Terra Cotta Inn

Oh no! This has been a goto spot for complete relaxation for us for many years. No place like Terra Cotta to relax and recharge. We theorize that it’s hard to be pretentious without wearing clothes, to everyone seems open and happy to converse. Can’t imagine this experience being replaced…
Best wishes to Tom & Claire!

So sorry to see TC has been sold.
My first nude experience here, at TC, many years ago.
Being a local, my husband and I would often see Tom and Mary Claire parking lot filled to the brim.
Here is wishing Tom and Mary Clair the best retirement. They deserve it.
(Ron and Karen Shepherd)

So sorry to see Terra Cotta going away. We will miss this quiet, relaxed, comfortable, laid back nudist hotel. We wish all the best to Tom and Mary Clare as they open a new chapter in their lives. We hope someone else in PS will decide to open a nudist hotel that caters to the niche of people seeking quiet, non-​swinger nude recreation.

Been to TCI half dozen times.
Great hosts, good times, reasonably priced.
Really friendly people.
True naturists, not a disguise for swingers
Normally I like to chill and keep to myself and there is space for that but other times I’m more social and there is that too
The variety is nice
Hot tub makes for a good place to strike up conversation.
I like the breakfast and happy hour. That’s a nice treat
Staff brings around a lunch menu and they will order in for you, sandwiches, salads etc.
It’s homey
Our room was huge, nice to have a little kitchenette.
Our room could have been a little cleaner (found a sock from a prior guest) and when I had to move a chair to get something I had dropped, it was very dirty back there.
That’s not catastrophic
Overall a great place. We visit when we can and always feel welcome
That is the most important thing.
We also were able to introduce naturism to a newbie and his first experience was a good one and that was important to us
Thanks Tom and Mary clare

Pros: great staff, nice rooms
Cons: cell phones, laptop, tablets, skyping, rude drunk men. No privacy rules enforced. Couples sharing rooms is strange. Pool had heavy chlorine. Difficult parking. Definitely for the 55+ crowd.
Listened to a guy say he was kicked out of sea mountain and desert sun but was nice at home here.
Pictures and reviews can be deceiving..

My wife and I ended up at Terra Cotta last week because our scheduled vacation to Cabo had been compromised by our flight having been canceled on Sunday due to the impending hurricane. We were already in LA to fly to Cabo, so we figured we’d spend some time in the desert. We decided to spend a few nights at a «luxury» resort, then a couple of days nude at Terra Cotta. While one will never confuse T.C.I. with the Ritz Carlton (which was the luxury resort we stayed at) it is certainly much more friendly and quaint… and the breakfast doesn’t cost $ 50!
One of the first things we experience when we dropped our stuff in the room, lost the clothes and headed outside, is, like other nude resorts, people talked to you! We talked to more people the first hour at TCI than we did the entire time at the RC.
We love that the owners are on site most of the time, and when they’re not, Patty takes care of things like the place was hers! Our stay was pretty close to perfect; the resort is only a $ 10 Über ride to downtown, the pool and hot tub were actually cleaner and clearer than those at the RC, and of the two resorts, which one would you think we had to ask for a different room because of the huge cockroach my wife encountered in the first 5 minutes we were in the room? Yep, the RC!
Simply put, we will certainly visit TCI again. The charm, the cleanliness, the way we were made to feel at home, all made for an enjoyable experience! And as long as we hit the Mexican restaurants and drank lots of margaritas, we almost didn’t know that we weren’t in Cabo!

The management and the way you feel welcome the entire stay is amazing. The owner in never to busy to stop and tell you a story of their historical property.
To top it all off, if no one is set to be in your room that day you’re more than welcome to stay in the room till 5 PM. This type of personal touch (along with the delicious complimentary breakfast and the hand delivered poolside snacks in the evening) is what will continue to make their clientele grow and should be a model to follow in every customer service industry
As a card carrying ANRR member, I highly recommend this resort and will definitely return!!!

We’re returning home after our second stay at the Terra Cotta Inn. This time we stayed for a full week. Same five-​star review as our last visit. Clean, quiet accommodations accompanied by friendly, attentive service. The weekly rate is a great deal. Something that says a lot more than any single review is that when we made our reservation for the same week next year we found that several rooms were already booked over a year in advance.

The Terra Cotta Inn has quickly become my favorite place to go for a relaxing getaway. I would rather go here than almost anywhere else in the world. There is something special here that you can’t get in other places. The grounds are very private and quaint, making you feel safe and comfortable. This was the first nude vacation spot I ever went, and have since been to several others, but this is still the one that makes me feel like I never want to leave. Tom and Mary Claire make you feel like one of the family. I seriously can’t explain how they do it, but from the minute you check in to the minute you reluctantly have to check out, they make you feel like their home is your home.
And for those reading these reviews as a search for the place to go to relieve your worries about being naked in front of complete strangers, please believe me that the Terra Cotta Inn has no tolerance for drunken naked young partiers. People who go here want to relax by the pool, socialize with other nudists, and pretty much just enjoy being nude in complete peace. There is no judgement and no cliques of the young and pretty making the old and not-​so-​pretty feel insecure. It is honestly one big happy family just being naked together.
My wife and I will definitely go back again. It is always something to look forward to.

Rather than repeating the accolades so many others have given TCI, I want to focus on what made our stay extra special. We found out later that, on the morning of the day we checked in, their beloved dog died. Understand that Tom and Mary Clare have no children, so the loss of a pet can be very damaging emotionally.
In spite of their loss, they were real troupers. Tom treated my wife and I as though we were old family friends, taking time to chat extensively with us. They are a class act. Their prices are more than reasonable. We’ll definitely be back!

I Have to say, this is one of the «Best Place in Palm Springs» for a Day pass use Nude Tanning… I had the Honor to expiries this Beautiful Historic Resort with 3 of my close friends and we never felt as welcome as we did at the Terra Cotta. We were greeted with a Big Smile by a Young Gentleman Name Tom and his Beautiful Wife at the front desk. He gave us a Tour of the Resort and showed us around. Even the Head of the Welcome committee (a well-​trained Dog) came to greet us. The Place is Very Clean, the Salt Water pool and Jacuzzi was Awesome and the Day use Room was a Bonus. We were given Wine, Chocolate cover strawberries and other fresh Fruits. If you’re in the area and want to cross off something from your Bucket List (Nude Tanning) .Give them a Call … Remember «why go to Palm Springs to get tan lines if you can go to Terra Cotta and have a perfect No Tan Lines experience» Thanks Tom See you guys soon…

Great place, very friendly, will go back!

First and foremost, Tom is a wonderful host and the nicest of guys — along with a friendly and hard-​working staff — which makes it very difficult to write such a poor review. All the 5-​star reviews from those who come back every year must be due to the fact that there are not many choices for clothing-​optional places. But, let’s be honest here — this is a 2-​star hotel at best. I don’t care what’s been written in magazines — the writers must be staying there for a few hours, not sleeping in one of the rooms, which is where I’ll start.
The rooms may be large in square footage, but are poorly designed with lots of wasted space. The two-​tone pink paint swirly walls are ridiculous and not what anyone would call trendy or vintage or boutique-​looking. It’s simply an eyesore. The bathroom was outdated. The window is rusty and dirty, but must be used as there is no fan. Taking a shower was challenging — the water does not drain and you are in standing water the entire time; gross. If a toilet flushes anywhere within proximity of the room, the water turns to ice. If you’re next to a «day room» — for those who come on a day pass — you can expect that quite a bit. The walls are paper thin; there are large gaps under the doors and each room has adjoining doors that also gap underneath. You can hear every sound: a person talking, their refrigerator opening; the toilet flushing; coughing; snoring… EVERY sound. We spent each night but one sleeping with earplugs. The bed is not comfortable, kind of lumpy feeling and pillows not great. W-​fi in the rooms is a joke. You need to take your phone or laptop outside for any decent reception.
Pool area is crowded; chairs are within inches of each other. It’s a small hotel but it caters to day visitors so people put their towels on a chair and leave them there for if and/​or when they may use them. People can smoke not just by their rooms, but also by the pool. Music plays constantly, so finding a quiet chair will be challenging for those who truly just want to relax and read a book.
The grounds are immaculate and the hottub is fine. Outdated, yes, but it’s an older property. The water is hot; the jets are somewhat quiet.
Breakfast is ok. No, it’s not what someone would pay $ 15-​$ 20 for elsewhere. Standard fare similar to what you would find at any low cost hotel with free breakfast. The room where it is served is small and holds approx. 4 – 6 people — more than that, you wait in line.
Afternoon snack actually is a nice touch and was varied each day. The strawberries are excellent, but — in my opinion — they should be served at the table with the rest of the food. While I’m sure it’s thought of as a nice touch for Tom to put on his bowtie and serve everyone, when you’re laying on a chaise lounge, why, there’s his junk right about face height! Maybe Tom could just serve the wine…
We really wanted to like this place, but it was simply too many things done wrong. It wasn’t simply an «off» night either; we were there for 5 nights. I’m not sure why the gay resorts are most often top of the line — must be they have many choices and business owners know they must truly vie for their dollars. For mainstream nudists and/​or naturalists, the choices are limited and very rarely are good unless they are in the $$$$ per night range. We were hoping Terra Cotta Inn would be the exception, but sadly it was not.

Apart from being nude-​friendly, the Terra Cotta Inn is downright friendly. There’s something about the lack of clothing that makes people introduce themselves and pass the time with strangers.
Once you enter the Terra Cotta Inn, you are in a safe world where it’s fine to be nude, whether you’re young or old, fit or fat. The guests all pass on the friendly and welcoming vibe of the owners.
The pool is really great. It’s saltwater, so there’s no horrible chlorine smell, and kept at a warm temperature in winter. The hot tub fits a crowd, and both the pool and hot tub are kept very clean (unlike many a motel I have visited). You can easily relax by the pool all day and night and forget all the cares of the outside world.
I’m giving it five stars, because of the totality of the good things outweighs the very few negatives. If you are into aesthetics, you might be turned off by the cheesy wall paintings in the rooms and the unfortunate purplish paint job of the motel.

The Terra Cotta Inn (TCI) is the only reason I’ll go to Palm Springs. It’s a small, private, 17-​room inn. Never mind the fact that it’s clothing-​optional (i.e. you don’t have to wear any clothes while you’re here). If it’s not your thing, it’s not a problem. It’s couples only (though female friends who accompany the couple are welcome), so you don’t have to worry about creepy single dudes lingering about. However, be prepared to see naked people. =)
For day visitors, they set aside one room to leave your stuff in, use the restroom, etc. Disclaimer: ALL day visitors will use this room. However, the number of day visitors are limited, so you don’t have to worry about this room getting jam packed with other peoples’ belongings.
The owners, Tom and Mary Clare Mulhall, go to extraordinary lengths to make their guests feel welcome. Came for the day and didn’t bring your lunch? No problem. You can order lunch from a local restaurant, where Tom (or his staff), will deliver your food poolside.
If you’re looking for a party atmosphere, you won’t find it here. It’s all about getting some R&R at this place, and I can’t wait to go back.

I drove to Terra Cotta Inn from Los Angeles to interview Tom and Mary Clare (the owners) for a project at school. I was planning to stay for about an hour, but ended up staying for three! I arrived at 4pm, where Tom was wearing a bow tie and sneakers, going around distributing fresh strawberries and wine– it’s a daily ritual.
It was kind of awkward at first– for the first 40 seconds, but after that, everyone was so welcoming and friendly that I felt like everyone was family there. I was wondering how anyone would sunbathe in 100 degree Palm Springs weather, but some of their features include a cooling mist above half the sun chairs, which line the perimeter of a large sea salt pool. And when the sun sets and it gets cooler, everyone flocks to the jacuzzi nearby. One thing of the things that I really enjoyed about TCinn is the vibe– it is so relaxing past their front doors– like another world, honestly. All the guests from around the world (met several from South Africa, Canada, Phoenix, and San Diego) come often to this small tuck in Palm Springs to retreat from the rest of the world, and by their smiley faces, it really works.
Speaking with many Tom and many of the regulars, I know exactly where to go if I ever want a nekk’d getaway.

This is a great place to come and relax. No parties here folks! Just a nice clean, quiet place with the nice touches that going to a small, private owned location can give you.
Tom & Mary Clare make you feel at home here.

We love this place. Its clean, safe, a haven, and you get to meet the coolest people around. Our vacation there ranks one of our favorites. If you need a stress free «get-​a-​way» this is the place.
We will be back!

first timer here. loved, loved, loved this place. they give you way more ammenities than other inns. books, mags, dvd, vhs… all honor system. what a pleasure. did not need any of that, spent all my time at the pool. you can bring your own drinks, food etc to have there. you can also order in a delicious lunch from a service that delivers, then go out to dinner in the evening. everyone i met was friendly. i really enjoy this type of freedom… thanks can not wait to come back

My wife and I have been to TC many times and we love it.
It really is the perfect place to try nudism… no pressure with friendly people.
Another thing you should know… TC is not a swingers resort… but I personally know that many swingers do stay there. That being said… just take all your sexual energies back to the room if you want to have fun.
We’d love to find a similar couple such as us… to meet out at TC and relax and enjoy.