The History Of La Quinta Resort & Club, California

Every year in December the La Quinta Museum hosts a on-site tour of the La Quinta Resort, hosted by Judy Vossler and her daughter Lisa Smith. Tickets are around $60 and it includes a lunch at the end, hosted at the outdoor "La Casa" section of the resort.

Frank Capra: A immigrant from Italy who moved to America at the age of 5 and  became a successful movie director during the 1930-40s area. Frank and his wife Lucille retired and lived their final days at the resort paying $3,000 a month for room and board. Frank eventually growing bored with retirement was hired by the resort to work full-time. Franks's morning job was greeting guests as they arrived at the hotel. After lunch, he was tasked with watching Lisa during the afternoons until Judy was finished managing the resort. Frank and Lisa spent countless sundowns capturing photos of the resort with Frank's camera. In the original casita area of the resort, there is a bench designated to Frank and Lucille right next to the casita they once lived in.

Judy Vossler: The general manager of the La Quinta Resort from 1980-1993. Judy leads the resort tour and walks you through the entire premises breaking down the evolution of development throughout the years and sharing unique stories about the long list of high-profile celebrities who frequent the resort. 

Lisa Vossler Smith: The daughter of Judy Vossler. Lisa is the costar to the tour and offers unique stories that only the general manager's daughter would be able to experience. As a teenager, Lisa and her friend knew Michael Jackson was staying at the hotel with his famous monkey "Bubbles". Trying to catch a view of the monkey, Lisa and her friend hopped the wall at El Presidente and saw Bubbles through the window. Lisa soon was snatched up by the resort security team lead by her mother.