By TR Robertson
Thousands of spectators and guests are once again filling the sidewalks around the Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside as well as standing in long lines to enter the Inn and view the holiday decorations. Current owners, Kelly and Duane Roberts, began this incredible tradition in 1992 and now thousands of spectator’s flock to the Inn in December until January 6th, to view the colorful Christmas decorations, voted Best Public Lights Display by USA Today. My family returned to the Mission Inn recently for my birthday to see the lights and decorations once again and to share them with my 3-year-old granddaughter.
History of the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa
The Mission Inn began as a quaint adobe building in 1876, built by Christopher Columbus Miller. He called the small hotel The Glenwood Cottage. Adding some additional rooms, The Glenwood would become a full-service hotel in the early 1900’s. Frank Miller, son of Christopher Miller, would purchase the hotel from his father, change the name to Glenwood Mission Inn and begin expansion in 1903. Among the many features added would be the Mission Wing rooms, bringing the total rooms offered to two hundred guest rooms.
Miller followed the Mission-Revival style and would feature architectural designs from more than 20 California missions. The Cloister, Spanish Wing and Rotunda Wings were added and completed in 1931. Unique cast iron bells from the world were added as well as other unique art pieces, antique clocks, and stained-glass panels. Two of the eight hundred bells that stand out are the 3,500 lb. Nanjing Bell featured at the front of the Mission Inn walkway and the bell is said to be the oldest bell in Christendom still in existence, dated at appearing in 1247, displayed just across from the Reception Desk.
Frank Millers wife, Isabella (Bella) is said to have been the inspiration for the collection of bells at the hotel. Frank passed away in 1935, but the family remained in control of the hotel until the mid-1950’s. A series of owners existed until the late 1980’s when spouses, Duane and Kelly Roberts, saved the hotel from demolition. Together they launched a 7-year, $55 million dollar renovation with Kelly as the Vice Chair and COO, developing the hotel into a luxury hotel, complete with the award-winning Tuscan inspired Kelly’s Spa & Boutique and several award winning and stylish restaurants.
Famous Guests
The Presidents
One fun part of the Mission Inn Hotel to visit is the Presidential Lounge where you can partake in specially designed cocktails and appetizers. It is called the Presidential Lounge because 10 U.S. Presidents have stayed at the Mission Inn. U.S. Presidents Taft, McKinley, Hoover, Kennedy, Reagan, G.W. Bush, Teddy Roosevelt, Nixon, Harrison, and Ford have all stayed and eaten at the hotel. Presidents Nixon and Reagan had their honeymoons at the Mission Inn. The AAA Four Star Restaurant Duane’s, famous for their steaks and seafood, features a large 8 ft. x 6 ft. painting of Teddy Roosevelt and the Roughriders at the Battle of San Juan, hanging on the backwall, visible as you enter the restaurant. All the Presidents who have stayed at the hotel have portraits hanging on the Wall of the Presidents outside of the Presidential Lounge and inside the Lounge are photos of the Presidents both at the hotel and at other events. One enjoyable activity to take part in is to order a drink, in the Presidential Lounge, named after seven of the Presidents. I enjoyed a Teddy Roosevelt Martini and son Chris had the J.F.K. Cosmopolitan. Just outside of the Wall of Portraits of the Presidents is a chair used by President Taft, appropriately called Pres. Taft Chair.
Other Famous Guests
An array of other notable guests from all occupations have stayed at the Mission Inn Hotel. Naming a few of the recognizable personalities who have visited the hotel over the years includes Booker T. Washington, Emilia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, John Muir, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, W.C. Fields, Raquel Welch, Will Rogers, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Tom Hanks, Barbara Streisand and James Brolin, Henry Ford, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard and Arnold Schwarzenegger to name a few. In the Presidential Lounge there are also a few specialty drinks named after some of these personalities, such as the Queen of the Air for Emilia Earhart, Horse’s Neck for Will Rogers, and the Original Champagne Cocktail for Bette Davis. Also located in the hotel is the famous Fliers Wall where photos of 151 fliers or groups of fliers are hung representing notable aviators. The hotel has also been used as a backdrop for a number of movies over the years; like the 1997 “Man in the Iron Mask”.
The Restaurants
Along with the Presidential Lounge, the hotel features a number of unique and award-winning restaurants. The standout among the restaurants is Duane’s, a AAA Four Star restaurant. Other restaurants and bars include the California Lounge specializing in hand-crafted cocktails, Las Campanas Tequila Bar where over 100 different tequilas are offered, Las Campanas Mexican Cuisine and Cantina featuring authentic Mexican cuisine, the Mission Inn Restaurant located in the beautiful Spanish Patio and Casey’s Cupcakes with delicious treats. Bella Trattoria Italian Bistro is temporarily closed. It is highly recommended that anyone wishing to eat at one of the featured restaurants should make early reservations prior to arriving at the hotel. During holiday seasons restaurant reservations quickly fill up.
Special Features
The 239 guest rooms include 9 designed Presidential suites, some going for $1,600+ a night. As guests wander the hotel, you can take in the amazing array of distinctive features, such as the Mission Inn Clock Tower with life sized figures that move on the hour. Within the hotel complex is St. Francis of Assisi Wedding Chapel for weddings and other engagements, featuring four large stained-glass windows and 2 Tiffany mosaics. Nearby is St. Cecilia Chapel with a marriage alter which dates to 1740, located near the Atrio Courtyard. Other special rooms, used for wedding receptions and a variety of other activities include the Court of the Orient & Ho-O-Kan Room, the Grand Parisian Ballroom, the Spanish Art Gallery, The Galleria, the Santa Barbara Room, and the Renaissance Salon. Each of the rooms is unique with beautiful interiors, historic furniture and artwork and unique features.
Kelly’s Spa and Boutique has been listed in the Top 50 Hotel Spas in the U.S., selected by Conde Nest Travelers. The Mission Inn Museum, accessible just outside of the hotel, offers a glimpse into the past and shows the development of the hotel over the years as well as a number of historical artifacts from the past.
The Mission Inn Hotel is a National Historic Landmark, a California Historic Landmark, and a Riverside City Historic Landmark. The web site for the Mission Inn Hotel is www.missioninn.com and features exclusive offers at various times. The hotel is located at 3649 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside. The phone number is 951-784-0300.
A trip to the Mission Inn Hotel during the Christmas holiday season offers another unique opportunity to show the family specially designed decorations and displays and is a nice additional to holiday traditions for your family. Also do not forget the amazing holiday light display now being staged at San Diego’s Hotel Del Coronado. Lots to see in Southern California.
Photos by TR Robertson and from the Mission Inn Website
