Hot Springs Living in Twentynine Palms
New York Times
Not until recently did we really understand the appeal of desert living. But thanks to several trips out the desert, sometimes exploring desert trails, other times just living it up in architectural style under the stars, the stark serenity and solitude of the eastern inland of Southern California grew on us to the point we're always looking to escape away to its desolate landscape. The allure is something not completely uncommon, as illustrated by this recent NY Times article about WeHo artist Scott Griesbach, who set out to Twentynine Palms to create his own 50's-60's era Shangri-la, complete with his own excavated hot springs and a L-shaped shipping container artist studio...
After two weeks of work, a 500-foot well was drilled in his yard. And on a sizzling July day, water ascended at an astonishing 150 degrees.
“I was ecstatic,” Mr. Griesbach said.
Mr. Griesbach spent an additional $75,000 developing a system of industrial pumps, valves and thermometers to channel the water to two porcelain-tiled pools and automatically shut it off if the temperature exceeded 110 degrees. The pools are ensconced in a Douglas fir deck beside a stand of fragrant eucalyptus trees, and the water is so rich with minerals that it is difficult to submerge beneath it.
We believe the saying is, "living the dream", especially considering the $70,000 land and home price tag (though his investment far exceeded this initial purchase with the development and maintenance of the hot spring, as noted above). A tip of our cap to Mr. Griesbach and his ultimate DIY project! Read about the whole hot springs home project at Soaking in the Desert Scenery with plenty of more photos of the Twentynine Palms vacation house.
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My husband said he would rather go back to Iraq (and get shot again!) than step foot in Twentynine Palms again.
view AudreyinPDX's profile
I want to see more of the container house. Did he create this himself?
view kelleyk's profile
Twenty Nine Palms. No thanks.
view Seaside's profile
Those containers can get really hot/cold. Wonder how they're insulated for desert use.
view home body's profile
You either love the desert... or not. I LOVE it, so this is my idea of heaven. And there is nothing like natural hot springs. We go to Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs regularly... fabulous.
AT: The spring-fed tub would be a better lead photo. It has much broader appeal and is more relevant to the story. The story is the SPRING.
view arroyo's profile
I just don't feel that the photos featured here really told the full story. Why are people so opposed to Twenty Nine Palms? The interior of the little house was not particularly special ... but I think there must be a special feeling there for it to excite so many pros and cons. I'd like to see it and judge for myself.
view AustinSarah2's profile
My idea of the desert is not Twenty Nine Palms. It never has been for the past three decades I have regularly been enjoying the desert landscapes of Southern California and the South West.
view Seaside's profile