The hotel was built in 1972, and originally belonged to the Hilton Hotels. It is currently owned by Kuilima Resort Company and is managed and operated by Benchmark Hospitality International. A potential development deal with Starwood Hotels fell through in July 2007.[1]
The resort is close to surf spots, including Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline, and Sunset Beach. The resort is in proximity to Hale'iwa, Brigham Young University Hawaii campus and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Films and TV shows have been filmed on location at the Turtle Bay Resort. The hotel has been featured in, or the setting for episodes of Hawaii 5-0, Magnum P.I., Full House and the short-lived Fox TV series North Shore. The resort featured prominently as the setting for the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall.