India, July 25 -- The opening of a gay-owned boutique hotel in downtown Napa, California, along with the expansion of local Pride initiatives, is transforming the hallowed wine region into an LGBTQ+ destination in its own right.

The Charles Napa Valley, an intimate eight-room stay, opened its doors in February in a historic turn-of-the-century Victorian mansion. Designed by Charles Gruwell, whose globe-spanning work includes Bali's Puri Wulandari Resort to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, the hotel had its grand celebration with Pride flags billowing off the front porch and a performance by drag artist Katya Smirnoff-Skyy.

"We want to be known for being an LGBTQ+-friendly hotel, but we don't want to alienate the mainstream traveler eith...