La Quinta Resort & Club- La Quinta, CA

La Quinta Resort & Club may just be my absolute favorite resort, bar none. Between its stunning location at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, its many golf courses, seemingly limitless pools, and historic casitas, it’s pretty hard to beat. The beautifully manicured grounds maintain a wonderful retro vibe, while the rooms are nicely updated. In the winter, there are few better escapes.

Dating back almost a century, the resort was the brainchild of San Francisco businessman Walter H. Morgan. He dreamed of opening a verdant, tranquil retreat, catering to the famous and well-heeled of the day. In the early 1920s, he purchased 1400 acres from the Cahuilla Indians, in the area they called The Land of the Sun, now known as La Quinta. He immediately hired renowned architect Gordon Kaufman, who was known for designing in the Mediterranean Revival Style. From 100,000 hand formed adobe bricks, and 60,000 locally fired roof tiles, his resort in the desert was born.

Opening on December 29th, 1926, the property boasted 20 individual guest casitas, built in two concentric rings around an interior courtyard, an open air dining room, and a nine hole golf course. It was the first course in the area, and greens fees were $1 a day. This is shocking, considering what they are today. The first season was wildly popular, and soon word got around Hollywood about Morgan’s idyllic retreat in the desert. By the second season, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and Shirley Temple were escaping to the relative seclusion of the resort.

So taken by the beauty of the area, Morgan himself lived in a lovely 1921 Kaufman designed Spanish Colonial Revival on the property. Following Morgan’s death in 1931, the house was converted to office space, however, many of the home’s original finishes remain. Throughout the depression, the resort flourished, thanks to its famous clientele, who managed to keep their well paying jobs.

Under new ownership, the resort continued to thrive. Six tennis courts were added, as well as a tennis pro, who gave lessons to Gary Cooper, Lana Turner, and Jane Wyman. Movie director Frank Capra was a regular during this time, first writing the screenplay for It Happened One Night at the resort in 1934, then returning to pen Lost Horizon in 1937. Indeed, he considered La Quinta his “Shangri-La for Screenwriting.” However, when it came to filming, he chose the stunning Ojai Valley Inn to represent his Shangri-La on the Silver Screen. I really can’t blame him.

Sadly, the good life at La Quinta came to a screeching halt following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Gas and tire rationing lead to the closure of the resort in the spring of 1942. It remained closed for the duration of the war. The casitas were locked, the pool was drained, and the property was requisitioned by the United States Army. Fortunately, the grand resort reopened under new ownership in 1945. Restored to its pre-war glamour by John Balaban, and boasting a new private airstrip, the stars soon returned to the desert. In 1953, Ginger Rogers famously married Jacques Bergerac in front of the resort waterfall.

During the next two decades, golf exploded at the resort. In response to the game’s soaring mid-century popularity, La Quinta Country Club course was built, a favorite of President Eisenhower. It was here the Bob Hope Classic was born. In 1980, two 18-hole championship golf courses, Resort Mountain and Resort Dunes debuted, to much fanfare. Located behind the resort, at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, these courses are still amazing. Visually stunning and the epitome of desert golf, these course should not be missed.

In 1986, PGA West opened a short shuttle ride from the resort, including Pete Dye’s TPC Stadium course, followed by Jack Nicklaus’ Tournament course, now home to the CareerBuilder Challenge. If you want to feel bad about your golf game, play these courses. Although they are beyond beautiful, they are also impossible. Pete Diabolical has earned his name here. You should absolutely play these courses, just don’t expect too much- except for stunning scenery and excellent conditions.

Today, the resort may be much larger, but it’s still an oasis of tranquility. The original casitas remain, but today, they are surrounded by a small city of townhouses, villas, and tennis courts. Virtually every building has its own pool, however the main pool with the bar is not to be missed. After all, it’s hard to beat lazily lounging with an overpriced pina colada.

Several of the older, original spaces remain at the resort, but have been updated. The lobby and adjacent sitting room still reflect the past, although not everyone is happy with their recent redo. The Plaza is a fabulous place to have a drink before dinner, centrally located to most of the resort’s restaurants.

There are a wide variety of room types available, unless you wait until the last minute. Then, you will probably be left with the Spa Villas. They are fine, but if given the option, go for a casita. We shared our villa building with a crying baby, and family that left dirty diapers in the shared stairwell for the maid to deal with. Which is just wrong, and disgusting. The room itself is spacious, with a sitting area, fireplace and a fabulous patio. If you are feeling fancy, get the arched Capra Suite.

Much like the Wigwam and the Arizona Biltmore, La Quinta is a fabulous example of a relaxing resort from an earlier era, that works equally well today. For those that enjoy the desert, La Quinta is a wonderland. A respite from real life and cold weather, you will absolutely not want to leave.