Palms at Indian Head Hotel Pool © Alice Joyce
There’s an intriguing history attached to The Palms at Indian Head – with its classic mid-century architecture and basic rooms. (I needed to switch rooms after the first night, and enjoyed ‘day 2’ when I stayed in one of the hotel’s view rooms.)
Palms At Indian Head © Alice Joyce
Formerly the Hoberg Resort, the property is renowned as a one-time getaway for movie stars from Marilyn Monroe to Clark Gable, and a safe haven at the time for actors seeking privacy, like Montgomery Clift and Raymond Burr. The current owners stepped in to save the main building and two poolside casitas from being demolished after a fire destroyed many bungalows on the land.
Two restaurants provide plenty of choices at any time on a Spring day: the Red Ocotillo, and Krazy Coyote for evening dining. The inviting bar served appetizers from 4:30 to 6p.m., satisfying my foodie cravings with a selection that included guacamole and cheese quesadillas, accompanied by a glass of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay.
Justicia californica
A direct path leads from ‘The Palms’ to Anza-Borrego’s Palm Canyon Hiking Trail which covers about 3-miles. The sights and sensory experience of the trail offer a memorable immersion in an awe-inspiring boulder-strewn, wildflower bedecked landscape of Anza-Borrego State Park.
Hello Alice,
Now you’ve made me hungry with talk of quesadillas!
What an interesting history this place has, it really would have been a shame to have been bulldozed.
GG … ;-)
It’s good to see desert mid-century modernism wasn’t just the property of Palm Springs. My all-time favorite place to stay in Anza-Borrego is out in the desert itself, with the park having extremely generous back country camping rules. Pick a secluded spot a certain distance from pavement and it’s yours for the night–for free. The quesadilla and chilled wine options are pretty sparse, however…