IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Duane Roberts, owner of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and a driving force behind the revival of downtown Riverside, has died.
Roberts, 88, passed away in his sleep Nov. 1 surrounded by his family, according to reports.
“It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Duane R. Roberts a visionary entrepreneur, devoted husband, and a man whose heart and generosity forever shaped our family and community,” his wife Kelly Roberts said in a statement released Sunday. “I feel so blessed to have shared 35 wonderful years of marriage with Duane. Together, we built a beautiful life working side by side, sharing in the joy, purpose, and love that defined our journey together.”
Roberts, who made his first fortune developing frozen burritos, bought the Mission Inn in 1992, seven years after it was shut down. He then spent $55 million restoring the property, which has since been declared a national landmark.
“I like beautiful old things,” Roberts told The Press-Enterprise in 2007. “The Mission Inn is the fabric that binds the community together. It’s a heart welling thing to own. Some (wealthy) people have sports teams, I have my Mission Inn.”
