By Gayl Biondi

Desert Hot Springs

A City Rediscovered

By Gayl Biondi

It all started with a man, a mule and a mission. The natural beauty of this idyllic spot at the base of the foothills beckoned homesteader Cabot Yerxa and his trusty black burro named Merry Christmas in 1913. His successful quest for water paved the way for modern explorers to continue to make the trek to Desert Hot Springs. These days, they come to stake a claim for a piece of the tranquility found at a cadre of boutique spa, and the back-to-nature state of mind of its village atmosphere.

A legacy of legends and miracles is helping to fuel the dynamic community renaissance now underway in Desert Hot Springs. Ancient geothermal forces spawned a vast aquifer 100 feet below the Earth’s surface, filled with rich mineral water naturally heated to 180 degrees. The storied waters are said to have provided habitat to wildlife, sustained Native American peoples, and hold powerful curative powers for bathers to this day.

Speaking of H20, even as cities throughout the West struggle to procure and provide safe and adequate drinking water, Desert Hot Springs has been tapped as having some of the best-tasting water in the world. At the international Berkeley Springs Water Tasting and Competition, the same water served domestically in the city by Mission Springs Water District has taken home five medals in eight years of competition. With two gold, two silver, and one bronze, it has become obvious that there is no water in the world like the water in Desert Hot Springs.

Desert Hot Springs is the Coachella Valley’s gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. More than 3 million people each year travel along historic Highway 62 to visit the unique wilderness to rock climb, hike and camp in a setting unlike any other. Many of those same visitors from the world over cap their journey by “taking the waters” in Desert Hot Springs to recharge and rejuvenate.

Natural resources are a vital component of the future of Desert Hot Springs — so much so that the vision statement for the General Plan update presently underway has adopted the following motto: “The City of Desert Hot Springs is committed to becoming a world-class health and wellness destination based on its famous miracle waters, unique desert ecosystem, spectacular mountain views, and natural environment.”

Long considered “off the beaten path” from the more high-profile Palm Springs desert resort communities, this spunky hot water haven is a popular refuge for celebrities and sun seekers from all walks of life and corners of the world. Poised as it is overlooking the other Coachella Valley cities and thousands of acres of protected mountain preserves, the great outdoors will always be an integral part of the Desert Hot Springs lifestyle.

“Commercial developers and investors are discovering that our short distance from other valley cities provides them with a captive market,” observes Deputy City Manager John Soulliere. “Businesses that locate in Desert Hot Springs can plan on a significant market share for their goods and services. People won’t cross the I-10 if they don’t need to. Businesses here get the whole market, and that translates to a great return on their investment.”

The Desert Hot Springs Spa Association represents small inns ranging in aesthetics from minimalist to naturalist and larger resort-style properties with full spa amenities. The health and wellness niche is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the hospitality industry. A Cornell study of the spa market suggested that Desert Hot Springs’ mineral waters are not only valued for their curative properties, but also are especially rich in silica, leaving the skin soft and smooth.

As a testament to Desert Hot Springs’ plucky resolve, folklore and legends live on. Two Bunch Palms is said to have been named by the US Army Camel Corps. The distinctive and ornate solid-rock fortress on the resort property has been attributed to Chicago gangster Al Capone. More recently, the very private 56-acre Two Bunch Palms Resort served as a lush backdrop for intrigue in the Robert Altman movie, The Player.

Not content to rest on its infamous laurels, Two Bunch Palms is embarking on a renaissance in its own right. The property was recently purchased by King Ventures, a niche developer of natural mineral spas and wellness centers. John King, president and CEO, is committed to reclaiming and revitalizing true healing places where international visitors can not only pamper themselves, but also renew their well-being.

Talks are well underway with world-renowned physician Andrew Weil to create a healing arts center to practice his Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM). The principle of the program is to train physicians, nurses and allied health professionals to implement the best practices in health care using rigorous scientific studies along with the healing powers of nature.

Says Deborah Morris Coryella, director of King Venture’s Health and Wellness Division, “We feel blessed to have the opportunity to transform the innate healing power of Two Bunch Palms into a widely recognized destination for both allopathic and non-allopathic medicine, as well as an active internship site for holistic health practitioners.”

A master plan for the Two Bunch Palms area will bring an eclectic mix of hot-water uses, 350 residential units, a hotel expansion, and public access to restaurants and hot pools. Plans for the residential health villages include plumbing to allow homeowners to soak in lithium spring water in the privacy of their own bathrooms.

From a growth and development standpoint, Desert Hot Springs is making the most of its sweeping valley views and natural environment. Project entitlements have been recorded for 12,000 homes. An additional 12,000 are in the entitlement process. With the rapid increase in population and income demographics steadily rising, the city believes it is ripe for business investments.

The housing mix is diverse and intended to appeal to families, seniors, and high-end buyers who literally want to “move up” to more open space. Mayer-Luce Development Group’s Tuscan Hills is planned as a 505-acre gated county club featuring 2,000 residences in single family, active adult, and condominium configurations. The neighborhoods will surround an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Tournament Players Design, led by World Golf Hall of Fame member Johnny Miller.

“Tuscan Hills combines a remarkable mountain setting with championship golf by one of the finest golf architecture groups in the world,” says Walt Luce, CEO of Mayer-Luce. The project will feature a well-appointed clubhouse with first-class amenities, pro shop, generous open spaces, and multipurpose trails. The first phase is set to open in summer 2006.

Current and future residents have a great deal to look forward to in the way of retail, medical, and cultural offerings. Working in concert with Desert Healthcare District, a Blue Ribbon Committee is developing a Community Healthcare Business Plan. The purpose of the plan is to identify and guide health-care resources for the growing community well into the future.

A comprehensive downtown revitalization plan is also on the boards to enhance the street scene along main thoroughfares and make way for an expanded civic center campus that includes a community center, public swimming pool, and amphitheater, along with expanded versions of the public library and senior center.

Many “long-timers” praise Desert Hot Springs’ so-called splendid isolation. As they say, no one arrives in town by accident, since it’s not directly on the way to anywhere else. The town is its own destination. Current-day city boosters aim to preserve the community’s individuality while rounding out its edges to provide an inclusive menu of creature comforts surrounded by the flora and fauna that are the natural miracles of the desert.

What’s emerging in Desert Hot Springs is the whole package — a quaint and friendly place to spend some quality down-time, as well as a vibrant, well-rounded community in which to raise a family or actively retire. “The challenge for the city,” says Deputy City Manager, John Soulliere, “is how to manage growth to benefit the community for years to come. We must remain conscientious of the delicate balance of our natural beauty, natural resources, and desire for quality development.”

Story from the 2005/2006 Edition of FOCUS on the Coachella Valley, produced by Palm Springs Life Magazine for the Riverside County Economic Agency. Distributed in the Palm Springs Life October 2005 Magazine. More information available at http://www.rivcoeda.org/