On a last-minute trip to Borrego Springs to see the wildflowers, I was able to snag a room at La Casa Del Zorro. I had been wanting to stay there for a while, so I was very excited to check it out. It was fantastic! It also passed the vibe check with my seven-year-old son, who would be ecstatic to stay there again.
From the minute we drove up, I was impressed with the lushly landscaped property, which featured towering palm trees, Spanish hacienda-style buildings, and majestic desert mountains in the background.
There’s so much to do that we could have easily just stayed there all weekend and enjoyed the pools, games, activities, stargazing, dining, and much more. It felt like a retreat, and I wish we had more time to explore. We’ll just have to stay longer next time so we have time to check out more incredible sights around Borrego and take advantage of everything this resort has to offer.
La Casa Del Zorro quick information
Location: 3845 Yaqui Pass Rd.
Website: lacasadelzorro.com
Resort Fee: $29 fee per night
Dog Friendly: Yes, the Deluxe Poolside Rooms and Casitas are pet-friendly.
Phone: (760) 767-0100
The history
The Desert Lodge, originally built in 1937, was acquired by publishing magnate James Copley in 1960. Copley changed the name to La Casa Del Zorro (Home of the Fox) and turned it into a popular destination that hosted numerous politicians, including President Richard Nixon, President Ronald Reagan, and many Hollywood stars.
Copely’s son inherited the resort in 2007. He sold it to investors who renamed it Borrego Ranch, made it an adult-only resort, and only allowed guests to dine at the restaurants and enjoy the amenities. The investors treated the employees poorly, and it was a dark patch for this resort that left it close to ruin.
Then, in 2013, Jack McGrory and Casey Brown bought it and began an extensive restoration, transforming the 42-acre property into the beautiful resort it is today.
Room options at La Casa Del Zorro
Deluxe Poolside Room
We booked La Casa Del Zorro on the same day we drove out and stayed in a Deluxe Poolside Room, which had two queen beds and was located in the Primrose building.
This room is very spacious for a studio, has tasteful decor, and an enormous bathroom. My son was thrilled with the direct access to the heated pool and jacuzzi and loved the giant soaking bathtub.
The beds and pillows were very comfortable, and I slept better than I normally do in a hotel. We typically book hotel suites that have more than one room, so I was nervous about sharing the same room with my son since he goes to bed earlier and usually wakes up early. However, he was down for the count. I planned on getting an early start to hike Borrego Palm Canyon, but he slept in much later than normal and did this both days.
Our room was also very quiet, except for the ice machine, which made it somewhat noisy throughout the night. The noise was noticeable whenever other guests were getting ice or when the machine made more. Although it wasn’t a big issue, I plan to request a room farther away from the ice machine next time.
Resort pools
The resort has 17 pools in total, including 12 private casita pools, 2 deluxe room pools, a lap pool, an exercise pool, and the Fox Den Pool.
Dining
La Casa Del Zorro has a restaurant, a bar, and a cafe. We didn’t try the restaurant because we felt like we didn’t pack any clothes nice enough to dine there, at least for dinner. As my son would say, I didn’t pack any “fancy” clothes (aka anything other than leggings and tennis shoes).
On our last morning, we stopped by the cafe, which was stocked with delicious food and Starbucks drinks.
Casa Café & Market offers Starbucks coffees, drinks, and quick bites to go for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. There’s comfy couch seating inside, or you can enjoy the outside views on their cushioned chairs.
The Fox Bistro is an upscale sit-down restaurant that serves breakfast (weekends only), lunch, and dinner. They also offer a kid’s menu.
The Fox Den Bar is the place to indulge in craft beers, cocktails, and wine. You can also order lunch or dinner to enjoy with your favorite beverages.
A serene outdoor patio to enjoy a meal from The Fox Bistro.
Oh, the amenities!
The resort offers many fun activities, including giant chess, shuffleboard, horseshoe pits, and more. We only wished we had more time to take advantage of all that they had on offer. The fitness center was really nice, with three separate rooms: one with weights, another with treadmills, and a more open space for stretching and other similar activities.
Here are the amenities included in the resort fee:
Day pass
Club La Casa! If you want to enjoy La Casa Del Zorro without staying overnight, you can purchase a day pass and get access to the pickleball and tennis courts, fitness center, lap pool, heated therapy pool, and spa. An individual day pass is $25, and a family day pass is $45. They also offer bi-annual and annual memberships.
Related posts to help you plan a trip to Borrego Springs
- How to Have the Best Weekend in Borrego Springs, California
- How to Easily See All of the Galleta Meadows Sculptures
- Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego – A Bucket List Worthy Experience!
- How to Hike the Slot Canyon Trail in Borrego Springs
- Hiking Borrego Palm Canyon Trail: What You Need to Know