Celebrating 50 years

1963

La Costa founder Merv Adelson discovered the land during a horse ride through the coastal foothills. When he arrived at the peak of a hill, he looked down upon the valley and a crystal clear vision superimposed itself over the scene before him.  Adelson spent the previous decade in Las Vegas as a real estate developer, building golf courses, hotels and office buildings then joined forces with his partners Irwin Molasky and Allard Roen to bring his vision to life.

1964

A year before the official unveiling, newspapers and magazines were already wowed by La Costa and described the resort as “a glimmer with luxury” citing the hand-carved doors that graced the clubhouse entrance. Beverly Hills architect Edward H. Fickett designed the $3 million clubhouse in a Spanish/Mexican style and promised “all that is built in La Costa will be in harmony with the land”.

July 10, 1965

A place where “every member of the family could play and live all year round in great style,” La Costa was originally conceived as a residential resort with activities and instruction for all ages. The 40 units were available to guests for $22 per night which included green, tennis, stable and pool fees. 

1965 and The Spa

At the time it opened, the $3 million La Costa Spa was believed to be the largest and best-equipped in the world. The physical inventory was impressive and unrivaled with swimming pools, volleyball courts, his and her gyms, saunas and specialty mineral pools. The Spa was led by Dr. R. Phillip Smith, a professor of medicine, and became the first spa in the country to earn an endorsement from the American Medical Association.

1965 and The Golf Course

The original 72-par, 7,200 yard golf course was designed by renowned architect Dick Wilson. It covered 215 acres and cost $1.5 million to build. By the time La Costa Resort & Spa opened, it had been selected to host the nationally broadcasted CBS Golf Classic. The greatest professional golfers of their day graced the links, including Sam Snead, Ray Floyd, Arnold Palmer, Bobby Nichols, and Jack Nicklaus.

1970 - 1979

The La Costa Lifestyle

In a few short years, La Costa had become the go-to spot for Hollywood elite. The golf course received international praise and was routinely played by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bob Hope. In the early 1970s, the famed Pancho Segura was the resident pro and La Costa became the tennis epicenter with Charleton Heston, Johnny Carson and Desi Arnaz exchanging rallies during their visits. The crown jewel of La Costa, The Spa, was a refuge for some of the world’s most powerful people including Richard Nixon, Jackie Kennedy, and Chief Justice Earl Warren. La Costa had quickly established itself as the top destination for Hollywood elite who wanted to experience “The La Costa Lifestyle”.

1980 - 1989

Professional Sports

Championship caliber golf and tennis tournaments settled into La Costa throughout the 1980s. The resort continued to host the Tournament of Champions while tennis gained momentum with The Davis Cup and the Carl Reiner Celebrity Tennis Tournament. In 1984 an additional nine holes were built, bringing the total to 36 and creating two unique courses–the North and the South, which are now known as Champions and Legends. 

1990 - 1999

PGA Tour's Elite Tournaments

The Tournament of Champions was hosted at La Costa since 1969 and ended its final round in 1998. Long considered the Super Bowl of Golf, players had to win a PGA Tour event the preceding year in order to qualify. Champions included some of the greatest players in history like Gary Player, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. In 1999 the World Golf Championships was played on the original course layout with the opening nine composed of holes 10 through 18 on the Legends Course while the closing nine consisted of holes one through three and 13 through 18 on the Champions Course. The five day televised event raised more than $500,000 for local charities.

2000 - 2009

Renovations and Upgrades

In 2003, La Costa received a $140 million restoration. The newly designed $12 million spa included a 28,000 square foot Spanish Colonial building and an additional 15,000 square feet of fragrant gardens and courtyards. La Costa’s golf courses were renovated, a brand new ballroom was added, and new partnerships were forged with Deepak Chopra and The Chopra Center.

Present Day

Celebrating 50 Years of The La Costa Lifestyle

Following a successful renovation, Omni Hotels purchased La Costa in 2013. Top awards have been given to Omni La Costa Resort & Spa from Condé Nast, Travel + Leisure, Spa Finder, Golfweek, and many more. Omni La Costa has expanded on various partnerships including PFC Fitness Camp, which continues the resort’s tradition of commitment to wellness, fitness and sports. The resort remains as a destination for golfers, spa-goers, celebrities, and families from across the world.