Temecula Creek Inn: The Ultimate Golf Retreat in Wine Country

If you’re looking for a Southern California getaway that includes wine country, a stunningly picturesque setting along with quiet and seclusion, look no further than Temecula Creek Inn.

Though I’ve stayed at several Temecula winery hotels, there’s something unique and special about this Inn, situated in the rolling verdant hills of Temecula. It’s a place where you can relax, slow down, and just enjoy the natural surroundings without a care in the world. And though the Inn’s courses are incredibly popular with the avid golfer, you do not have to be a golf aficionado to enjoy all the Inn offers.

Location of the Inn

Temecula Creek Inn overlooks the rolling Santa Margarita Mountains in Temecula Valley. It’s a bit off the beaten path on a winding Rainbow Canyon Road. This allows for more privacy and escapism, yet it’s only a nine-minute drive to Old Town Temecula and 15 minutes to the heart of wine country. It’s a destination that appeals to those looking for a peaceful retreat with opportunities for outdoor activities, fine dining, and wine tasting.

History of the Temecula Creek Inn

To truly appreciate your stay at the Inn, you’ll want to know a little about the property’s story.

The historic Stone House was completed on the grounds in 1885 as a bunkhouse for Temecula Granite Quarry workers and later for local ranch hands. That house is the perfect venue for weddings and celebrations. Doesn’t this look dreamy?

Construction began on the golf course and resort in 1968, and the course and resort opened a year later. Since 1990, players can enjoy nine additional holes.

Inn Accommodations

The resort features 130 rooms with a range of accommodations. Queen and king guest rooms and suites, all designed with comfort and relaxation in mind. Rooms and suites offer views overlooking the golf course, gardens, or mountains.

Though rooms offer a mix of rustic charm and modern décor, the combination reflects the area’s natural beauty to a T.

My husband and I loved our room that overlooked the golf course fairway and a wooded area. The spacious premium corner deluxe king accommodation with a wrap-around balcony included a wet bar, refrigerator, 65-inch TV, desk space, and a deck with lounge chairs. A large bathroom offered a shower-tub combination.

The bed was extremely comfortable, with soft bedding and blackout curtains, making for very restful, peaceful sleep. The only sounds we heard were the crickets chirping at night and the birds’ welcome wake-up calls in the morning.

The Resort Grounds

Golf Courses

One of the top reasons of staying at Temecula Creek Inn is the ability for guests to enjoy the immense beauty of its stunning grounds.

The property sits on over 300 acres of landscaped and wooded land with three golf courses sporting some of the most outstanding conditions in the Inland Empire.

Creek Course is the easiest of the three offering family fairways with direct approaches. Oaks provides golfers with fun, memorable shots on its oak-lined course. Set alongside the historic cottage, the nine holes of the Stone House course are considered the most challenging due to the dramatic elevation changes and bends requiring distance control and shot shaping.

Guests are also welcome to rent a golf cart to get around the three courses and check out the immense beauty of the property, which includes streams and creeks running through the property. Don’t forget to make reservations!

Chef’s Garden and Butterfly Habitat

The over 1,000-square foot garden is located in front of the resort’s signature restaurant Cork Fire Kitchen. It contains over 40 edible varieties of fresh ingredients used in the restaurant. Guests are welcome to walk through the garden to see what’s currently growing there seasonally.

Located next to the Chef’s Garden, the Butterfly Habitat provides a home for all species of butterfly, notably the endangered monarch. Created in partnership with the organization Monarchs in the Rough, the habitat is located in out-of-play golf course areas to preserve these endangered populations. 

Property Amenities

How important are amenities to today’s savvy traveler? In my opinion, a lot. This is why a resort that offers so many options matters. The benefits of staying at Temecula Creek Inn include:

• An outdoor pool and spa tub
• Fitness center
• 24-hour reception desk
• Free parking
• On-site dining
• Golf pro shop
• Free high-speed Wi-Fi
• Complimentary shuttle service to Pechanga Resort & Casino
• 50 percent off day passes for the Cove at Pechanga, which features three pools, a swim-up bar, two waterslides, and five whirlpool spas.

Resort Dining

Considered a gem among Temecula’s many fine restaurants, Cork Fire Kitchen is the Inn’s signature restaurant. It offers contemporary California garden-to-table dining.

I had dined here before staying at the Inn and was so impressed that I couldn’t have been more excited to return. The views alone are worth a visit, with exquisite dining overlooking the verdant golf courses.

Cork Fire Kitchen is open for brunch and dinner and offers amazing creations by Executive Chef Ben Diaz. We had the pleasure of dining here for both brunch and dinner and couldn’t have been more pleased with our entrees.

Brunch

The brunch menu features starters, leafy choices, breakfast-focused items from the coop and the griddle. For heartier options, order broiler entrees such as a grilled chicken sandwich, a CFK Angus burger, and fish and chips. Do not miss ordering the Strawberries and Champagne salad, also available on the dinner menu. It comes with frisee, arugula, toma fromage, fresh strawberries, Marcona almonds, and a balsamic reduction. Diners have the option to add either free-range chicken or prawns if desired.

My hubby touted the double-patty Angus burger as one of the best he’s had. Just know that if you order a main entrée, the portions are large and shareable, and if you don’t choose to share, you’ll be asking for a “to-go” box.

Dinner

Dinner here is a magical experience with stunning sunsets and twinkling lights appearing at dusk. We love the rustic tables and cuddly romantic booths.

Chef Ben’s artistic, inventive dishes are divine. I’ve dined here with both my hubby and on a previous visit with friends. I can truly share that those two experiences were unforgettable.

The dinner menu features shares, greens, vegetable dishes, and selections from the land and sea, along with some lovely enhancements. What’s good? Everything I’ve tasted! Standouts definitely include the Parisian scallops with beef tallow grits, guanciale, hazelnut crumble, popcorn shoots, and a persimmon balsamic. Another not-to-be-missed winner is the incredible Lumina Farms braised lamb shank prepared with a vadouvan red wine reduction, braised pearl onions, and confit tomatoes over a honeynut squash puree. If you’re a lamb lover, this dish tantalizes the palate.

A full wine menu is available, and servers are well-versed in the selections to help you choose the perfect accompaniment. If you’re into cocktails, don’t miss the creative bar concoctions made with a variety of top-notch mixers.

Please save some room for dessert (even if you share). There are only three desserts on the menu, but oh, are they ever divine. The chocolate olive oil cake, ricotta doughnut holes, and cast-iron bread pudding are all amazing. Feel free to follow your heart (or your palate).

You know a place has a special meaning when you wake up on the day of checkout and don’t really want to – check-out, that is. This is why I highly recommend a stay at Temecula Creek Inn, and I look forward to my next visit. Check for availability and rates here>>

Disclaimer: This post was written by Noreen Kompanik for San Diego Explorer. As customary in the travel writing industry, the writer was hosted to experience the Temecula Creek Inn golf resort and its amenities to research this article. This has not influenced the author’s opinion of these experiences.