La Bonita Richwood promises a “tropical getaway” in a charming mountain town.
written by SUSAN JOHNSON
photographed by CECIL YBANEZ
Reviews for La Bonita Richwood on Airbnb are full of superlatives. Tim from Switzerland noticed a “real attention to detail wherever one looked.” Ramesh from Illinois called it “a unique oasis.” For Bobby of Manassas, Virginia, La Bonita is “a modern hidden gem that exudes elegance and highend vibes.”
Miami transplants Cecil Ybanez and David Ward opened La Bonita Richwood in December of 2020. Since then, it has become one of the most popular and highly rated vacation rentals in Nicholas County.
However beloved, La Bonita wasn’t originally meant to be an Airbnb. The couple bought the building following the flood of 2016, when Ward’s homeplace was destroyed. “We wanted to find a place where he and his seven siblings could gather when we came to town,” says Ybanez. A commercial building on Main Street fit the bill.
Ybanez has a degree in interior design, and through the couple’s world travels, he found inspiration for the apartment’s design. They gutted the three-bedroom apartment and punched out additional windows to flood the space with light. The tropical decor was as much a matter of function as taste. “We were living in Florida, so it was just easier to shop there for furnishings,” he recalls. “Plus, we wanted to do something unexpected—a ‘tropical getaway in the mountains.’”
The central design feature of La Bonita is a kitchen wall made of 8-inch ceramic tiles with bold tropical flora. “We both love to cook, Ybanez says, “so we wanted to create a chef’s kitchen with a space big enough for the whole family to gather.” A 15-foot island accomplished that goal. But Ward’s local ties were also important, so they brought in the very kitchen table he and his siblings sat around growing up. The apartment also features a druggist’s cabinet original to the building, which was Richwood’s first pharmacy. The previous owners left an enormous two-sided desk that was too heavy to remove, so the couple created a wifi workspace right in the middle of the apartment. When guests arrive, they are greeted by a sheet of paper in an antique typewriter welcoming them by name. Guests will also find a complimentary bottle of wine and some snacks. “It’s the little things,” Ybanez reminds us.
Besides the spacious open concept living area, La Bonita features two bedrooms with king beds. Both bedrooms have dedicated bathrooms with heated flooring, a renter-favorite feature.
In 2020, the two sold their home in Miami and bought a spacious old lodge in Richwood. Ward, an electrical engineer, continued to work as a sales executive for a power grid company. Ybanez worked from home and, after a year, realized a lifelong dream of opening his own art gallery under La Bonita. Since 2021, Bloomfield Richwood has bloomed into the most successful regional art gallery in the area.
The two businesses complement each other in various ways. Artists who have shows at Bloomfield get to stay free at La Bonita, and Ybanez gets a commission on every piece of art that is sold. The town gains, too: Other businesses on Main Street benefit from the traffic, and the townspeople get to enjoy comtemporary Appalachian art.
Two years ago, Ybanez and Ward found another way to use their property to advance the arts in Richwood. After seeing acclaimed cellist Ben Sollee in concert at Mountain Stage, the two invited him to stay at La Bonita on his way to perform in concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington. “It was an amazing experience,” Ybanez recalls. “To be able to expose Richwooders to that level of talent.” That experience led to more house concerts: performers like Smilo and the Ghost from Erie, Pennsylvania, and Blue Diggity, a bluegrass group out of Wheeling.
A scroll through the comments on La Bonita’s Airbnb site reveals another theme: how accommodating Ybanez and Ward are as hosts. They make it a practice to greet each guest when they check in. “We give them the Chamber of Commerce spiel,” Ybanez laughs. The guests love that they can step out on Main Street to find restaurants and shops and cozy pubs within walking distance. They also love the proximity to so many outdoor recreation opportunities.
For Ybanez and Ward, the experience has been enriching in so many ways. “We love meeting all the different people,” Ybanez says. “We now have many repeat customers.” Like Sammie from Alabama: “I love this Airbnb. I absolutely love Richwood and all that Cecil does for this community.”
Main Street, Richwood, @labonitarichwood on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SPRING 2025 ISSUE
Leave a Reply