PRESIDENTIAL SUITE TOUR at RIVERSIDE'S MISSION INN

[@richardmcleod1930]

I lived at the Mission from 1981 until 1985 when the Hotel was closed down for restoration and had to move out. The apartments had small kitchenette's in each one. The size varied from one room to possibly several. All of the apartments were taken and returned back to Hotel rooms. My rent was $240.00 a month including all utilities. I think the most expensive apartments were about 340.00 a month, all utilities included and a discount for residents in the one Restaurant (called at that time the Spanish Dining Room which is still as it was today including the open Courtyard area)) in the Hotel at the time. Many interesting people lived there at the time including Rhury Miller, a relative of the Inn's founder, Frank Miller. I lived in three different apartments while living there as when a more desirable apartment became available, I had the choice of choosing that apartment. It was indeed a special time and at a price that would hardly cover one night's stay at the Hotel today.

[@FreddySherman]

Wow, that is fascinating. Were they dorm rooms? Was is still a hotel at that time or just apartments? Was it fancy or run down? Did they rent out the very large units too?

[@richardmcleod1930]

@@FreddySherman No they were apartments available to anyone applying for one if and apartment became available. The City of Riverside owned the Mission Inn at the time. I would guess in saying probably 30 to 40% of the Hotel had been converted to apartments. The remainder were continued to be used as Hotel rooms. The last apartment I had was on the second floor directly above the Presidential Suite. I think the room number was 264, but I am sure that has been changed. The apartment consisted of two large rooms with a fireplace and had a connecting hallway with an entrance to a bathroom. In years past, rooms shared bathrooms and originally the final apartment I had there had been two Hotel rooms. The room with the large fireplace in it also had a kitchenette and a balcony overlooking the Olympic size swimming pool which was taken out during the restoration.. The kitchenette had an apartment size stove and refrigerator with a small sink area. French doors would close to hide the kitchen area if you so desired. The apartment was cooled with a window unit at the time. The door into the apartment was original, and had a screen and the ability to open the top portion of the door for ventilation in days when air conditioning was not available. New standard Hotel doors replaced those in the restoration. It was indeed a special time and although the building needed work, it somehow had more charm to it then than is the case now. It has too much of a Sheraton look to it when originally the building was funished with Arts and Crafts styled furniture and lighting fixtures. There were originally no crystal chandeliers which sadly is the case today. The older Arts and Crafts lighting fixtures were replaced with what I would call a "Lamps Plus" Special! I could go on and on, but will stop now.

[@richardmcleod1930]

The rooms initially were much simpler and especially the style of the furniture. The many postcards available clearly show how the Hotel once looked. The rooms were to be somewhat on the order of a Monks room in a Monastery, hence the reason many people feel the Hotel was once a Monastery or a Catholic Mission. You can see examples of what the original furniture looked like today in the Museum also located in the Hotel. After the close of the Hotel for a restoration, there was an Auction of its' contents held. Luckily I was able to get one of the original night stand lamps and a cast iron lamp that could have been used outside or possibly somewhere in the building. Some of the items I was able to get at the Auction I later donated back to the Museum at the Hotel. I was able to get a large carved wooden Dragon's head which I feel sure was once in the Lea Lea Room which now and then housed the large Buddha. I donated that item and others back to the Hotel Museum. The center and front two wings of the building were apartments and some of the back apartments were also used, although on occasion without the kitchenette. I know a friend rented out the tower room of the San Gabriel tower which is on the top floor near the Alhambra Suite near the room you occupied. To my knowledge that was the only apartment without a kitchenette. There was none of the technology we know today in the building. The front lobby sign behind the desk had the little boxes for each rooms key (common to all older Hotels) and also any mail a resident might receive. Sady, that was removed when the Hotel was restored and now they just use computers and no actual keys for the rooms. The building needed work, but I am afraid they went a little too far in the later restoration work that was done.

[@FreddySherman]

@@richardmcleod1930 Very cool. Was it operating as a hotel and as an apartment building at the same time? Any ghost stories or odd experiences? I agree the renovation went a bit too far but it's a tough property because there's a limit to what you can charge for rooms. That means there's a limit to how much they (or anyone) would spend on the work, you could never recover your money.

[@richardmcleod1930]

@@FreddySherman Yes, the Hotel operated both as a Hotel with individual apartments available. I remember getting my mail at the front desk (as everyone living there did) as behind the "sign in" dest in the main lobby there was a large open boxed area on the wall which had been in the Hotel since the early years used for keys and mail. That was taken down during the restoration. I could be getting my mail as Hotel guests signed in at the same time. I miss the large Olympic size swimming pool that was taken out during the renovation and replaced with a smaller pool, basically just deep enough to say you got into the water. The (believe it was 1984) Olympic Swimming Team used the pool for their practice sessions during the Olympics that year in Los Angeles. The larger swimming pool was not heated but that did not stop some of the residents from swimming in the pool during the winter months. I seem to remember they called themselves the "Polar Bear Club". There were many parties held there formally and by the residents also. On the weekends after many parties the previous night going from apartment to apartment, the residents would have their Bloody Mary's and sit in the sun beside the original pool the next morning. The Hotel was truly a great place in which to live. It was such a different time as security was minimal, there were no cameras watching anyone while residents and Hotel guests were free to roam about the building any hour of the day. I didn't see or hear any Ghosts or apparitions while living there for 5 years.

[@roselewis660]

My dad's an architect, he had a design firm, it was suite 407, Allice Miller's suite at the end before the Spanish patio. He was there from the mid 70s until 1981. LPL and Assoc., he also aquired a framing shop which he made into an art gallery called David's Gallery..on the ground level outside. I spent all my summers there, working in the gallery, running to get blueprints and exploring. I even found a little door in back of the gallery, and discovered it was an entry to the catacombs. I went in a ways, it's fascinated me every since.

[@FreddySherman]

Wow!!!!!! His office was in the hotel? Was it like an apartment building / office building at that time? Was it nice or run down? Please tell me about the catacombs, I had never heard of that. Thanks for watching and please subscribe!

[@roselewis660]

@@FreddySherman Yes, suote 407, is now just the lobby part of my dads old office, the small door on the right, use to be three steps down into another huge office with another room where my step moms office was, she was an interior designer, my dad's an architect. His office was on the other side of the main room, behind a now locked door, with the bathroom, which was very outdated plumbing back in the 70's. In 1978, my dad aquired a framing shop on the ground level, and he turned it into an art gallery called David's Gallery. I spent my summers almost every day with my dad at the Mission, so he put me to work in the gallery, and taking dictation, running his drawings to have blueprints made, and just explore all day! I found all the hidden spots, a little door at the back of the gallery, led several steps down and into the catacombs! I didn't know at the time, the history I was seeing, or I probably would've been filming it. I wasn't sure what it was, but it was definitely worth exploring. The house that I lived at was a historic home as well, 4800 Somerset Dr, our backyard was the Victoria golf course....and I wasn't scared because doors would fly open and slam alot. There were 13 doors to check everytime we left to set the alarms. Beautiful home! My dad put a koi pond in back, and the yard was a tropical paradise. Bougainvillea grew up three levels there was a little bamboo forest surrounding another pond by the house. My dad's got exquisite taste, the house was full of artifacts just like the Mission in many ways. Salvador Dali originals, ancient pieces of shrouds in sealed frames hanging. He wrote an article in Architectural Digest in the late 70s, his design firm was called LPL and Associates. I sang in the Rotunda in 1981 with Riverside Poly Chamber Singers, so that place holds my heart forever! I saw Harold Robbins "The Pirate" filmed on the Patio in front of my dads suite 407, from the little balcony in the loft that overlooks downtown Riverside and Mt Rubidoux beyond that! It wasn't as grand as it is now though, I'm so thankful for all the work that they put into it, that place is sacred ground in my mind. The spiritual artifacts, and the spirits that have been in that place left a residual energy that you can feel, I know that. It's hallowed ground, no doubt!

[@FreddySherman]

@@roselewis660 Very cool, amazing to read about the history of the hotel as it relates to your family! Thank you, I will be sure to look for some of those things when I visit again.

[@DonnySpielberg]

My great-grandfather, Guy Sidney Garner, was good friends with Frank Miller, so he was always at the Mission Inn, it's sort of a "rite of passage" in my family. It's also where we celebrated my father's life back in April 💕

[@FreddySherman]

I agree. It's a very special place and I really enjoyed visiting. Thanks for watching and please subscribe.

[@CathyElizondoArt]

Luxury Fred!! After watching you for 2 years you finally made it to my home of Riverside!!! Glad you got to experience our little hidden treasure 💕❤️

[@FreddySherman]

Haha, thank you very much. This was actually from a visit a few years ago, I just never edited the video. I did post a brief video about the architecture after my visit. I filmed the beautiful chapel with the TIffany windows and will be posting that next week. I had a great time and look forward to returning!!!

[@CathyElizondoArt]

Luxury Fred come visit at Christmas like someone mentioned!! It’s beautiful!!

[@FreddySherman]

Festival of Lights!

[@CathyElizondoArt]

Luxury Fred Yes!

[@CocoandtheMuse]

TattyRee I just finished a video at the Mission Inn and this video popped up. My name is Tiffany Brooks and I am the resident artist here at the Mission Inn. All the frescoes and murals I have done here over 25 years.. we are so lucky to have this place aren’t we? I just wanted to say hello to another Riversider! 🥰

[@coolabrar10]

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out the Mission Inn during Christmas time!

[@FreddySherman]

Yes, the Festival of Lights is supposed to be amazing, I hope to visit and see it sometime.

[@coolabrar10]

@@FreddySherman Indeed!

[@franksalsa9342]

You must have been there in summer...lived in Corona 19 years..and yes all of the IE gets hot sometimes to 115. Hope you were able to enjoy sunday brunch there👋

[@FreddySherman]

Thanks for watching. I know hot weather, I live in Palm Desert!!! But I was living in North Hollywood when I made this video. I think we were there in May or June so it wasn't crazy hot. Unfortunately no brunch, but we did have a really, really, really amazing dinner at Duane's, the fine dining place there. Great food and great service.

[@rickolson-51]

Made this trip about 4 years ago from Oregon...the Mission was the highlight. It was at Christmas and I loved just watching the people...old Hollywood people/money.

[@FreddySherman]

Very cool. It's such a fascinating place. Thank you for watching the video

[@spacyss9940]

I live nearby and never went inside of here I’ll try it out sometime next month it looks beautiful

[@FreddySherman]

It's definitely worth walking around and exploring. If you like architecture, do one of their free guided tours. Also, I highly, highly recommend Duane's, their fancy steak house. Great food and seriously wonderful service. Thanks for watching and please subscribe to my channel!

[@7276960103f]

I have a question, do you think I’ll need to book a stay if I want to go to the hotel and take a couple pictures?

[@FreddySherman]

If you want to go inside any of the rooms, yes. You don't need to book a room to look around or take pictures of the public spaces. Now you should check as they might do some kind of public tours that included a visit to the rooms or suites even if you're not staying there. And last thought is if you want to take pictures for business reasons and it would help promote the hotel, then they would probably make arrangements to let you see the suitee. Thank you very much for watching the video and please subscribe to my channel.

[@Hi-eq6ji]

I’m going here on July 17th so exciteddd

[@FreddySherman]

It's a very cool hotel. I suggest you check to see if they have the free historic tour, they have walking tours led by a historian who shows you all the cool stuff. Make sure you visit the chapel. Thanks for watching the video and please subscribe to my channel!

[@dorothyaguilar5639]

As a young girl 👧 l use to love going to the Misson lnn just to see 👀 it , something so beautiful.

[@FreddySherman]

It's a very special place and I really enjoyed my visit too. Thank you very much for watching the video, please check out my other video from the hotel, this one shows more of the architecture and public spaces: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmisi3awm8ZonKs

[@FreddySherman]

@Tim Rafferty A true hidden gem! Thanks for watching the video.

[@wesammansour1486]

Wanted to ask you a question fred..is the Ritz carlton the same as The Ritz in Paris and London??

[@FreddySherman]

Yes and no. Today they are not part of Ritz-Carlton. They are the legacy of the original Ritz Hotel in Paris, which was started in the early 20th century by a guy named Cesar Ritz. He later opened the Ritz hotel in Madrid. The Ritz in London and the Carlton hotel in London did later become the Ritz-Carlton hotel company, so there is a historic connection.

[@wesammansour1486]

@@FreddySherman thank you for responding..but does it mean they're under the same management and same prestige??

[@woodstock4517]

Anyone know where aunt alice room is? I can't find it

[@FreddySherman]

I checked and online it says it's room 401. This might have been it, but I didn't know about the ghost when I stayed there. We didnt experience anything weird. Thanks for watching and please subscribe to my channel!

[@CocoandtheMuse]

Hello! My name is Tiffany Brooks and I am the resident artist at the Mission Inn Hotel. I did a KZbin on all of the artwork that I’ve done here. I suppose your name came up because I did a video of the Mission Inn as well. It’s wonderful isn’t it?

[@FreddySherman]

Yes, amazing! Thanks for watching. I did another one about the chapel and architecture: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmisi3awm8ZonKs

[@deveshaggarwal6620]

Any plans of visiting India?

[@FreddySherman]

Yes, definitely on my bucket list. Just waiting for the right opportunity.

[@richardcrows7245]

Great video

[@FreddySherman]

Thanks again for watching it. It was a cool experience and the hotel is fascinating. That suite had dated furniture and dated design, so the room itself wasn't as nice as I expected.

[@jessed9145]

If that was the room they gave me for $700 or $900 a night, i would demand a refund. Another video showing room 417, looks amazing. This room looks terrible from what they show on their website

[@FreddySherman]

It was free and worth every penny. They hosted me for the coverage. I agree with you, it was quite old and disappointing (especially compared to a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton), although the architecture is amazing. I would have liked to seen those other rooftop suites to see if they were nicer. Thanks for watching and please subscribe!

[@larryfine6865]

We are in room 402 right now

[@FreddySherman]

With Moe and Curly?

[@wesammansour1486]

First like and comment😉😉

[@FreddySherman]

You win Wesam!!!

[@amramasic4754]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@FreddySherman]

Thank you for watching the video, please subscribe to my channel! It's an amazing hotel, here is a tour I did of the architectural details: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmisi3awm8ZonKs

[@thxlogofan1712]

Looks like the exit of the tower of terror

[@FreddySherman]

I believe this was an inspiration to the designers of that ride. You can see the similarities. Thanks for watching.

[@larryswisherman3283]

It's haunted

[@FreddySherman]

I've heard that but we didn't experience anything supernatural.

[@emmanuelmelendez6226]

This hotel is haunted

[@FreddySherman]

I have seen some of the videos about that and it's definitely a weird place, but I didn't feel any ghosts or spiritual stuff, even at night in the suite. I was ready to! Thanks for watching and please subscribe to my channel.