From the Arnold Palmer Classic Course at SilverRock, you can see the unfinished resort beyond the fairways. A spa and conference center stopped partway through construction, along with wood-framed residential buildings that never got their finishes. KESQ described them that way in September 2023, and the scene has looked much the same in the years since. The course's own website says it plainly. "Current site conditions and future construction activity may result in temporary interruptions to scenic views in select areas."
Many people expected the next step at the corner of Jefferson Street and Avenue 52 to be demolition. That isn't what's planned. The site's new owner tested the partial structures this year and decided to protect them. The resort that eventually opens will likely be built on the shells you've been driving past.
Twelve Years, Two Plans, One Corner
The buildings look abandoned because the project behind them stalled several times over a long period. The City of La Quinta keeps a public timeline of the project, and these are its main points.
- 2014. On November 4, City Council approved a development agreement with SilverRock Development Company, the partnership formed to build the resort. The plan was later branded Talus La Quinta.
- May 1, 2017. Groundbreaking began with realigning the golf course.
- October 31, 2018. A $212 million construction loan was announced, and mass grading and infrastructure work followed.
- March 2020. COVID-19 halted construction.
- Fall 2022. Commercial construction stopped, and some residences and guest rooms moved forward slowly. The wider project paused again in 2023 while the developer looked for financing.
- August 5, 2024. After missing its financing deadlines, SilverRock Development Company filed for Chapter 11. That December, the City approved up to $11 million in debtor-in-possession financing to support the case.
- December 2025. The bankruptcy court approved selling the roughly 134-acre site for $65 million to TBE RE Acquisition Co. II, a subsidiary of Turnbridge Equities. Escrow closed that month. KESQ and NBC Palm Springs both reported the sale.
The City says a May 21, 2026 amendment to the bankruptcy's "Global Settlement" releases both the City and the new buyer from any further responsibility. In practical terms, the new owner starts without inheriting the old project's legal problems.
Why the Frames Are Staying
In January 2026, Turnbridge brought engineers and specialists to the site. Their job was to inspect the partly built structures and see what could be kept. They also sent core samples to a lab. Michael Gazzano, the Turnbridge managing director overseeing the West Coast, reported the results to City Council on June 2, 2026.
"There is still significant structural integrity in each of those buildings."
Based on that finding, Turnbridge chose preservation. Gazzano said tarping and other protective measures would be installed on the structures soon. A dust suppressant was also sprayed across the site, and he said it should last 12 to 18 months.
Design work is also moving. Gazzano said the team is "getting into the details of spa consultation, pool consultation and lighting designers." Turnbridge has also been working with the Imperial Irrigation District to make sure the hotel and amenities will have power when they're finished.
Same Corner, a Smaller Resort
Reusing the existing structures doesn't mean the original plan is coming back. The earlier version called for a Montage hotel and a Pendry hotel sharing a conference center, along with branded residences. City Council approved an amended development agreement with Turnbridge on September 22, 2025, and it reshapes the program.
| Element | Talus La Quinta plan | Turnbridge plan, approved September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | Two, Montage and Pendry | One, about 154 rooms, brand not named |
| Shared space | Conference center serving both hotels | 55,000 sq ft banquet and shared-use space |
| Residences | Branded residences | 445 total, including 29 branded residences north of the hotel |
| Golf clubhouse | A future golf clubhouse | 17,000 sq ft public clubhouse moved closer to the Avenue 52 entrance |
The Turnbridge plan also adds a 40,000-square-foot commercial area and a 20,000-square-foot community building. The City's planning page says the current plan doesn't identify a hotel brand or operator. Montage and Pendry belonged to the earlier proposal, and nothing in the current record confirms either brand will return.
The residential numbers also need a closer look. The City's June update lists 29 branded residences, 70 condos and 293 homes. Those add up to 392, but the same document gives a total of 445. The site permit applications should clear up the difference. The same update says the condos and homes east of the hotel can be used as short-term vacation rentals, and the City would collect transient occupancy tax on those stays. The City expects the project to create 2,500 to 3,000 construction jobs and 445 full-time-equivalent permanent jobs.
The Golf Course Was Never for Sale
The $65 million sale covered the resort development site. According to NBC Palm Springs, the City says the SilverRock municipal golf course was not included. The City of La Quinta owns the Arnold Palmer Classic Course and Landmark Golf Management runs it. The course plays 7,239 yards across more than 200 acres and was a host course for the PGA Tour's American Express tournament from 2008 to 2011.
The course has already had a full year of maintenance. The back nine closed May 18, 2026 for turf renovation, and players looped the front nine twice for 18 holes. Full play was scheduled to return August 28. The fall overseed comes next, and the course's posted schedule sets these dates:
- Closed: October 12 through October 29, 2026
- Reopens: October 30, 2026
- Cart paths only: October 30 through November 24, 2026
The SilverRock Grill serves breakfast and lunch daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. summer schedule runs June through September, so October is back on the longer hours. SilverRock Park sits at the site entrance and is also City property. It has an amphitheater, an event building, a lake and stream, a walking path, art pads, benches and drinking fountains.
The new plan's main effect on golfers is the clubhouse. The amended agreement moves a new golf clubhouse closer to the Avenue 52 entrance, along with other public amenities, to make public access easier. The course itself stays public. Over time, its clubhouse will shift toward the street and become part of the resort's front entrance.
What Comes Before the Cranes
The next public milestone is the release of designs. In June, Gazzano said renderings would be public by the end of 2026, when the site development permit applications go to the Planning Commission and City Council. Those hearings would be the first public look at what the tarped structures are meant to become.
He also said construction is "on track to start by next summer." Since he said that in June 2026, the target is summer 2027. It's still a projection, though. As of October 10, 2026, the record doesn't confirm a groundbreaking date, a hotel brand or an opening year. The City's SilverRock Park event calendar currently shows no listed events.
For now, the structures are slated for protective tarping rather than demolition, and the course follows its usual fall schedule. It closes October 12, reopens October 30, and stays cart-path-only through November 24. The renderings expected by year-end will be the first chance to see what the unfinished buildings are meant to become.
If you'd like to talk through how SilverRock's plans could shape the part of La Quinta you're considering, or what to watch for when the renderings come out, I'm glad to help. Kathleen Galigher follows La Quinta's planning calendar closely and can explain what each step means for your plans. Let's Connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
