Riverside's Historic Mission Inn Being Sold To Local Tribe

RIVERSIDE, CA — Riverside County's most iconic inn is being sold.

The landmark historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, which began as a small adobe boarding house in 1876 and today features 238 rooms, is being purchased by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation in Highland, it was announced Monday.

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The San Manuel Investment Authority, through its affiliated entities, said it has entered into an agreement to purchase the hotel property located at 3649 Mission Inn Avenue.

A purchase price was not disclosed, though the deal is expected to close as early as the end of May, officials said.

Gambling is not expected at the facility.

“The Mission Inn holds a special place in our hearts,” said Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena. “Generations of our family love the inn for its charming ambience and for the memories we’ve made there over the years. We recognize its historic, economic and cultural significance to Riverside and the region and would be delighted to include The Mission Inn in our non-gaming hospitality portfolio.”

For decades, Kelly Roberts, alongside her late husband Duane Roberts, served as stewards of the inn, transforming the property into a world-class destination.

Prior to the couple's mid-1990s purchase for a reported $15.6 million, the inn was slated for demolition and had been shuttered for years.

Now the Mission Inn is a AAA Four Diamond hotel, and its architectural integrity remains largely intact.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as stewards of The Mission Inn,” Kelly Roberts said in a released statement. “Duane and I poured our hearts into preserving its legacy while evolving it for future generations. I am incredibly proud of what we built together and deeply grateful to our team, the Riverside community, and every guest who has walked through its doors. I have great confidence that Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation will carry this legacy forward with the same care, respect, and vision.”

Following its humble beginnings in the latter part of the 19th century, the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa became a full-service destination in the early 1900s. Opened by Frank Miller, it expanded in 1903 with over 200 guest rooms and the addition of the Mission Wing, built in Mission-Revival style while incorporating architectural features from more than 20 different California missions.

Three more wings materialized as demand grew at the inn, including the Cloister, Spanish Wing and the Rotunda Wing, completed in 1931.

Miller filled the hotel with valuable items from across the globe, including artwork, furniture and religious relics.

Mission Inn still houses the oldest bell in Christendom, dating back to 1247.

Famous visitors to the inn include U.S. presidents, Hollywood celebrities and California state lawmakers.

The historic inn is the latest acquisition by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. It's portfolio includes Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, two Marriott Residence Inns in the Sacramento area, the Arrowhead Springs Hotel, the Bear Springs Hotel, The Draftsman in Charlottesville, and the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in San Bernardino County.