In the mid-1920s, New York industrialist and financier Delos Cooke retired and moved with his family to Scottsdale, Arizona. He selected a 65-acre parcel and built El Vernadero as their winter residence. The Cookes furnished the 3,500-square-foot Spanish Revival villa with antiques and artwork gathered from around the world. Passionate gardeners, they invested a substantial portion of their household budget in planting rare flora, including 900 palm trees, many brought from Egypt. The original mansion remains at the heart of the Royal Palms Resort & Spa today.
© Royal Palms Resort and Spa
After Cooke’s death in 1931, the property passed through several private owners who made additions, including an in-home chapel. Anticipating a post–World War II tourism surge, investors expanded the site by adding 15 hotel rooms west of the original house and converting parts of the main home into additional guest accommodations, a reception area and a dining room. Renamed the Royal Palms Inn for the towering palms that line the entry drive, the property opened to guests in the winter of 1948. It quickly became a preferred winter destination, earning a glamorous reputation as celebrities such as Helena Rubenstein and Groucho Marx began to stay there.
This year the Royal Palms Resort & Spa marks its 75th anniversary with several special offers and experiences for guests. One commemorative package, bookable through the end of 2023 with code 75TH, includes a $75 food-and-beverage credit, breakfast for two and a limited-time anniversary amenity.
The resort’s signature dining room, T. Cook, is offering a fixed-price three-course meal—salad, pasta and dessert—for $75 as part of the celebration. Mix Up Bar is featuring an Orange Grove anniversary cocktail crafted with house-infused jalapeño tequila, lemon, orange, demerara and Angostura bitters. At Alvadora Spa, The Royal Facial is a 50-minute gold repair treatment using Knesko products designed to firm, lift and hydrate while promoting relaxation; weekday sessions are offered at $250 and Friday–Sunday bookings at $270. Refined Retail at Royal Palms carries exclusive, limited-time anniversary items and curated gifts to commemorate the milestone.
© Royal Palms Resort and Spa
Sitting at the foot of Camelback Mountain, Royal Palms Resort and Spa—part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection—blends the elegance of a Mediterranean villa with the privacy of an intimate retreat. Guests arrive via a palm-lined driveway and are welcomed by a 250-year-old fountain in the circular porte cochere. The property features 119 casitas, villas and guestrooms, more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, Spanish Colonial architecture, Tuscan-style landscaping and refined culinary offerings, making it well suited for leisure travelers, business events, corporate meetings and romantic getaways.
Alvadora Spa reflects the resort’s Spanish Colonial aesthetic combined with European influences, creating a warm, non-clinical atmosphere that integrates indoor and outdoor spaces. Design touches include natural stone, aged timbers, rich textures, handmade tiles, large wooden doors, gardens, fountains and fireplaces. The spa offers eight treatment rooms plus outdoor garden treatment areas with fireplaces and water features, along with a fitness center and salon.
© Royal Palms Resort and Spa
T. Cook’s has received local and national recognition for its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Many of the restaurant’s key ingredients—such as cheeses, specialty proteins and olive oils—are sourced from Spain, France and Northern Italy, while locally grown and sustainably raised products are used whenever possible. The restaurant also provides elegant private dining spaces suitable for intimate functions or corporate gatherings.
The Mix Up Bar presents a garden-to-glass cocktail program that highlights the season’s freshest ingredients and distinctive spirits. With an adventurous approach to mixology, the bar offers creative cocktails that complement the resort’s culinary offerings.
Adjacent to the swimming pool, Cabana Café serves light fare including salads, sandwiches and beverages for guests who prefer to dine outdoors or relax in poolside cabanas.
Royal Palms Resort and Spa continues to honor its history while offering modern amenities, thoughtful service and memorable experiences for visitors seeking a refined desert retreat.