To celebrate my birthday in February, 2001, my girlfriend Diane invited another Phoenix couple to join us for a weekend at the Terra Cotta Inn in Palm Springs, CA. Diane and I had visited Terra Cotta in May, 2000 on a day pass while on a business trip in the area. We had such a good time that we were looking for a good excuse to visit again.
As you walk up to the entrance and ring the bell, the first impression you get is one of feeling welcomed. The atmosphere is as warm as the Palm Springs sun. The owners of Terra Cotta, Tom and Mary Clare, and their staff (and Godiva the dog) add to the warmth with their friendliness, charm, and sincere desire to make every guest as happy and satisfied as they can be.
The Terra Cotta Inn is a 17 room clothing optional adults only resort located in an older part of Palm Springs. The resort was built in 1960 as The Monkey Tree - a private retreat for the celebrity visitors of that era. Of course at that time it was not clothing optional - they didn't know what they were missing back then. The rooms surround a private central courtyard consisting of a large heated pool, a good size Jacuzzi spa, fire pit, and a very well manicured lawn and flower beds. Harp music plays quietly in the background during the day. Daily continental breakfasts, and an afternoon wine & cheese happy hour (and strawberries in season) is also included. Catered meals are available for those who can't seem to want to get dressed and go out. Some rooms have complete kitchens and some have private patios.
Should you decide to get out and explore, Terra Cotta is close to many of the fine shopping, dining and entertainment establishments. The staff will be happy to assist you in making a choice for dining. Massage service is available by appointment. Should you decide to stay in your room, each room is equipped with a VCR and the office has a large selection of videos for use at no charge.
The Terra Cotta Inn is an excellent place for first time nudist to enjoy the freedom of a clothes-free environment. The staff and other guests apply no pressure and you can feel totally relaxed to proceed at your own pace. In fact, we had one couple visiting for their first nude experience while we were there. The wife knew about the clothing optional aspect of the resort, while the husband didn't know. Within a few hours, both were comfortably naked in the spa chatting away with the other guests like we were all old friends. A lot of the comfort factor comes from Tom and Mary Clare themselves. They go to great lengths to make sure that people are introduced around to one another. Tom has a knack for remembering where everyone is from and sometimes throws in some interesting factoids about a guest during the introductions. Within minutes, you feel like you are with old friends.
Visit the Terra Cotta Inn web site at www.sunnyfun.com or email me with any questions. Contact information for the resort can be found on their website. If you do visit, please consider submitting a trip report of your own and share your thoughts of your vacation.