The Cornerstone of Downtown Riverside
By Lynne Tucker
“It is the most unique hotel in America. It’s a monastery, a museum, a fine hotel, a home, a boardinghouse, a mission, an art gallery and an aviator’s shrine. It combines the best features of all of the above. If you are ever in any part of California, don’t miss the famous Mission Inn of Riverside.” – Will Rogers
Framed by its breathtaking Spanish Mission –style architecture, The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa welcomes you to a destination where rich history and classic elegance exist in perfect balance with contemporary luxury and comfort.
This iconic AAA Four Diamond award-winning hotel has remained faithful to the grand style and ambiance enjoyed by its first guests. Today’s Mission Inn continues the original splendor initiated by founder Frank Miller, thanks to the genuinely caring attention of Owner, Vice Chairman & COO Kelly Roberts and her husband, Owner Duane Roberts. Expanding from its humble 1876 origins to encapsulate an entire city block, the Mission Inn offers luxurious boutique accommodations and amenities, only a quick jaunt from Los Angeles and Orange County, among romantically enchanting, one-of-a-kind architecture including awe-inspiring archways and flying buttresses, secluded garden oases, and soaring domes and towers. With multiple upscale dining options, a modern fitness center, Tuscan-inspired, Conde Nast award-winning Kelly’s Spa, a lushly landscaped pool and Jacuzzi, historic museum, and opulent rooms that transport guests to California’s foregone eras, the AAA Four Diamond property provides a quintessentially Californian hospitality experience threaded with a rich history.
Whether you are seeking the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway, and inspirational setting for your wedding or business event, or an unforgettable family vacation destination, The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa invites you to become part of the legend today.
Mission Inn Hotel will kick off the holiday season on November 23, 2018 with their 26th Annual Festival of Lights celebration a free, six-week-long holiday extravaganza featuring one of the nation’s largest holiday light collections of its kind. Now in its 26th year, Festival of Lights is an annual gift to the community from property owners Duane and Kelly Roberts, who saved the historic hotel from destruction in 1992.
The beloved Southern California tradition recently named “Best Public Lights Display in the Nation” by USA Today creates a magical, Disneyland-like experience in the heart of Riverside and attracts more than 500,000 visitors from all over the world each year, commencing with the famous “Switch-On” Ceremony, a spectacular event in which the castle-like hotel is instantly illuminated with 5 million holiday lights followed by a full fireworks display.
Highlights of Festival of Lights include 200 animated figures including angels, elves and Dickens carolers; appearances by Santa Claus, the world’s largest man-made mistletoe, horse-drawn carriage rides, elf tuck-ins, freshly fallen snow, elaborately decorated Christmas trees; and delectable holiday confections at the famous Casey’s Cupcakes, among other festive offerings. It’s America’s Best public display.
For more Information, directions, the history of the magnificent hotel and the Festival of Lights visit www.missioninn.com
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