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 n the 1950s, they came to The Spring in wheelchairs and on crutches, hoping to soak up a cure or relief from pain in the rich mineral waters bubbling up out of the ground at 170 degrees. The resort was just The Moors then, a small and simple out-of-the way hotel for those in the know. But over the years, The Spring has been compared to Lourdes and Baden-Baden because out of its property flows some of the most potent and curative water in the world-and the world is starting to pay attention. "I've had German guests tell me they were sitting in a spa in Romania and heard people talking about Desert Hot Springs," says Spring owner Maria Lease.
 A twenty minute drive from Palm Springs, The Spring at Desert Hot Springs is deep in the southern California desert-a part of the world that's sunny 350 days a year, routinely less than 27% humid, and on an average, 73 degrees.
"This whole place is about nature," Lease continues. "The mountains, the desert winds, our water-you get a really great sense of the earth here. "This explains why, when she bought the property two years ago, her vision for the extensive renovation was to simply and quietly pay homage to the majestic surrounding vista with cool sandy colors and minimalist furnishings. Here, televisions and phones are replaced by intriguing reading and eclectic world music.
All of the resort's nine rooms and one suite face a grassy courtyard, where bougainvillea and desert flowers bloom, roadrunners dash by, and humming birds and doves gather. Three pools, fed directly from the spring, whose water is cooled to a variety of comfortable temperatures but otherwise unaltered, ripple calmly just steps from every guest's front door. The pools remain open 24 hours, offering the tempting possibility of a languid nighttime soak under an unobstructed canopy of stars.
The resort itself perches on an elevated promontory just beyond the outskirts of the town of Desert Hot Springs. Clear views of Coachella Valley roll out in every direction, while on three sides, dramatic mountains beckon. In winter, their snow-capped peaks serve as a reminder of what visitors to the desert leave behind. Meanwhile, the limited but attentive staff caters to guests' needs, including the need to escape into luxurious solitude.
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One of the spa's most inviting amenities is its fire sauna-a genuine article, imported from Finland, and constructed entirely of cedar. Lease immediately rejected the idea of employing an electric sauna. "A true fire sauna creates an abundance of negative ions, which are energizing, as opposed to the positive ions electric saunas give off," she says. Wrapped in the comforting scent of cedar wood, guests find themselves in a scene of clean Scandinavian simplicity. A copper ladle and bucket create a natural steam bath by pouring water directly onto the baked rocks-another benefit that's particular to a fire sauna.
 Massages, facials, body wraps and exfoliations of all variations are available here, where treatments range from the deeply relaxing to the overtly healing. Packages like The Detox (two hours, $220) combine all the elements, pairing a cleansing lymphatic massage with a refreshing full-body exfoliation and an icy lemongrass and ginger body wrap. Cranial massages (1 hour, $100) are offered to combat TMJ, migraines and eyestrain; The Sinus Facial relieves pressure and eases breathing. For sun worshippers, poolside manicures can also be arranged.
The Spring Turkish Buff
This full body exfoliation (approximately 2 hours, $145) promotes circulation and energy flow, and is indeed a favorite in the bathhouses of Turkey. But this version came to The Spring via Korea. Lease discovered the treatment at a spa in Los Angeles' Koreatown, and instantly knew it was a perfect complement to her offerings.
"It's one of our most popular treatments, because it gets your skin ready to soak in the water," she says. "It also gets your mind ready to shift into vacation gear. At The Spring guests are offered a choice: they can ask for the treatment to be done as vigorously as originally intended or they can elect a softer touch." Not only is the buffing process extended to ensure every callused spot is smoothed, but an hour-long massage follows the treatment, as does a shampoo on the massage table using only a bucket of warm water.
Zen Breeze Facial
An aesthetician at The Spring, Michele Weidaur, designed this facial (one hour, $120) using only top of the line, all-natural Epicuren products, but perhaps it's called the Zen Breeze because what characterizes this treatment are continuous wafts of scented air. With Pachelbel's Canon playing in the background, I relaxed as Weidaur blended her products with natural essences like chamomile, rosemary and sage in succession.
Beyond cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing, the face, neck and shoulders are treated to a massage with alternatively firm, then fluttery strokes, and kneaded in circles. Before this facial, I never knew I held tension on the bridge of my nose. After a dose of steam whispers softly across your face, a chai soy mask is applied to tone the skin while your feet are gently massaged. Upon request, a light zinc sun block completes your treatment.
High season rates go into effect December 23rd, but a number of discounted spa packages are offered year round, such as The Spring Glory (2-night stay plus the Epicurean Facial, a Clay and Sandalwood wrap, 30 minutes of Reflexology and a 90-minute Combination Massage beginning at $765/Monday-Thursday and $805/Friday-Sunday).
Beginning November 14th, The Spring will host its first seven day water fast, which will be presented by and under the direction of Jan Minter, LMT, CT. Rates for the fast package run $1500, $1300 for double occupancy. No guests under 18 are allowed at The Spring.
For more information or reservations, contact:
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