Apple Valley Inn, California
- Historic hotel
- In Apple Valley, California
- 4.5 mi from Route 66
The Apple Valley Inn was built as a hotel and restaurant in Apple Valley, CA, about 4.2 miles off the old road. It opened on Thanksgiving Day 1948 as a way for developer Newton T. Bass to draw wealthy land buyers to the desert. From the late 1940s through the 1960s it attracted Hollywood stars and other famous guests. It remains a landmark of the town and a window on postwar desert resort life.
What is Apple Valley Inn?
The inn was built as a combined hotel and restaurant, meant to showcase the new community of Apple Valley. Bass and his partner, Bernard "Bud" Westlund, ran the land company behind the project, Apple Valley Ranchos. Its purpose was as much about selling the desert as about hosting guests. It is still regarded as a landmark and a major part of local history.
History of Apple Valley Inn
The inn welcomed its first guests on Thanksgiving Day 1948. In its heyday it was a favored vacation spot for celebrities, with John Wayne, Bob Hope, Richard Nixon and Marilyn Monroe among the regular visitors. Guests were entertained by performers such as trick roper Texas Rose Bascom, and country singer Jack Rogers played there often in the 1960s; Nixon reportedly asked him for "El Paso" night after night.
The inn's history also has a darker side. At first it admitted only white Christians as guests, in line with racial restrictions the development company wrote into its property covenants in 1946.
Visiting Apple Valley Inn: tips
The inn is a detour of about 4 miles from the old road. It is listed as wheelchair accessible. Enjoy the building from outside unless you confirm it is open to visitors. Food is listed at a Starbucks about 0.2 miles away and fuel at a 76 about 0.4 miles off. Bell Mountain is about 4.2 miles away and the California Route 66 Museum about 4.6 miles.
Practical info
- Address
- 20601 Happy Trails Highway, Apple Valley, CA 92307
- Phone
- +1 760-887-2000
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8–5
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Apple Valley Inn
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
Full mapApple Valley Inn with the 6 closest stops and a place to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Apple Valley Inn
All of California4.2 mi from Apple Valley Inn
4.6 mi from Apple Valley Inn
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5.4 mi from Apple Valley Inn
7.5 mi from Apple Valley Inn
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Questions about Apple Valley Inn
When did the Apple Valley Inn open?
On Thanksgiving Day 1948.
Which celebrities stayed at the Apple Valley Inn?
Regular visitors included John Wayne, Bob Hope, Richard Nixon and Marilyn Monroe.
How far is the Apple Valley Inn from Route 66?
About 4 miles off the old road, in Apple Valley.
Own or run Apple Valley Inn? Send us a photo or a correction.