Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs is a city just over 100 miles east of Los Angeles.  It's a resort city with many famous spas calling Desert Hot Springs it's home.  It's a perfect location to experience all of the outdoor activities desert life has to offer.  In addition to their well-known spas, the area offers some of the best hiking, horseback riding, golf and tennis around. 

Cabot Yerxawas one of the first homesteaders in Desert Hot Springs and provided a major role in the development of this city.He arrived in the area in 1913 and in 1914 soon after Yerxa is credited for discovering the Hot Mineral waters in the area. Yerxa created one of the first residences located on Miracle Hill. Inside this large hole was the first permanent building of Desert Hot Springs.It was called Eagles Nest Cabin.It was only a total of 200 sq feet and build of stone.Yerxa and his burro, Merry Xmas walked miles to carry 100 lb sacks of cement back.Eagles Nest Cabin had a door and only one window since the majority of the building resided underground.

Yerxa asked and eventually convinced L.W. Coffee to move to the area.In 1932Coffee, began the development named Desert Hot Springs.  In July 1941, Coffee proclaimed to be the "father" of Desert Hot Springs.

Around 1941, Yerxa decided he would be a structure using Hopi Indian architecture.  After a year cutting down a mountainside with just a pick and a shovel,  Yerxa was ready to build a structure now called Old Indian Pueblo .   This amazing structure still remains unfinished.  The east wall on the ground floor lacks doors and windows. Designed to keep the home cooler, the sun doesn't shine into the rooms downstairs until sunset. The 35-room structure stands at four stores high and 150 windows, 48 interior doors and 17 outside doors.Today, this home is a key feature in the history of Desert Hot Springs.

Desert Hot Springs became a spa destination in the late 1950s to 1960s. The area earned a nickname of Spa City.Today, Desert Hot Springs remains a leader in spas.It has a variety of spas to spend some valuable time resting and relaxing.