About us

Three properties in one mountain town, run by people who live in and love Idyllwild. Idyllwild Inn, Strawberry Creek Inn and Tahquitz Pines Retreat are sister properties under the Stay Idyllwild umbrella.

By the numbers

3
Properties
100+
Cabins and rooms
5,000 ft
Elevation
2 hours
From Los Angeles
Countless
Things to do

Our history

Idyllwild was founded in 1899, and Idyllwild Inn opened in 1904 as the first lodging establishment in the San Jacinto Mountains. The village grew up around “The Inn,” becoming a haven for artists, actors, and cowboys escaping the desert heat. Several of the early cabins are still in use today, called “Rustic Cabins” and bearing the signatures of guests from decades gone by. Newer cabins and rooms have been added over the years, and families still choose to return to “their” cabin year after year. We are proud to continue the tradition of hospitality at Idyllwild Inn, and to greet returning and new guests as they make new memories.

A black and white photograph of the original Idyllwild Inn among the pines, its sign reading Idyllwild Inn, Rooms and Cabins, with early motor cars parked outside

Tahquitz Pines Retreat started as one of the many “summer camps” or retreats that have been part of Idyllwild since the 1920s. Early Idyllwild developer Claudius Lee Emerson donated land to non-profit organizations, including religious groups and Boy Scout councils to create a family friendly community. Tahquitz Pines was founded in 1930 as a church camp, and the original chapel stands at the heart of the property. Most of the buildings were built in the early 1930s, and the property was expanded in the 1990s. It remained a church camp until 2022, when it was refurbished before opening to the public as Tahquitz Pines Retreat in 2024.

A black and white photograph of a crowd gathered among tall pines at a mountain camp, with cars from the 1940s parked alongside

The main building at Strawberry Creek Inn was built in the 1940s. It’s been a dentist’s office, stagecoach stop, restaurant, and antique shop, and in the mid-1980s was turned into an inn and the courtyard building was added. The adjacent Creekside Cottage was built in 1935, and has been recognized as representative of the local architecture of the time; a stay there is like stepping back in history. The property was refurbished in the mid-2020s, along with the Strawberry Creek Path, creating a safe and relaxing connection between the town and the Inn.

Creekside Cabin at Strawberry Creek Inn, its deck and red roof among the pines

To learn more about the history of Idyllwild, the early developers, and the artists, actors and mountain climbers who gave the village its unique character, visit the Idyllwild Historical Society (opens in a new tab), online or during your visit.

Three places to stay

Choose your experience

The carved Idyllwild Inn sign under golden trees at the front of the inn

Idyllwild Inn

Historic rooms and cabins with modern amenities.

In the center of town

Strawberry Creek Inn at dusk, its shingled roofline strung with warm lights under the pines

Strawberry Creek Inn

A romantic escape on the banks of the creek.

Two minutes from town

The timber and stone entrance arch at Tahquitz Pines, with tall pines and a granite peak beyond

Tahquitz Pines Retreat

22 acres of rooms, cabins and resort-style amenities.

Five minutes from town

Three experiences, one search.Check the dates and see what’s available.

Check availability