La Quinta Resort & Club, the original desert hideaway, stands out as a storied escape that embodies the romance of classic California within an oasis primed for relaxation and renewal.
1930s
The end of an Era
1931
In April 1931, Walter H. Morgan dies, leaving behind his legacy and luxury resort. Attorney and La Quinta Hotel investor, B.J. Barder, takes ownership.
Capra’s Writing Paradise
1934
Movie director, Frank Capra, and co-writer Robert Riskin pen ‘It Happened One Night’ at the hotel. Thereafter, Capra returned frequently to his ‘Shangri-La for scriptwriting’.
The Perfect Serve
1937
The hotel adds six tennis courts and a pro shop. The first pro tennis coach is Fred Renker, training legends including Gary Cooper, Lana Turner and Jane Wyman.
La Quinta Resort & Club: Then and Now
