Please Note: this virtual can be completed from the free parking lot or the corner of Madonna Rd. if you prefer not to enter the premises. No purchase is necessary and you do not have to interact with employees to complete the qualifications for this virtual.
Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, in San Luis Obispo, lies a piece of California architectural history. This roadside attraction is the creation of Alex Madonna, an entrepreneur and construction magnate, and his wife Phyllis. It opened as a motel in late 1958 with 12 rooms and quickly expanded to 40 rooms the following year. In May 1966, the inn's original units were destroyed in a fire and reopened a year later. By the end of the decade, all of the now 110 rooms had been rebuilt in the themed manner for which they are known today.
The pink inn sits on over 1,000 acres and the large rocks used in the construction came from these surrounding acres. Some of the larger rocks weigh in excess of 200 tons each. The leaded glass work throughout and the large etched glass windows were custom made for the inn. The glass inserts illustrate Madonna's various enterprises: construction, lumber and cattle. The hand-carved marble balustrade came from the nearby Hearst Castle. All copper and brass items were etched and shaped from original designs and fabricated right on the premises. Wood carvers were brought in for the specialty work of hand carving the doors, beams, railings and adornments.
In addition to its architectural history, the inn is cemented in pop culture history. Many celebrities including George Burns, Dustin Hoffman, Dolly Parton, Clint Eastwood and John Wayne have stayed at the inn. It has also appeared onscreen in the film "Aria" and the reality shows "The Bachelor," "The Girls Next Door" and "Little People, Big World," and numerous music videos. There is also a rock and steel cage structure on the southeast side of the parking lot that used to house a retired MGM African lion named The Duchess that Alex won in a coin toss.
To claim a find on this cache you must:
1. Post a photo of yourself, your GSPr, or signature item WITH the Madonna Inn sign in the background. Posted coords are of the sign from their free parking lot. If you prefer to stay outside the premises, an additional waypoint of their welcome sign has been provided. Either sign will qualify.
2. The photo MUST ALSO include a piece of paper with the found date.
If your log does not include a valid photo, I reserve the right to delete your log. You MUST physically visit this site after publication to record this discovery. Thanks for understanding🙂
Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.