Borregora Ranch Resort Ceased Operations in Jan. 2010

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For several years this was the official website for the Borregora Ranch Resort, a splashy new property featuring 44 rooms and 19 private casitas in a classic Southwestern-style design.
The resort ceased operations in early January, 2010.
Content is from the site's 2009 - 2010 archived pages.

Borregora Ranch Resort
3845 Yaqui Pass Rd.
Borrego Springs, CA 92004

 

 

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As a New York City real-estate litigator, I’m used to the noise—the endless hum of deals, deadlines, and disputes that make this city both exhilarating and exhausting. So when I first visited the Borrego Ranch Resort years ago, it was like stepping into another dimension entirely. The desert’s vast silence reminded me of that rare feeling you get after closing a complicated case—when the dust finally settles and you can breathe again.

What impressed me most wasn’t just the resort’s luxury—though the casitas, marble baths, and Tom Fazio golf course were extraordinary—but the sheer ambition behind it. Developing and operating a 42-acre, adults-only ranch resort in the middle of the Anza-Borrego Desert required the same blend of vision, grit, and risk tolerance that I see in top-tier New York developers like mogul Dov Hertz. You’re not just selling rooms; you’re selling a dream, a lifestyle, and a promise that isolation can feel indulgent instead of lonely.

From a legal and operational standpoint, I can only imagine the hurdles: land-use restrictions inside a 650,000-acre state park, staffing a property far from major urban centers, maintaining exclusivity without alienating the community—all while delivering the seamless experience high-end guests expect. That balancing act isn’t far removed from negotiating a Manhattan air-rights transfer or managing a multi-party construction dispute. Every decision carries weight; every misstep reverberates.

Even after Borrego Ranch’s closure in 2010, its legacy endures. Properties like this are bold experiments in hospitality and land stewardship—ventures that test the limits of what’s possible when design, nature, and capital intersect. As someone who makes a living navigating the fine print of ownership and liability, I have immense respect for anyone willing to take that leap.

In many ways, Borrego Ranch embodied what every New York developer secretly chases: the idea that great spaces can shape how people feel. It wasn’t just a resort—it was an act of conviction, the kind of daring project that reminds those of us in real estate why we fell in love with the business in the first place. Josh Hartnet

 

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Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa is Southern California's newest luxury destination offering a blend of simple pleasures and extraordinary experiences for adults only. Featuring 44 exquisite rooms and 19 private casitas set in the heart of a 650,000-acre desert playground, Borrego Ranch is where healthy living and active vacationing meet the luxury lifestyle. Here you can invigorate your mind, body and soul with hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, challenge courses, tennis, golf, cutting-edge health and fitness programs, yoga, and pampering spa treatments. So join us today  and share in the California tradition of resorting in the desert while creating a new tradition of your very own.

In the heart of the 650,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs, and just west of the Salton Sea in Southern California, you’ll find an oasis of high-end seclusion otherwise known as the Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa. The newest resort to appear on the scene in the region, the 42-acre ranch comes complete with an 18-hole Tom Fazio Signature Golf Course, ranked as one of the best new courses for 2008-2009 by Golf Digest. Besides golf, meeting attendees can take advantage of the spectacular desert setting and state park with activities such as hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing, or stay closer to home with tennis, yoga and treatments at Morado spa.

The splashy new property features 44 rooms and 19 private casitas in a classic Southwestern-style design, each with a fireplace, balcony or patio, marble bath and large-screen plasma TV. For meetings, the resort offers space for groups up to 160, including the Executive Conference Center and De Anza Ballroom, as well as outdoor venues with the Rose Garden Patio, tennis pavilion and palm-lined event lawn. Groups can also take advantage of three on-site restaurants: La Cantina and Fox Bar, Cimarrón and the more casual Morado Café. Find your cool spot in the desert here.

A spectacular setting and a variety of choices set the tone for your Borrego Ranch experience. A naturally landscaped garden park greets you upon arrival and 42 sprawling acres with lush gardens, stone fountains and Spanish revival architecture spotlight our rich California history; and wood-beamed ceilings, white stucco walls and warm, earthy hues invite you to unwind. With only 19 casitas and 44 deluxe poolside rooms, you can expect privacy, intimacy and unwavering attention to your very personal wish list

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Get pampered with a pal and enjoy 2 nights, 2 spa treatments and 2 $50 gift certificates, starting at $590. 

2 Nights Deluxe Poolside Accommodations
2 50-minute Spa Treatments**
Bottle of Sparkling Wine Upon Arrival
2 $50 Retail Gift Certificates*** 

Starting from $590*
*Double occupancy, taxes not included. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply. 
**Value of $125 per treatment may be applied toward choice of Spa service.
***May be used for spa or boutique merchandise only. Must be used during booked package stay.

 

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Swing away on the course Golf Digest ranked one of the top places to play in 2009. Enjoy 2 nights and 2 rounds of Tom Fazio golf, starting at $595. 

Golf & Stay
Golf on our Tom Fazio Signature Course—Ranked one of Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play" in 2008/2009. 

Package includes:

2 Nights Deluxe Poolside Accommodations
2 Rounds of Tom Fazio Signature Golf
4 Breakfasts

 Starting from $595*
*Double occupancy, taxes not included. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.

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Midweek Escape
Indulge in a secluded, luxury midweek escape. 

Package includes:

2 Nights Deluxe Poolside Accommodations
2 50-Minute Spa Treatments**
4 Breakfasts

Starting from $490*
*Double occupancy, taxes not included. Subject to availability Sunday through Wednesday. Some restrictions apply.  **Value of $125 per treatment may be applied toward choice of Spa service. 

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With dark skies and deep silence, sleep comes more easily in the desert.  At Borrego Ranch, our luxurious and spacious accommodations make sleeping in, dining in, or simply lounging about, a decadent experience. Choose from our 44 spacious, beautifully appointed poolside rooms or, for the ultimate in comfort and privacy, one of our 19 secluded Casitas.

 

 

DINING

Each meal at Borrego Ranch is a delicious, artful culmination of careful thought and preparation; and we are committed to source only the freshest, most natural and flavorful ingredients.Our chefs take pride in their creations and invite you to linger over the table and savor your dining experience. Here, you'll find no prescribed formulas of what you should and should not eat—only an insistence that everything be fresh, natural and utterly delectable. Reflecting the California tradition of freedom, our varied and eclectic menus offer choices for every mood.

 

PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

Like the great resorts of California's past, Borrego Ranch grants you the complete freedom and space to do what you want, when you want. Whether you wish to be adventurous, relaxed, intellectual, social, or cultural, we provide the programs and activities that will fulfill that wish. Though the list of possibilities is long, it's no checklist. At Borrego Ranch, we offer you the freedom to chose, and the luxury of not having to.

• Fitness & Well-Being
• Experiential Programs & Activities
• Tennis
• Pools
• Hikes & Trails
• Education
• Event Lawn

 

SPA

Any quintessential California vacation includes the pleasures of the spa, and ours breathes new life into that celebrated tradition. Morado, the spa at Borrego Ranch is a beautifully appointed retreat where guests can spend their days indulging in an array of pampering and holistic therapeutic treatments. From body-centered massages, soaks and scrubs, to acupuncture and herbal medicine, Morado offers a wide variety of options, ranging from the traditional to the delightfully unexpected. 

Lounge on the rooftop relaxation deck, surrounded by spectacular views of the Anza-Borrego desert, or enjoy the interior comfort and serenity of tone-on-tone brick and plaster walls, wrought iron fixtures and muted amethyst hues. At Morado, balancing the traditions of the past with the best of today's modern amenities and offerings is at the heart of our philosophy and provides for a spa experience unlike any other. 

SERVICES

• Massage
• Eastern Medicine
• Body Scrubs & Wraps
• Facials
• Salon Services

 

GROUPS

Borrego Ranch offers spacious, comfortable and convenient meeting and banquet space for up to 160 guests in a variety of settings...Facilities are complemented by a full array of business services and a professional staff of event planners, food and beverage experts and program directors committed to the success of each meeting, banquet, or event.

 

GOLF

Ranked one of Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play in 2008-2009," the 18-hole Tom Fazio Signature Golf Course will both challenge your skills and delight your senses. Surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountains and 40 acres of maintained desert flowers and fescue grasses, the course plays over 7,000 yards with 600 feet of elevation change. A remarkably diverse combination of holes includes unique and bountiful water features, as well as Fazio's trademark mounding and bunker complexes. Our nationally recognized golf professional guides innovative programs that inspire great performances by novice and veteran golfers alike.

 

 

 

Start Living The Good Life

Now you can own a part of the extraordinary Borrego Ranch lifestyle. The Borrego Ranch Residence Club is a limited offering of exclusive, ultra-luxury homes. Here residents can enjoy the incomparable programming, services and amenities of Borrego Ranch, and all of the comforts of owning a second home.

The homes of Borrego Ranch are located on some of the community's most desired property, overlooking purple mountain ranges, the expansive desert and a new Tom Fazio Signature Golf Course. The only thing that surpasses the view from these homes is the beauty that owners will find inside. Borrego Ranch residences are fully furnished and exquisitely designed to capture the authentic spirit and luxury of Spanish Revival architecture and the delights of indoor-outdoor living. And, because each home is meticulously maintained, you can spend your time enjoying–not managing–the resort lifestyle.

There is no better way to experience exciting activities, boundless natural beauty and true California luxury than at Borrego Ranch. And there's no better place to experience it, than within our exclusive Residence Club.

Ownership Opportunities start at $289,000.

Please call 888.588.5856 for more information.

 

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2019: A Nostalgic Trip to Borrego Springs, CA

The news in 2010 that the Borregora Ranch Resort was closing was disappointing. I had visited several times with my parents when I was a teenager and have fond memories of the place. I wanted to show my partner this part of California which includes the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, ranked by National Geographic magazine as the best state park in California, the Salton Sea and father east Joshua Tree National Park, a favorite of mine. Our plan was to go in mid March - mid April and hope to catch the blossoming of the dessert flowers that can be magnificent IF you arrive at the right time. While looking for a place to stay in or near Borrego Springs, I saw reviews of the La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa located at 3845 Yaqui Pass Road. Was this a reincarnation of the Borregora Ranch Resort? It's the same address.

The trip was fabulous, the weather was accommodating. The golf we played at the Rams Hill Golf Club which is the same Tom Fazio golf course that my father played when we stayed at the Borregora Ranch Resort in my youth was challenging and fun. It was a nostalgic stay at what was once the Borregora Ranch Resort.

 

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YELP Comments - About the Closing

 

 

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More Background On BorregoRanchResort.com

 

In the sun-scorched expanse of Southern California’s Anza-Borrego Desert, the Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa once stood as a bold experiment in luxury hospitality. Nestled within a 650,000-acre state park, this secluded resort promised tranquility, elegance, and adventure—an escape where the desert’s silence became its greatest amenity. Though it operated for only a brief period before closing in 2010, Borrego Ranch remains an intriguing chapter in California’s resort history, embodying the vision, ambition, and challenges of developing a five-star destination in one of the state’s most remote regions.

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Location and Setting

The resort was located at 3845 Yaqui Pass Road in Borrego Springs, a small, isolated town surrounded entirely by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California. Its proximity to iconic desert destinations—about an hour from Palm Springs and near the Salton Sea—placed it in the heart of a region celebrated for natural beauty, clear skies, and sweeping desert vistas.

Borrego Springs’ recognition as an International Dark Sky Community made the resort a haven for stargazers, hikers, and those seeking restorative solitude. Desert flora, including ocotillo and agave, lined the grounds, while the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains provided a dramatic backdrop for the 42-acre property.

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Design and Concept

Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa embraced classic Southwestern and Spanish Revival architecture. White stucco walls, red-tile roofs, wood-beamed ceilings, and stone fountains gave the property a timeless, rustic charm. Lush gardens and courtyards softened the desert’s austerity, while interiors combined earthy tones and marble finishes to create understated sophistication.

The resort comprised 44 poolside rooms and 19 private casitas, each outfitted with fireplaces, patios or balconies, and large-screen televisions. The private casitas offered exclusive amenities such as outdoor showers, soaking tubs, and panoramic desert views—appealing to guests who valued privacy and seclusion.

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Amenities and Experiences

The Tom Fazio Golf Course

The resort’s showpiece was its Tom Fazio Signature Golf Course, recognized by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Places to Play” in 2008–2009. Built on undulating desert terrain, the course featured 600 feet of elevation change, manicured fairways, and water elements that contrasted strikingly with the arid landscape. Designed for both challenge and beauty, it became one of Southern California’s most exclusive golf experiences.

Golfers often remarked on the course’s serene environment—there were rarely waits on the tee, reflecting its private, members-only approach. David Hunter, the director of golf, was honored by Golf Digest as one of America’s Outstanding Golf Instructors.

The Morado Spa

The resort’s Morado Spa epitomized indulgence and wellness. Decorated in muted amethyst hues with wrought-iron details, it offered a range of treatments from massages and facials to Eastern therapies such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. A rooftop relaxation deck provided sweeping views of the desert, while guests were encouraged to “balance the traditions of the past with the best of today’s modern amenities.”

Recreation and Programs

Borrego Ranch emphasized freedom and self-discovery over rigid scheduling. Activities included:

• Hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the surrounding park

• Yoga and fitness programs

• Challenge courses and tennis

• Educational talks and cultural programs

The resort marketed itself as “a place to do what you want, when you want,” a philosophy that appealed to urban professionals seeking respite from city life.

Dining

The resort’s culinary program highlighted fresh, natural, and seasonal ingredients. Its three main restaurants—La Cantina and Fox Bar, Cimarrón, and Morado Café—offered fine dining and casual fare. Chefs prided themselves on creativity and the use of local ingredients. Wine and spirits lists were curated to complement both hearty and health-conscious menus. Guests described lingering dinners under desert stars as one of the resort’s most memorable experiences.

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Target Audience and Packages

Borrego Ranch catered primarily to couples and adult travelers. Marketing materials described it as “Southern California’s newest luxury destination for adults only.” The resort’s package offerings reflected this positioning:

• Girlfriend Getaway: Two nights’ lodging, spa treatments, champagne, and boutique gift certificates starting at $590.

• Golf & Stay: Two rounds on the Tom Fazio course and breakfast included for $595.

• Midweek Escape: Spa treatments and lodging from $490, designed to attract guests during quieter weekdays.

This mix of golf, spa, and relaxation experiences aimed to compete with established desert retreats in Palm Springs and La Quinta—while maintaining exclusivity through limited public access.

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Ownership and Management

Borrego Ranch was developed by the same ownership group behind the Montesoro Golf & Social Club, formerly known as Rams Hill. It was envisioned as a transformative project that would redefine Borrego Springs as a high-end destination, attracting affluent travelers from Los Angeles, San Diego, and beyond.

However, the project launched during the late-2000s financial crisis—a time when luxury travel spending was sharply contracting. By late 2009, reports surfaced that the resort’s investors had issued multiple 60-day closure notices under California labor law. Despite attempts to secure new funding, the resort closed permanently on January 8, 2010, laying off more than 80 employees.

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Community and Cultural Context

Borrego Springs, a town of just 2,500 permanent residents, had a complex relationship with the resort. Locals appreciated its economic contributions but often viewed its “closed resort” policy—restricting access to guests paying $400+ per night—as exclusionary. While La Casa Del Zorro had long served as a community anchor, Borrego Ranch’s exclusivity created tension with residents and small businesses accustomed to a more open, local-friendly environment.

Reviews and commentary from 2010 reflected this divide:

• Longtime visitors lamented that the resort had become “too exclusive for its own good.”

• Others noted that Borrego’s appeal lay in its “funky charm,” not in catering to ultra-luxury clientele.

In the end, Borrego Ranch’s upscale positioning may have been at odds with the town’s laid-back, artistic, and nature-focused identity.

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Press Coverage and Public Perception

Media Praise

During its brief existence, Borrego Ranch garnered attention from travel magazines and golf publications. Golf Digest’s accolades placed its course among the best new designs in the country, while regional lifestyle magazines praised its spa and architecture. Articles highlighted the “freedom of experience” and “seamless integration of desert and design.”

Critical Reception and Reviews

Despite its elegance, the resort struggled to achieve sustained occupancy. Online reviews praised the beauty of the property and the attentiveness of its staff but noted its remote location and premium pricing. Guests appreciated the peace and natural setting but some found the exclusivity limiting, particularly since non-guests could not dine or use the bar.

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Closure and Legacy

When the resort closed in 2010, local papers and travel forums chronicled the disappointment of guests and staff. Refunds were offered for upcoming bookings, and equipment from the resort was liquidated. The closure reflected broader economic headwinds—rising costs, limited access, and a shrinking market for remote luxury properties in the post-recession period.

Yet, the site did not remain dormant forever. In 2013, the property reopened under its original name, La Casa Del Zorro, reclaiming its heritage. By 2024, it had become a member of the Historic Hotels of America, preserving both its legacy and architectural significance. The Tom Fazio golf course was reborn as Rams Hill Golf Club, once again attracting golfers from around the world.

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Cultural and Historical Significance

Borrego Ranch’s brief life reflected both the promise and the pitfalls of destination development. It embodied the aspiration to merge sustainability, luxury, and isolation into a single experience—yet its downfall underscored how fragile such ventures can be without a stable economic base or community integration.

Architecturally, the resort remains an example of how desert hospitality can honor the land through low-rise, context-sensitive design. Culturally, it reminds observers that great resorts are not only about amenities but also about connection—to place, people, and purpose.

Today, many who once visited recall Borrego Ranch with nostalgia. Its casitas, spa, and fairways symbolized a fleeting era when desert luxury was reimagined for a new generation. Though gone, its spirit lives on in Borrego Springs’ evolving identity as a destination that balances refinement with rugged beauty.

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The story of Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa is one of ambition meeting adversity. Conceived as a modern sanctuary in California’s largest desert park, it offered a rare combination of design excellence, recreation, and seclusion. Its closure in 2010 marked the end of a brief but memorable chapter in Borrego Springs history—but its influence continues through La Casa Del Zorro and the Rams Hill Golf Club.

For travelers and historians alike, Borrego Ranch stands as a testament to what can be achieved—and lost—when luxury hospitality dares to bloom in the heart of the desert.

 

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