La Quinta Resort & Club Gets A Multi-Million Dollar Restoration
Opened in 1926, the 45-acre Spanish-inspired La Quinta Resort & Club became famous as a hideout from paparazzi for Hollywood legends Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Capra, and Clark Gable.
The iconic resort recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, resulting in a fresh modern design that reflects the property's storied history and spectacular Santa Rosa Mountain setting.
All guest casitas have been upgraded, and the villas, main lobby, public spaces, and pool areas all underwent redesigns. Additionally, the lush landscaping has been enhanced with additional roses, citrus trees, and bougainvilleas.
Los Angeles-based firm Smith and Firestone drew inspiration from the resort's colorful desert environment for the newly designed guestrooms and suites. Set in an earthern palatte of terracotta, ivory, and chocolate, guest rooms feature custom tile work and wrought-iron elements, new furniture and carpets, and two-toned blocked drapes. Citrus-hued pillows and throws adorn wingback-style headboards and Victorian chairs. New amenities include big flat-screen televisions, mini fridges, Keurig coffee makers, and upgraded fireplaces.
Popular Starlight casitas now house new patio fire features and furniture, and suites are surrounded by updated landscaping, new furniture, and renovated decks around private pools and spas. All pool areas have fresh new decking, contemporary shade structures, and water temperature regulators.
La Quinta features 620 casitas and suites and 98 villas, a 23,000-square-foot spa, 41 swimming pools, 53 hot spas, and 23 tennis courts. The resort's flagship hacienda-style restaurant, Morgan's in the Desert, is named after Walter H. Morgan, a California businessman who founded the property in 1926. Morgan's houses the original arched wood ceiling and huge fireplace. The space is divided into a large U-shaped bar offering live music and small plates, an outdoor patio area, and a large main dining room.
Morgan's offers a variety of vintage cocktails, including a rosemary salty dog (gin, grapefruit juice, and fresh rosemary) and the Crimson Reaper (Death's Door gin, cherry liqueur, and lemon juice), as well as small plates like ahi tuna tartare, oysters, and roasted beet salad. Main courses are focused on local ingredients and include porcini-crusted fillet with grilled mushrooms, pan-roasted duck breast with apple and shallot salad, and Hawaiian red salt-crusted mahi mahi.
The Adobe Grill is the resort's Mexican restaurant, featuring a large outdoor patio, guacamole made tableside, an indoor double-sided fireplace, and award winning tamales and margaritas. Below the Grill is Twenty6, the resort's art deco-inspired American bistro. Guests can indulge in Bacon'd Bloody Marys for breakfast and green eggs and ham pizza with house-made sauces, including ketchup and steak sauce.