When Hollywood Discovered La Costa
Long before North County San Diego became known for luxury resorts and championship golf, one destination captured the imagination of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Today known as the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, La Costa became one of Southern California’s most glamorous escapes during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, welcoming movie stars, television personalities, legendary athletes, and world leaders seeking privacy, relaxation, and a touch of luxury.
A Vision Along the Lagoon
The story began in 1963 when television producer Merv Adelson discovered a beautiful stretch of undeveloped land overlooking the Batiquitos Lagoon. Seeing its incredible potential, Adelson partnered with Irwin Molasky and Allard Roen to create a world-class resort unlike anything Southern California had ever seen.
When La Costa officially opened in 1965, it immediately stood apart. Designed in elegant California Mission Revival style, the resort featured a luxurious spa, championship golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, mineral baths, and every modern amenity available at the time. Its innovative health spa, directed by Dr. R. Phillip Smith, became one of the first in the nation to earn an endorsement from the American Medical Association, helping establish La Costa as one of America’s premier wellness destinations.
Yet it wasn’t just the beautiful architecture or luxurious amenities that made La Costa famous—it was the remarkable people who came to stay.
Hollywood’s Favorite Escape
Located just far enough from Los Angeles to feel like a true getaway, La Costa quickly became one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets. Celebrities could relax away from photographers while enjoying championship golf, tennis, fine dining, and Southern California sunshine.
Among the resort’s most recognizable guests was Frank Sinatra, the legendary singer and actor whose career sold more than 150 million records worldwide. Alongside fellow Rat Pack member Dean Martin, star of Rio Bravo, The Wrecking Crew, and the original Ocean’s 11, Sinatra helped define the glamour and sophistication that became synonymous with La Costa.
Comedy legend Bob Hope was another familiar face on the property. Known not only for entertaining audiences around the world but also for his decades of service entertaining U.S. troops through the USO, Hope was an avid golfer who found La Costa to be one of his favorite places to play.
Academy Award-winning actor Charlton Heston, remembered for iconic films including Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes, also enjoyed the resort’s peaceful atmosphere.
Music and film legend Bing Crosby, whose timeless performances in White Christmas, Going My Way, and The Bells of St. Mary’s made him one of America’s most beloved entertainers, was another frequent visitor.
Television royalty also found their way to La Costa. Lucille Ball, forever remembered as Lucy Ricardo from I Love Lucy, and her husband Desi Arnaz, actor, musician, producer, and television pioneer, enjoyed the resort during its Hollywood heyday. Late-night television icon Johnny Carson, host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for nearly thirty years, also escaped to La Costa for quiet weekends away from the spotlight.
For decades, guests never knew who they might encounter while strolling through the lobby, enjoying dinner, or relaxing beside the pool.
Where Champions Played
Hollywood wasn’t the only world drawn to La Costa.
Its Dick Wilson-designed championship golf courses became one of the sport’s premier destinations, attracting many of golf’s greatest legends. Sam Snead, winner of seven major championships and a record 82 PGA Tour victories, played alongside fellow icons Arnold Palmer, whose charisma helped popularize golf around the globe, Jack Nicklaus, the record-holder with 18 major championships, and Ray Floyd, winner of four major championships.
As La Costa’s reputation grew, it became home to nationally televised tournaments, including the prestigious Tournament of Champions, placing the resort firmly on the international golf stage.
A Destination for Presidents and World Leaders
The resort’s reputation for elegance and privacy also attracted influential political figures.
Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis visited La Costa, bringing with her the grace and style that captivated America. Chief Justice Earl Warren, whose leadership shaped many landmark Supreme Court decisions, also spent time at the resort. Even President Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, counted La Costa among the destinations he frequented during his years in Southern California.
A Legacy That Lives On
Ownership of La Costa has changed over the decades—from Golf Shinko to KSL Resorts and eventually Omni Hotels & Resorts—but its reputation has never faded. Major renovations have modernized the resort while preserving the elegance and timeless charm that first attracted Hollywood’s biggest stars more than sixty years ago.
Today, the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa continues to welcome visitors from around the world. Families, golfers, spa enthusiasts, and luxury travelers now walk the same pathways once enjoyed by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Arnold Palmer, and countless other legends.
As you stroll the grounds today, it’s easy to imagine Sinatra chatting with Dean Martin after a tennis match, Bob Hope teeing off on a sunny afternoon, or Johnny Carson slipping away for a quiet weekend. Those memories have become part of La Costa’s enduring story, making it more than simply a luxury resort—it remains one of Southern California’s most iconic destinations, where Old Hollywood glamour still echoes through every fairway, courtyard, and garden.