Once referred to by the Cahuilla Indians as the Land of the Eternal Sun, the area we now know as La Quinta is rich in California history. With grace, charm and dignity, the legendary La Quinta Resort & Club has reigned over the Coachella Valley as celebrities, society leaders, the rich and famous and not so famous, sought refuge from the hustle and bustle of the world in the quiet of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

In 1926, Walter H. Morgan, the youngest son of a wealthy San Francisco businessman, decided to build a small, secluded retreat in the north end of what was then known as Marshall Cove. Morgan, with the help of C.N. Sinclair of Indio, constructed six adobe cottages, an office, and a lobby and dining facility. Mr. Morgan had a private opening of the resort to a group of his elite friends in December 1926, however the hotel’s grand opening to the public was in February 1927. A total investment between $150,000 and $200,000 was spent to build the hotel. Morgan’s goal was to lure Hollywood’s rich and famous to a hideaway where they could attend social functions, or simply relax and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of their own little casita.

The resort, with its original 20 casitas, was the site of the Coachella Valley’s first golf course. At the time, the green fee at the course was $1. Soon, Hollywood’s brightest stars became regular patrons. Frank Capra came to the hotel to write a movie script and the result, It Happened One Night, became such a success, Capra declared the spot his good luck charm and returned to the same casita to write other scripts. Other regulars at the resort included Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn, Eddie Cantor, Greta Garbo and Shirley Temple. An international clientele of political dignitaries, business leaders and sports heroes often escaped to La Quinta for recreation and relaxation amid an atmosphere of exclusivity and privacy.

The only hotel to have an incorporated city named after it, the 640-casita La Quinta Resort & Club has preserved the charm and serene ambiance of its glorious past while offering guests the finest in resort amenities and services, including five resort golf courses, one of the nation’s top tennis clubs, a full-service spa and fitness center, exclusive dining and resort shopping.

Enjoy your time at your Time & Place luxury vacation home in La Quinta!