Terra Cotta Inn is nudging Palm Springs back to "hip"

Public Record, The, Aug 20, 1999

PALM SPRINGS - As the 20th Century comes to a close, Palm Springs' casual atmosphere and blaze of modernist architecture have made it "hip" again. The town that was a famous retreat for celebrities, royalty, politicians, artists and millionaires in the early 1930s to 1960s is being rediscovered.

And for the guests relaxing by the pool at The Terra Cotta Inn, a clothing-optional resort and spa, this historic inn provides a pampering experience and re-creation of the good life that has made Palm Springs so famous.

A private, 17-room. hideaway designed by modernist architect Albert Frey in 1960, The Terra Cotta Inn is nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood five minutes from downtown Palm Springs. In years past, it was a celebrity retreat named the Monkey Tree, and was a favorite of such Hollywood stars as Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball and Spencer Tracy.

In 1995, husband and wife Mary Clare and Tom Mulliall bought the property and renamed it The Terra Cotta Inn. In what the Mulhalls call "a wonderful coincidence," Albert Frey, who lived in Palm Springs until his death in 1998, saw a story in the local newspaper about the new clothing optional hotel. "He came to visit," says Tom, "and he was a charming gentleman. He told us that he and his family used to go nude sunbathing at Ile de Levant in France when he was small. He was delighted with what we were doing and wished us well.

Frey, who was born in Switzerland, was a contemporary of architects Le Corbusier and Lloyd Wright. He came to Palm Springs in the early 1930s and was responsible for many of the town's distinctive buildings including City Hall, the Tramway Station and hundreds of homes and business buildings. In a letter to Le Corbusier in 1936, he could have been writing about the city today. "I have the opportunity to practice in the exclusive location of Palm Springs, which extends into the desert, at the foot of a mountain range, not far from Los Angeles. A winter resort 'par excellence' for the elite in business, industry and the intellect, it provides the rare pleasure of combining a magnificent natural environment with being a center for interesting and varied activities. The sun, the pure air and the simple forms of the desert create perfect conditions for architecture.

Today, the guests at The Terra Cotta Inn say they feel like the movie star must have felt back in the 50s, completely relaxed, without a care in the world and lucky enough to be in the middle of the most sought-after vacation experience in years. "Everyone gets absolute pampering," says Mary Clare Mulhall. "We have a number of international visitors as well as many people who work in the entertainment industry in Hollywood. Of course, because Tom and I are from Chicago, we also receive many guests who come from the Midwest and the East Coast." Travelers who have previously vacationed in the Caribbean in particular enjoy the experience The Terra Cotta Inn provides, as sunbathing "au natural" is a common recreation choice in the islands.

In fact, says Mulhall, more than half of the guests book their return trips before they leave Palm Springs, and more than 75% of the guests on any given day are repeat visitors. "We definitely cater to couples," says Mulhall. "We are a place to come for a very special experience. Guests tell us they love our extra touches such as al fresco breakfasts, mist cooled patios and poolside massages." And, because The Terra Cotta Inn in just five minutes from downtown Palm Springs, guests can take advantage of all that Palm Springs has to offer, from world-class shopping and dining to glitzy new casinos, famous golf courses and hiking or horseback riding in the surrounding mountains.

"Our goal is always the same," says Mary Clare. "We want to make our guests feel completely at home, and to make their stay here serene, luxurious and affordable."

The Inn is located at 2388 E. Racquet Club Road, Palm Springs.