In 1935 Indiana-native Ruth Hardy purchased the Ingleside Inn from the Humphrey Birge family. You didn’t just call for a reservation; you had to be invited. Hardy didn’t think you measured up to her standards, you were simply told that there was “no room at the Inn.” She proceeded to operate the Inn as a private club, closing six months of the year. She personally supervised every facet of the ope
ration. The small restaurant was for hotel guests only and if you were invited by one of the guests, you had to obtain Mrs. Hardy’s approval. The Inn hosted a veritable “Who’s Who” of show business, finance and politics. Guests included Howard Hughes, Salvador Dali, Norman Vincent Peale, Spencer Tracy, and Mrs. Giannini from the Bank of America family. Ruth Hardy became an important figure in Palm Springs. She was a city councilwoman, responsible for lighting the trees on Palm Canyon Drive, and a park in town was named after her. In 1965, Ruth Hardy passed on and the Inn was sold to a regular guest from a prominent San Francisco banking family. In 1975, New York businessman Melvyn Haber visited Palm Springs as a respite from his hectic life in the Big Apple. Mel came upon the Inn while strolling around town and immediately fell in love with it. He bought it in April of 1975, completely renovated the entire property, and created Melvyn’s Restaurant and the Casablanca Lounge. Today, the Inn and restaurant continue to cater to industry leaders in show business and politics. In 2016, San Francisco-based hospitality management company, PlumpJack Group, acquired the Ingleside Inn and Melvyn’s Restaurant from Autumn Haber after the passing of her father, the late Melvyn Haber. The Inn and restaurant join PlumpJack’s growing collection of award-winning wineries, restaurants, bars, retail stores and boutique hotels. Balancing authenticity with luxury, modern amenities and guest comfort, PlumpJack Group entrusted Napa-based design firm, Shopworks, with the property restoration throughout the second half of 2017. The revitalization included polishing up the storied Melvyn’s Restaurant & Lounge, simultaneously preserving the identity while ushering the celebrated establishment into present day. The PlumpJack Group is dedicated to honoring the historic integrity and beloved character of Melvyn’s Restaurant and the legacy of the iconic Melvyn Haber, while elevating the one-of-a-kind hospitality experience for guests of the Inn. A visit to the Ingleside Inn is like staying at a friend’s country estate. Although totally secluded, the Inn is just one block from the very heart of downtown Palm Springs. Tucked at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, the Ingleside Inn affords both a luxurious hideaway where you are continuously pampered, plus immediate proximity to Palm Springs’ finest shopping, dining and nightlife.
