Week 744-745 - Catalina Spa and RV Resort - 11-22-2020

Over the past 15 years of full time travel we have stayed at over 450 RV parks and resorts. We like to see new places. But there are some parks that you just keep coming back to. One of those is Catalina Spa and RV Resort. Its main attraction is the natural and odorless mineral hot springs pools and spas.

We first visited in December 2010. We didn't know about the hot springs. We came to play one of our first ever pickleball tournaments. We earned a Silver Medal in Mixed Doubles and Ellen conquered the Gold Medal with new friend Peggy. A bonus of having to play into the evening was enjoying the beautiful sunsets at Cat Spa.

Cat Spa is on the East side of Desert Hot Springs at 18800 Corkill Rd. The resort has upper and lower levels. The upper level RV sites get great views of the surrounding mountains.

The upper pool is the pool enjoyed by families and also those playing water volleyball.

The pool is adjacent to the upper patio, upper spa and kids pool.

Showers and laundry are just feet from the upper pool. How convenient to start your laundry and jump in the pool while you wait. The upper clubhouse is here for group events and church services.

Your children can enjoy the upper level with miniature golf, a big grass play area ...

... bocce ball and just viewing the free flowing stream and pond.

Invite your non-RV friends or grandparents to stay in one of the cottages.

Sites throughout the resort vary in length. These upper level sites are back ins, as are most sites in the park.

These are two of the pull-thru sites, both on corner lots.

RV clubs can reserve a group of sites to enjoy their activities within their own section of the park.

Unlike some resorts laid out in a grid, sites at Cat Spa are varied. You'll want to tour the park to pick out your favorite site for your next visit.

The office is visible as soon as you enter the resort. These small sites are across from the office. Parks from decades ago were built for trailers and small RVs. These were some of the first sites when the park was first opened. You wouldn't think the resort was that old based on the buildings. Most of them are newly built in the last few years.

For this stay, our 7th here, we chose the site next to the dog park. If you count the dog park, this is the largest site in the resort! Sure you get a little barking, but it is convenient for us and you meet nice people...

... like Howard and Melanie. We met them in 2018. Melanie and Ellen love Scrabble. While they fought the War of Words, Howard and Pete rode the countryside on their scooters. We might never have met if not for our site location.

For big rigs, our site is one of the closest to the lower clubhouse and pool. The pool is kept between 92 and 95 degrees and is open 24 hours. Ellen enjoys her early morning swims with no one to get in the way.

The spa (closed for Covid-19) is even hotter. Probably the hottest of any resort we have visited. The lower bath house is new, beautiful and clean like the upper bath.

The just constructed Event Garden is across from the lower pool. It will be a wonderful asset for group events. It has a full outdoor kitchen, fire pits and sitting. The overhead roof will keep the hot sun out while allowing enough light for an outdoor experience.

We met Vince and Annette this trip. They are full time travelers. They are friends with our best RV couple, Steve and Susan from our home town. Small world? Not really, this happens often to us. Vince is here to construct park improvements like the Event Garden.

In the lower level by the office is a game center. Shuffleboard, Bocce Ball, Corn Hole toss and Horseshoes are on the menu. On the north side of the park is huge acreage to take your pooch for a very long stroll.

This is where is started for us 10 years ago. Six pickleball courts provide great daily fun as well as a venue for tournaments.

1) The resort offers free electricity for any length stay. We have seen no other park do this. A field of solar panels provides the juice.
2) And Vince and Annette put a little juice into their travel tales with stickers from the locations they have visited. Well done!

That's Catalina Spa. Come for the pickleball, stay for the spa! Or vice versa. A great place to relax, exercise and meet new friends. See more at Catalina Spa and RV Resort

This special edition travelogue was brought to you as there is nothing new in our travel.

With love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy

Photos from 11-22-2020