ADVOCACY STATEMENT

July 8, 2024

Old Riverside Foundation has been monitoring the unfortunate fracture of the relationship between the Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and the non-profit Mission Inn Foundation.

It’s hard to imagine, but the future of the hotel wasn’t always bright. Owners Duane and Kelly Roberts have done a commendable job over the last thirty-two years of keeping the Mission Inn operating and thriving as the vital heart of Riverside. Their dedicated attention, at no small cost, has ensured that the remarkable beauty of the Inn has become the most effective and far-reaching icon for the City of Riverside. The reputation of the Mission Inn is known around the world, and its endurance embodies the best of how Riverside values historic preservation.

Over forty-eight years, the Mission Inn Foundation (a separate non-profit entity) has shone a dedicated supporting spotlight on the hotel, enhancing its services while also serving the community. The Foundation provided an educational museum and volunteer docent-led tours of the hotel, celebrating its history and cultural significance. Their gift shop functioned as a de facto visitor’s center for Downtown Riverside, providing information to residents and out-of-towners alike.

While they are discontinued now, a more permanent loss of those services – the Foundation’s hotel tours in particular – would negatively impact the community, the cause of historic preservation in Riverside, and the city itself. The Foundation’s rigorous volunteer docent-training program, refined over decades, takes over eight months to complete: a measure of dedication and love that befits the status of the Mission Inn, the grand landmark that has been the heart of Riverside for over 120 years. The story of the Mission Inn encompasses the story of Riverside itself, and is one of the most engaging ways to learn about our history.

Old Riverside Foundation is encouraged by the intentions of the Mission Inn Foundation’s new President and Vice President, and we believe they can correct the regrettable and deeply damaging failings of the organization’s previous leadership. The mutually-beneficial relationship between the Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and the Mission Inn Foundation can be restored through honest, transparent communication and by the shared dedication of both parties to the community and to the legacy of the Mission Inn.

We encourage their discussions to continue toward that goal.

Dave Stolte
President
Old Riverside Foundation