Typically when I pull into Palm Springs, I enjoy seeing the Riviera Resort and Spa which dates back to 1958. The entrance had a 1960’s Rat Pack vibe that made you feel like you were stepping back in time and experiencing a bygone era of music, style, and attitude. Imagine my shock during my most recent visit when I drove by and saw this sign:
Margaritaville? In Palm Springs? Did I hit the gas pedal too hard and accidentally end up in Key West, circa 1990?!? Sadly, I was still in 2022 and the (now) cheap-looking structure I had driven by that was once the glorious Riviera Hotel had been revamped as the Margaritaville Resort. I parked the car and decided to poke around.
The Lobby area before:
After, a somewhat subtle change:
…other than the parrots. Just in case you forgot you were in Margaritaville.
Before #1, when the place had more of a Vegas/Rat Pack vibe:
Before #2 (a later remodel):
After:
The restaurant has also been re-themed to fit the Jimmy Buffet motif:
Fun little sayings have been sprinkled throughout the hallways:
Changes in more than just latitude:
I would hesitate to call this a resort without adding in the term “family.” The hotel was much more noisy, had more kids screaming, and definitely had more of a budget feel. I guess the positive is that the hotel, which has struggled financially through the years, is still around.
See more Riviera and Margaritaville Resort photos at my main website.
