Two Bunch Palms, a historic mineral springs spa two hours east of Los Angeles in Desert Hot Springs, has been purchased by an investment team of Hollywood execs who promise to restore the resort to its former glory. The new owners plan a multi-million dollar renovation on the property, which has been in receivership since April, 2010. Receivership basically means that the bank asks a neutral third party to take control of the property while everything gets worked out. The new owners say they will revive and expand the property while respecting its heritage.
"We will embark on a renovation, faithful to the traditions of this peerless gem, but will spare no expense to re-create a destination at the very pinnacle of the lodging and resort industry," says L.A. real estate investor Gidi Cohen, one of the team. Two Bunch Palms' rich history dates back to the 1920s. Al Capone, the gangland bootlegger, is said to have used a cottage there as his West Coast hideout. Actor Tim Robbins' famous mud bath scene from Robert Altman's "The Player" (1992) was filmed there. The rock-wall compound has 52 private bungalows, most with private backyards or patios along with its natural hot springs and mud baths. Currently, only 15 acres of the property's 270 acres are developed, though that's likely to change.
The waters of Two Bunch Palms are known for their rich lithium content, which is considered to be a natural mood stabilizer. The spa's lushly landscaped grotto has two hot pools, one heated to 104 degrees and a larger pool maintained at 99 degrees. The new owners are looking for experience partners to operate the spa and reinvent The Casino Dining Room, the resort's fine dining venue.
The new owners are looking to build 3,000 square-foot villas, senior housing, and a private post-operative surgery rehab facility. This sounds like a place to go after your face lift. The new owners are also planning to market a line of spa products and beverages made from the spa's natural waters. "There is something special in the water here," says Cohen. "People seem to be drawn here specifically for effects of the water."
Photo by Two Bunch Palms in Desert Springs