Plaque on the wall of the adobe registration building: "On this site in the winter of 1936 a tradition began that has continued for well over half a century. That year Lodge on the Desert was opened to the public. Earlier that same year construction had just been completed on the adobe building adjacent to the original hacienda (the present Catalina Room) built by the Quinslers of Massachusetts in 1931.
This historic structure is believed to contain the only hotel accommodations in the state of Arizona built entirely of adobe that are still in continuous use today."