The Lobby & Santa Rosa Room — “A Toast to Tradition”

Step into the Santa Rosa Room, a space that has welcomed guests since the resort’s earliest days. Built during Prohibition, this parlor was designed as a warm and elegant gathering place where visitors could relax by the fire. Guests would order fresh-squeezed orange juice and discreetly add a splash from their silver flasks—creating a secret cocktail known as “The Orange Blossom.” The fireplaces that framed those early evenings still glow today, offering the same comfort and charm nearly a century later.

Throughout the lobby, details of the resort’s storied past come to life. Look for the Diego Rivera sketches, subtle reminders of La Quinta’s connection to art and culture. Above the fireplace hangs the resort’s original entry gate, lovingly preserved as a symbol of welcome. From whispered conversations in the 1920s to joyful celebrations today, this room remains the heart of La Quinta’s timeless hospitality.

Did you know?

• The Santa Rosa Room was the resort’s first and only guest lounge in the 1920s.

• The “Orange Blossom” cocktail was born here during Prohibition.

• The original iron gate that once marked the resort’s entrance now hangs above the lobby fireplace.

Continue to the next stop → Morgan’s in the Desert