Pippa was born in Ecuador to an Italian father and French mother and moved to the U.S. in 1964. Previously, he founded and led a company called Global Finishing Solutions, which manufactured paint-spray booths for cars. He also owned a gourmet food retail business in Plano, Texas called World Delicacies.

Mr. Pippa lives on the property and will act as operating manager. The hotel will keep the same staff and chef, but he is adding regular lunch hours in addition to dinner. Ms. Ranyak is a commercial and residential interior designer.

Mr. Caron and Mr. Notter purchased the hotel, then called The Estate, in September of 1985, adding nine rooms to the site overtime. They added the “Piccola Casa” in 1994 and the new restaurant building and “Gate House” in 1999.