The Midcentury Spa-Tels of Desert Hot Springs
New alumna (and Save As producer) Willa Seidenberg has enjoyed the mineral-water spas of Desert Hot Springs for decades. In the 1950s, the Coachella Valley town became a destination for middle- and working-class families who frequented the simple spa motels, or “spa-tels.” Willa and co-host Cindy Olnick took a road trip to Desert Hot Springs to see the remaining spa-tels and talk about Willa’s thesis, Spa City: The Midcentury Spa-Tels of Desert Hot Springs. You’ll hear about Willa’s research journey down rabbit holes that led to valuable discoveries. You’ll also learn about tools the town could use to boost its economy by celebrating its heritage.
Exterior of Hope Springs, 2022. Photo by William Short. 
Postcard of La Bella Sari Lodge. ca. early 1960s. From Desert Hot Springs Historical Society. 
Architectural drawing by John F. Outcault of La Bella Sari. From the John F. Outcault archive, UC Santa Barbara. 
Desert Hot Springs water content chart from a DHS Chamber of Commerce brochure, ca. 1950s. From Desert Hot Springs Historical Society. 
Desert Hot Springs Motel by John Lautner, ca. 1940s. From J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute. 
Historic photo of Miracle Manor, the first spa-tel on Miracle Hill, ca. 1960s. From the Desert Hot Springs Historical Society. 
Miracle Manor, 2023. Photo by William Short. 
Willa Seidenberg, seven months pregnant, at Miracle Manor, April, 1998. Photo by William Short. 
Ma-ha-yah Lodge postcard, ca. 1960s. From Desert Hot Springs Historical Society. 
Bella Monte Recovery Center; former site of Ma-ha-yah Lodge. Photo by Willa Seidenberg. 
Postcard of the Kismet Lodge, year unknown. From Desert Hot Springs History Society. 
Kismet Lodge/Living Waters, 2022. Photo by Willa Seidenberg. 
Jewish leaders posing at site of future temple in Desert Hot Springs. From Isaac E. Bloch Archives, UC Berkeley. 
Dedication of Temple Nove Sholom in Desert Hot Springs. 1958. Photo from Isaac E. Bloch Archives, UC Berkeley. 
Hilda M. Gray, first homesteader in Desert Hot Springs. Date unknown. From Cabot’s Pueblo Museum website. 
Cabot Yerxa’s first cabin, Eagle Nest, date unknown. From Images of America: Desert Hot Springs. 
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum. From Cabot Pueblo Museum website. 
L.W. Coffee’s first bath house, ca. 1940s. From Images of America: Desert Hot Springs. 
Empty lot that was the site of Coffee’s Bath House, the first in Desert Hot Springs, 2023. Photo by Willa Seidenberg. 
Historic photo of Angel View Crippled Children’s Foundation, date unknown. From Angel View website.
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Willa Seidenberg (MHC ’23) is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California’s Master in Heritage Conservation program. She recently retired from 23 years of teaching audio journalism at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She plans to spend her time in retirement making podcasts, traveling, reading, doing yoga, and keeping a foot firmly planted in the heritage conservation world.
Learn More
The Midcentury Spa-Tels of Desert Hot Springs by Willa Seidenberg
Desert Hot Springs Historical Society
Music by APEACEFULNIG
USC Heritage Conservation Programs
Your Hosts
Co-host Trudi Sandmeier is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Director of Graduate Programs in Heritage Conservation, and Professor of Practice at the USC School of Architecture. Her work centers on the conservation of the recent past and the impact of under-recognized communities on the historic built environment. Read more in her USC faculty bio.
Co-host Cindy Olnick serves as both Associate Director of Heritage Conservation at USC and a communications consultant for heritage conservation, historic preservation, and the built environment. Read more in her USC faculty bio.
Podcast producer Willa Seidenberg taught audio journalism and podcasting at USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, while pursuing a USC Master of Heritage Conservation degree. She retired from teaching and earned her degree in 2023.
A 20-year broadcast journalist and an inaugural fellow with USC’s Center for Excellence in Teaching, Willa founded Annenberg Radio News, the university’s radio news operation; and Intersections South LA, a reporting lab and community website for South Los Angeles.
With photographer William Short, Willa is the author of two oral history/photo projects: A Matter of Conscience: GI Resistance During the Vietnam War and Memories of the American War: Stories From Viet Nam.
