The San Manuel Investment Authority (SIMA) has formally acquired the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa for an undisclosed fee, as confirmed by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.
Located in the downtown district of California’s Riverside, the property was originally established in 1876 and extends across an entire city block. Over the years, the hotel received numerous accolades for hospitality excellence as its evolution was spearheaded by Kelly Roberts and her late husband, Duane, who passed away in November 2025.
Now, subject to regulatory and customary closing approvals, this transaction is expected to close before the end of May 2026, with the SIMA seeking to usher the property into a new era.
Commenting on the development, Kelly Roberts stated: “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as stewards of The Mission Inn. Duane and I poured our hearts into preserving its legacy while evolving it for future generations.
“I am incredibly proud of what we built together and deeply grateful to our team, the Riverside community, and every guest who has walked through its doors. I have great confidence that Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation will carry this legacy forward with the same care, respect, and vision.”
Building on this sentiment was Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Chair Lynn Valbuena, who said: “The Mission Inn holds a special place in our hearts. Generations of our family love the inn for its charming ambience and for the memories we’ve made there over the years.
“We recognize its historic, economic and cultural significance to Riverside and the region and would be delighted to include The Mission Inn in our non-gaming hospitality portfolio.”
Indeed, while the details of this transaction have not been unveiled, it appears that the changing of ownership of the property will involve a management transfer of some description which will see the Tribe assume operational responsibility of the property. This development also falls in the wake of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation’s annual 5K walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month last week.
According to the property’s website, Kelly and Duane Roberts took over the Mission Inn in 1992 when the Hotel was in danger of demolition
