Mission Inn

[JWBear]

Bill and I drove out to Riverside to the Mission Inn today. (Bill has never seen it, and I haven't been there in at least 12 years.) My Niece-In-Law and my 18 month old grand nephew met us there for lunch.

We weren't able to get on any tours, but we had fun exploring the maze of hallways, terraces, and courts. Bill commented that it looked like what a hotel built by Sarah Winchester would look like.

I think I've almost got him talked in to spending a night or two there sometime...

I took lots of pictures, and I'll post some if anyone wants to see them.

[GusGus]

Kevin and I considered having our wedding and reception there. The chapel was a bit small for what we were planning at the time, tho'. Very pretty site!!

[Not Afraid]

One of my clients has many pieces of furniture that was originally at the Mission Inn. It apparently fell into disrepair at some point in it's history and sold a bunch of their Mission Revival pieces and my client's grandfather picked them up for a song. Stunning pieces.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Not really into disrepair, more a genteel scruffiness. I used to know people who lived there. Our high school madrigal group would go to the Mission Inn every Christmas to sing in the rotunda. I always liked exploring the place, the eccentric who built it would bring back a souvenir from some part of the world he had just visited, and build a wing around it. If it wasn't such a heinous drive, I'd suggest a swanking. We could all take turns sitting in President Taft's chair.

[Promo-Man]

I have fond memories of a day spent there exploring about with a special lady many years ago

[MouseWife]

I have never been but I would love to go. To stay the night there? Oh, really, is there a need for arm twisting???

I think it is beautiful during the holidays {I've seen so many photos and it has also been on the Travel Channel}.

I would love to see your photos!!! :snap:

Promo-Man~ sounds lovely.

[JWBear]

Pictures - Part 1:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0213.jpg

The Presidential Lounge (The Bar)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0218.jpg

President Taft's chair. It was made specially for him when he visited in 1909.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0220.jpg

The Spanish Patio:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0226.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0232.jpg

The clock:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0236.jpg

The St Francis Chapel. Richard and Pat Nixon were married here. (It's on the second floor, right above the kitchens and service areas!)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0237.jpg

Me, Bill, my niece-in law, and the little one:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0243.jpg

[JWBear]

Pictures - Part 2:

The Cloister Wing, with the Presidential Suite on the top floor:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0250.jpg

The Spanish Wing. The top floor is called "Writer's Row". All the rooms up there are named for writers who stayed in the hotel:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0252.jpg

A shot down into the Spanish Court from the top floor:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0263.jpg

These rooms are on the top floor. The Bridal Suite is under the dome in the background.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0265.jpg

Looking down the open air Rotunda:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0266.jpg

A view into the Court of the Orient:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0268.jpg

Orientaly towery chimney thingy:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0269.jpg

I snuck a shot through the open door of one of the rooms:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0275.jpg

[GusGus]

is it just me, or would the inn make a great LoT commune!!!

[JWBear]

Pictures - Part 3:

A cool antique in the 3rd floor (at least I think it was the 3rd floor) lounge:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0276.jpg

This is said to be the "Oldest Bell in Christiandom". It was cast in 1247. (The guy who built the hotel collected antique bells. He had over 800!)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0282.jpg

Cool tree in the fore-court of the hotel:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0284.jpg

An architectural model of the hotel in the Mission Inn Museum:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0287.jpg

The dead are not quiet in Hill House.....
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0294.jpg

The old staff dormitory behind the hotel:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0295.jpg

A face on the wall:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0301.jpg

Bill is having a time-out:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Mission%20Inn/IMG_0304.jpg

[Kevy Baby]

Cool pix. I don't know if you experienced it, but I remember the wonderfully peacefully energy about the place.

Orientaly towery chimney thingy:Whoa: go easy on the tech talk :)

[JWBear]

Yes. It has a very peaceful feeling to it.

[katiesue]

Ok now definately on my list of places to check out.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Thanks for the lovely pictures!

[Deebs]

Wow, that's beautiful. I wanna go there now.

Oh, and visible mojo since I was denied when I tried to give you more. Thank you for sharing the lovely photos!