Desert Design and Down Time

Miracle Manor Retreat in Desert Hot Springs is all about muted desert esthetics, quiet and the water. (Oh, the water!) Designer April Greiman and architect Michael Rotondi used to spend quiet weekends at the mid-century modern motel building to escape their stressful day-to-day lives in Los Angeles. When the owner passed away, they bought their haven and transformed it into a true retreat.

While keeping the integrity of the original structure, they created a "seamless desert experience," designing a setting meant solely to encourage healing relaxation. The carefully cultivated minimalist look of the property adheres faithfully to the local esthetic, and is intended to blend into the background, not to intrude or distract. There are no clocks. There is no housekeeping to knock on your door at 8am. The bedding, soaps and shampoos are all organic and made from high-quality, local ingredients. They also provide a delicious self-serve breakfast with healthy breads and spreads, yogurts, fresh fruit and coffee. The Retreat has six rooms, and our weekend there was so deafeningly quiet that we were shocked to find out they had a full house.

Did we mention the water? There is a hot mineral pool as well as a larger warm pool, both thought to help promote circulation and relieve tension. The Retreat also offers a range of sumptuous and unique spa treatments provided by Rhonda, whose fun energy and experienced hands made us feel comfortable, pampered and happy. She customizes every treatment, applying her vast knowledge of healing techniques to serve the client. Rhonda first treated us to a womb-like water massage in the mineral pool. It felt like a gentle Thai massage, but the sensation of weightlessness allowed for greater movement than one could ever achieve on a mat. Next was a relaxing facial using delicious-smelling (and tasting!) products Rhonda created herself with local spices and plants, some from her very own garden.

From purposeful design to customized treatments, attention to detail and individual nurturing is the mark of everything they do at Miracle Manor, leaving no desert stone unturned.

Review originally published 8/16/2007.