This is Palm Springs: October 2009

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Oasis Hotel, entranceway

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Exterior view of Oasis Hotel, showing the hotel entrance, including signage and tower. Hotel built in 1923. Architect: Lloyd Wright.

Tower view, Oasis Hotel

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Full shot view of the tower at the Oasis Hotel in Palm Springs. Hotel built in 1923. Architect: Lloyd Wright.

Hotel Del Tahquitz

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During the 1930s and into the 1940s, the Hotel Del Tahquitz was one of the city's biggest attractions as well as one of only four large hotels in town. It was erected by a motion picture actress, and included the Saddle Bar Cocktail Lounge, an outdoor dining grill, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and offered badminton and ping-pong. There was even an ice rink floorshow in the dining room, which was a Palm Springs first. A year after its opening, the actress sold the hotel to Tom and Billie Lipps. During World War II, the Lipps' kept the Del Tahquitz open during the summer, at a loss to themselves, for the Ferry Command pilots stationed in town. Billie soon became "Mom" to scores of servicemen, who got word that the guys were always welcome to stay at the hotel for next to nothing. Billie became the first woman president of the California Hotel Association, never forgetting to take care of "her boys". In 1946, she sold the Hotel to M.A. Charleston who continued to run it for the next 12 years. Mr. Charleston eventually sold the property to the Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan Association, who had it demolished in 1960 to build their new headquarters. Billie "Mom" Lipps passed away in 1991 at the age of 96. It is said that many of "her boys", the same servicemen from WWII that she had cared for, continued corresponding with her up until her death. Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, approximately 111 miles east of Los Angeles. It is one of nine adjacent cities that make up the Coachella Valley, and is sheltered by the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, Santa Rosa Mountains to the south, San Jacinto Mountains to the west, and Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east. It has become known as "The Playground of the Stars", and many famous people have had homes in the city or have vacationed at this desert oasis. As of 2007, Palm Spring's population stands at 42,350.
Summary		View of the Hotel Del Tahquitz, located on the southeast corner of South Palm Canyon Drive and Baristo Road in downtown Palm Springs. Photograph shows a two-story, Pueblo-style structure with separate 3-tiered tower on the corner of the street. The Tahquitz Cleaners & Tailors shop is located on the left corner, and European cafe is on the right.