Walter H. Morgan House

San Francisco oyster tycoon Walter H. Morgan relocated to the desert in 1921, purchasing 1,400 acres of land on which he commissioned Gordon Kaufmann to design a sprawling homestead for himself and an exclusive lodging for his well-heeled friends. Completed in 1926, the La Quinta Resort went on to become one of the area’s most beloved hotels. Sadly, Morgan did not live to see its success. Suffering from considerable health and financial woes, the businessman took his own life in the garage of his residence in April 1931. His ashes were spread on the grounds surrounding his home, which still stands today in all of its Spanish Revival glory, just north of the hotel’s main pool.