The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday declared the day Duane Roberts Day in honor of the life and legacy of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa owner who died November 1 at the age of 88.
“Born and raised here in Riverside, Duane believed deeply in the power of history, business and heart to build something lasting,” Supervisor José Medina said at the November 4 meeting. “His story is not just about restoring a building, it’s about restoring a city’s pride.”
Roberts, born in 1936, was the son of a Riverside meat wholesaler who founded Butcher Boy Food Products. In the 1950s, Roberts, looking to expand the company’s offerings, created what’s believed to be the world’s first frozen burrito. By the time he sold the family business in 1980, it was producing a million frozen burritos daily and bringing in $80 million in annual sales.
At the same time, the Mission Inn, a hotel Roberts had grown up watching cycle through multiple owners, was about to undergo a $55 million, seven-year renovation. Roberts, along with his wife Kelly, reopened the property in 1992.
“He purchased the property and took on a monumental task to restore it, brick by brick, mural by mural, investing not only his resources, but his heart into returning this landmark to life,” Medina said. “Through his vision, the Mission Inn was restored, revitalized and reborn.”
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“Duane dedicated his life to creating beauty, inspiring others, and giving back,” Kelly said in a social media post announcing his death. “From his early business successes to his transformative restoration of the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, he poured his passion into preserving history and building a legacy of excellence, compassion and love that will endure for generations.”
In addition to his business endeavors, Roberts was also a noted philanthropist, supporting students with donations to area universities as well as organizations that supported veterans, youth, animals and the arts.
“Their philanthropy strengthened local schools, funded scholarships and supported the preservation of our cultural history,” Medina said. “Through their leadership, the Mission Inn became an economic engine for our region.”
The hotel’s signature event, the Festival of Lights, attracts more than half a million visitors to the city and generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue for local businesses. The event, Medina said, was also one of Roberts’ greatest joys.
“Duane’s vision gave Riverside a legacy that will shine for generations every holiday season,” Medina said. “When those lights turn on, and the city gathers downtown, we are reminded [that] one man’s belief in this community can illuminate an entire region.”
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