Mission Inn
 

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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

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.

Pictures - Part 1:



The Presidential Lounge (The Bar)


President Taft's chair. It was made specially for him when he visited in 1909.


The Spanish Patio:



The clock:


The St Francis Chapel. Richard and Pat Nixon were married here. (It's on the second floor, right above the kitchens and service areas!)


Me, Bill, my niece-in law, and the little one:

Pictures - Part 2:

The Cloister Wing, with the Presidential Suite on the top floor:


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:


A shot down into the Spanish Court from the top floor:


These rooms are on the top floor. The Bridal Suite is under the dome in the background.


Looking down the open air Rotunda:


A view into the Court of the Orient:


Orientaly towery chimney thingy:


I snuck a shot through the open door of one of the rooms:

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

Pictures - Part 3:

A cool antique in the 3rd floor (at least I think it was the 3rd floor) lounge:


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!)


Cool tree in the fore-court of the hotel:


An architectural model of the hotel in the Mission Inn Museum:


The dead are not quiet in Hill House.....


The old staff dormitory behind the hotel:


A face on the wall:


Bill is having a time-out: