Welcome to Royal Palms Resort and Spa, where an original Spanish Colonial Revival villa is met with rejuvenating spa services, world-class cuisine, and sweeping desert landscapes. Once a 1920s-era winter home, today our luxe resort beckons guests to enjoy a laid-back retreat at the base of Camelback Mountain. Come visit us and enjoy the a history tour of the property!
Entry Tile: The tile flooring and a trompe l'oeil Oriental rug comprised of ceramic tiles were added during the restoration outside the entrance of the lobby as our “Welcome Mat”.
Mahogany Doors: The doors to the mansion are made of mahogany wood. They are the original doors installed for the Cooke mansion.
Crest above Doors: "En Dieu Est Ma Fiance" Loosely translated from French means, "To God I am betrothed". Delos had this placed above the entryway.
Courtyard Benches: The benches were added at the time of the restoration and are made out of antique doors from Mexico.
Cactus Garden: Florence originally had one of the finest collections of specimen cactus in the Southwest containing some of the more exotic and rare varieties. To the east of the Mansion Courtyard, we have recreated a small cactus garden in her honor.
Brick: Two types of recycled brick were used during the restoration for the walkways and decorative trim. Bricks were used from the original walls that surrounded the property and collected from pre-1900 Chicago buildings.
Fireplace in Cervantes: Originally in Charles Alberding’s office in Chicago, an old Brownstone building facing the Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue. Prior to the restoration, The Cervantes Lounge was the hotel lobby.
Reflecting Pool: Although the tiles have been replaced, the shape and placement of the pool have been preserved over the years.
Exterior: The building exterior finish is not paint but an Italian Lime Wash which gives the effects of "patina" or aging. It is a lime-based stain with pigments, which results in a multi-color effect with much character.
Trestle Beams: Trestle beams are used throughout the property as focal points in places such as the salons and Presidential Suite. They are from an old railroad bridge discovered in a dried-up Great Salt Lake riverbed. They have been buried for over 100 years. Their salt content is approximately 10%, making them very heavy and impervious to the weather.
Orange Tree Tiles: Fixed onto the fireplace in 1948 when the dining room opened as The Orange Tree.
Mural of Lady: The mural enjoys the same placement from the time the Cooke's placed it in the mansion. The artist is Spanish and possible significance of the woman is unknown.
Tiles in Courtyard: Each of the 24 tiles imbedded in the walls of the Mansion courtyard, are mosaic Crests representing various cities or provinces in Spain.
Sculpture of Christ: Placed in the mansion by W. E. Travis in 1937
Original Casitas: John Ross, the original home owner, sold the original 15 casitas and 30 acres of citrus grove and date palms in 1948 to a group of investors headed by former bandleader.
Entry Fountain: The fountain is approximately 250 years old. It was imported from Guanajuato, Mexico and was reassembled on property. It is made from yellow canterra stone that is no longer quarried.
Stone Entry: The stone entry surface is made of laja negra or black stone from an old hacienda in Querataro, Mexico. One stone has the date 1692 inscribed on it. Some stones are over 6 inches thick and required 3 people to install.
Entry Palm Trees: The stately row of palm trees were planted by Delos Cooke when the mansion was built.
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