California’s desert presents an apparent nothingness: dry heat year-round, flat land that runs for miles until it abruptly becomes a mountain range, dust, dirt, highways, and images of Hollywood Westerns. This though, is only an illusionary image. Because in and in-between the Mojave and the Sonoran Desert is not only rich history but rich cultural real estate, where some of the nation's most popular music festivals take place, where artists of all mediums find inspiration in its quietude, and where those interested in wellness and longevity find a place of health and healing. 

Enter Miracle Manor Boutique Hotel & Spa, a quaint getaway in Desert Hot Springs, a town of about 30 square miles in Southern California’s Coachella Valley. Roughly a two-hour-southwest drive from Los Angeles, the place is regarded for its natural hot springs and energy vortex, making it the perfect destination for those looking to enjoy California’s exciting and unique characteristics, while also having the option to observe solitude and leisure.

Coming up on its 70th anniversary, the boutique hotel might appear as new, but the building and the property are as old as Desert Hot Springs itself, being one of the first available spas since the town’s founding. Built in the 50s, the hotel charms with mid-century modern architecture, decorated with colors that complement and contrast the natural palette of blues, browns, and yellows of the hot desert. See a crystal blue pool, vibrant green flora, and bubblegum pink doors to each room. Although the official founding of Desert Hot Springs puts the town at less than 100 years old, visitors can feel an unspoken sense of familiar comfort. This is thanks to the friendly nature of Miracle Manor’s hospitality style met with a close proximity to wilderness, while simultaneously enjoying modern comfort.

With only nine rooms throughout the hotel, Miracle Manor offers this unique space perfect for a spectrum of travelers: individuals, couples getaways, or groups like family reunions, weddings, or business retreats. Solo travelers might make friends in the common dining space (where breakfast and lunch are offered), whilst groups have enough space to gather and enjoy one another or disperse about for downtime. 

Each room is made with the intention of maximizing relaxation for each guest. Bedding and bath towels are made up of organic material, and yoga mats, blocks, and room service is available on request. Some larger rooms include a kitchenette, while the smaller quarters hold a mini fridge and a tea and coffee station. 

The outdoor amenities are perhaps just what make Miracle Manor so refreshing. There’s a large deck with a clear, unobstructed view of the San Jacinto mountains where yoga classes (or solo practice!) are led. Adjacent is a sizeable lawn and a garden, and behind that garden, are two soaking tubs that are connected to hot and cold mineral-rich natural springs that were discovered on Miracle Hill. These same springs are also connected to the swimming pool. Inside is a spa that offers massages, facials, and spirit treatments, conducted by experienced therapists who are there to help guests return back to a balanced version of themselves. 

Miracle Manor is situated in the vicinity of some of the most popular wellness locations on the West Coast. It is, however, unique in the wellness space that it exists in. Its intimate size and multi-use space create an atmosphere perfect for community growth. It tends to the needs of the individual, but it also inspires and reminds its visitors of the necessary one-ness–with people, with nature, with time–that we must possess for growth and healing in this lifetime. 

Below, we speak with owner, author, and wellness aficionado, Kelsey J Patel, about Coachella Valley’s hidden haven. 

How did Miracle Manor Boutique Hotel & Spa come into your life, and what struck you about the hotel when you first came across it? 

Right before the pandemic, in December 2019, I was looking for a special, quaint, and sort of unknown place outside of LA to lead a healing women’s retreat in the new year. I felt very called to do a retreat that January, little did I know it would be my last one for a while because the pandemic was just around the corner. I had done dozens of retreats over the years in lots of unique places and countries, but I was really yearning to find a sacred place outside of LA that would be easy to get to and could have a deep impact on people. 

I started to google and call places in Desert Hot Springs, Ojai, and other places around the city. I had led a few retreats in Desert Hot Springs years prior and one of the main places I had held a huge retreat at just wasn’t returning my phone calls. So, out of necessity, I had to find someplace else. That’s when I stumbled upon these amazing images of this chic motel with pink doors, a beautiful pool, and amazing views that was apparently built on a healing vortex. I knew this would be where my retreat was going to be held before I even called and booked the rooms. 

To be honest, I was shocked that I had never seen or heard of it before, especially because I was so deep in the wellness scene of Los Angeles. Long story short, I held my retreat there that January and was absolutely in love with the hotel: the vibe, the rooms, and the entire experience and space. I had told my husband all about it and how special it was. The healing water and the massages etc., and couldn’t believe this sacred gem I had found. 

When COVID hit that spring, we were both looking for something we could turn our attention to and build/create together. My husband said he wanted to start looking at small hotel properties and other types of land for us to potentially create something as we went into a very uncertain and unstable time. I told him to look at the hotel I had done my retreat at that January as inspiration and as luck would have it, the day he looked up Miracle Manor to get a feel for the property, he saw it had been listed for sale the night before! We couldn’t believe it. 

We immediately booked a trip to stay there. I’ll never forget that night we went into the hot spring pools and looked up at the sky and the beautiful open courtyard and he said to me, “This is it. This is the place we are meant to be.” 

It felt so serendipitous and before you know it, we were the proud owners and first-time hoteliers. Although I stumbled upon Miracle Manor when I led my first retreat there, I have a deep sense that the land and property called us there just as much as we called it into our lives. We fell in love with the energy and the space. Both of us were instantly captivated by its charm and healing energy. You step onto the property and feel your body drop. The vortex is so real and it’s incredible to see people change and shift in just two days of staying with us. They come in perhaps a bit stressed and flustered or anxious or in need of healing and they leave with bright, clear eyes and a happy peace-filled heart. It’s so cool.

The sense of history and authenticity woven into every corner of the property is just incredible. From the architecture to the soothing mineral hot springs, the surrounding mountains, the evening stars, and morning sunrise with nature everywhere, there is just an undeniable magic and rejuvenation that engulfs you when you’re on the property. Over the years, we have learned more about the rich heritage. We’ve met amazing individuals from Desert Hot Springs, we’ve met guests who have been coming to the hotel for years who have shared their amazing stories of both experiences and healings on the land. It is just so inspiring and fun. Next year, we will be celebrating 70 years in Desert Hot Springs. We existed before the city even became a city.

What were your initial intentions with Miracle Manor, and how have those intentions evolved since its redesign and re-opening? 

Our original intentions were simply to do whatever it took to keep the property open and available to people, especially during COVID. That was hard. We discovered a lot of stuff that needed repair, fixing, replacement, maintenance, etc., so it was a challenging time, to say the least. Any big visions or grand plans had to be put on hold because we didn’t know what would come next each month and our goal was to just try and keep the doors open. Sometimes we laughed at how much it felt like the TV comedy series, Schitt’s Creek. We had no idea what we were doing or how to run and operate a hotel so there were a lot of mistakes, learning, growing pains etc. It was fun and it was hard. Like any new family business, a lot of long hours, big decisions, uncertain choices, and moments. As we evolved and grew, we learned a lot about what we were good at, where we needed help, and how to prioritize our responsibilities. 

I can’t reiterate enough how many moments where we thought, What did we do?! This is so much work and it’s only a small 8-bedroom hotel. Thankfully though, as time went on, we made some amazing changes to the property, and my husband, who is a true visionary, had such a strong vision for what he wanted to do.

He convinced me that we should buy the land next to the hotel to create a yoga deck and soaking tubs and an overall relaxation area for our guests. He also wanted to build out an Owner’s Suite, which was originally going to be our private space tucked in the back of the hotel and a complete gut and redesign of this tiny little room at the back of the hotel. I was hesitant about all of it because it seemed like such a huge investment with no real guaranteed return. 

He was so smart because now that it is all complete and done, the hotel is just absolutely serene and incredible. We can now offer day passes because he transformed the tiny little room into a full bathroom and shower for people to use when they aren’t staying with us. The suite he built for us in the back was so beautiful that we knew it would be better to make it a guest room instead. He also renovated the spa room, which I didn’t even think needed to be redone until he did it, and I fell in love with it. He had us update all of the bathrooms and redo all of the guest room walls in a soothing Roman clay finish and edit the design a bit and it just looks stunning. 

My vision and intention has always been for the hotel and its spaces to be used for group retreats and events. There is such a powerful sense of connectedness when people come there as a group, especially because most of the rooms are in the courtyard and that makes it feel like a big house where everyone has their own room. I have seen people use the property for wellness retreats, yoga retreats, sobriety retreats, family reunions, weddings, birthdays, bachelorette weekends, trainings, corporate events, and more. And that is really my continued long-term goal, to have people come together as a group and experience their own individual and collective healing experience. It’s transformational when you share the time there together with other human beings. 

What is your first memory of being drawn to wellness? 

I remember back in college, when I was super stressed out and working several jobs to pay for my college rent and tuition, I was really interested in a yoga studio I would walk by on my way home. None of my college friends were into it, but I kept feeling called to the studio. I ended up working a desk shift there once a week in exchange for free classes. It was shocking to me how different I felt every time I left the class and since that time I sort of went in and out of wellness classes.

The moment I decided to immerse myself in wellness was when I made the leap from working in the corporate world and always feeling stressed and burnt out with chronic neck and back pain, to when I opened my first fitness studio in Beverly Hills. I didn’t really know what would happen but I felt so inspired watching people come into my fitness studio feeling stressed and tired and watching them leave feeling confident, energized, and proud of themselves and their bodies. That was absolutely life-changing. 

What kind of impact do the natural attractions of this location–such as the energetic vortex and natural mineral hot springs–have on someone’s stay at Miracle Manor? 

It is hard to describe until you feel it yourself but I’d say the impact they have is helping people get back to their original nature–the essence and power and rhythm of what it can feel like to be human. People travel all over the world to feel the different vortexes on earth and I think it’s because it connects them to something deeper inside. A place that we all have access to and that is natural to us but we have so many things that distract and take us away from this essence. 

Miracle Manor has a unique ability to promote this experience in people without them needing to do much but be there to feel it. 

The natural mineral hot springs have a multitude of therapeutic benefits that contribute to overall wellness. They are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium and have been used for centuries for their healing properties. Guests will often stay in the pools and tubs for hours and tell us how they feel so much of their tension alleviated or how a stiff part of the body suddenly has more movement, our therapists onsite also encourage guests to use the water to promote detoxification. The sun, wind, water, mountain views, and incredible sunsets and stars also help people get really connected to the elements of the desert. 

As an entrepreneur juggling several responsibilities, how do you make time for yourself to practice the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health you first fell in love with? 

As a mom now as well to a young toddler, the truth is it’s hard. Sometimes I do it well and it’s consistent and sometimes I don’t. The difference now is that I know when I have fallen out of my practices and when I need to return to the simple ways of caring for myself. The things I know that make the biggest difference for me. I often use the hotel, actually, as a quick reset for myself. I will go on a weekday for a night on my own or sometimes with my husband and just being there for 24 hours is the most incredible jolt to get me back on track. The land and the water align me so quickly. 

I get asked this a lot, from my friends, to family and my online community who are feeling stressed or like they don’t know where to start. I always tell them to start by taking micro-breaks each day to help their macro health and joy. And if they can’t do micro-breaks, plan a macro experience to truly reset. For micro support, I love daily walks, making a cup of tea in the middle of the day, journaling for 20 minutes, a short meditation or midday bath, or yoga nidra, especially when I’m drained. I believe working out a few times a week (for me that’s weight training, pilates, or hiking) is key to feeling balanced and healthy. I also do acupuncture once a week, which has been super important because I let myself just release and drop inward. If I’m feeling lonely or doubtful, spending time with a loved one or calling my sister or best friend is so emotionally supportive to me. Those are all ways I recenter and balance my health each week. If you can’t do micro-breaks, then plan a macro journey away so you can try to have a full reset. I had a huge health scare this year so my overall health and wellbeing is a priority like never before to me. If I can’t get a lot of time for daily self-care then I will take that 24 hours to get away and feel myself connect again with my body and it feels amazing. 

What went into curating the Miracle Manor experience? What was the decision-making process like for finding the right spa therapists, products, yoga leaders, etc?

Curating the Miracle Manor experience was a labor of love, driven by a commitment to providing our guests with a truly intentional, one-of-a-kind healing and rejuvenating experience. Every aspect of the experience, from the spa therapies to the yoga sessions to the food we serve or the cleaning products we use in our rooms, are all carefully curated and selected to ensure the highest level of quality and authenticity. 

We have an amazing manager, Danielle, who used to be the director of a very well-known spa in California. She is also a trained massage therapist, esthetician and so much more. She has helped us with every aspect of curating the experiences our guests have at Miracle Manor and when it comes to our spa, she is the most astute at finding and curating the perfect collective from our team to our linens to our offerings and products. She has been in the wellness field for so long and she truly listens to our guests and finds them just the right thing for their diverse needs and preferences. She is always striving and evolving our spa to make guest experiences so unique and one that they will remember even after they have left our land. 

‍What do you find unique about Desert Hot Springs? What are your favorite aspects about hosting an experience in the desert, and what are the challenges? 

As a boutique hotel owner in Desert Hot Springs, I find this location to be so interesting. It doesn’t have the hype or the nightlife or food scene of Palm Springs, nor does it have the national park or vibe of Joshua Tree that people go to visit. But what it does have is this incredibly special, almost isolated feeling of peace, introspection, quietness, and sacredness. The water, the views, the stars, and the simplicity really bring a sense of calm that I don’t find anyplace else. And, the natural hot springs water here has been revered for centuries, for good reason and it brings us and our tiny hotel visitors from all over the world to experience its healing. 

I absolutely love hosting events and retreats at the hotel. When you get a bunch of people from all over the world together in this beautiful setting with our sweet little courtyard of rooms, our family style dining and these waters that just bring us all together, there is something magical that happens. The gathering of strangers amidst this healing oasis in the middle of the desert is something I can’t put into words. I have experienced and been a witness to people having their most profound awakenings simply because they let themselves receive it all. When you bask in the quiet, and you let the vast space of the desert hold you, the water clears you and some new part of you opens. It’s just so cool. Especially when you experience it together and see it in the eyes of the people you’ve just met too. We all care about each other and the way we are experiencing this wild place.

The challenge is always the wind. The one part of the experience we can’t control is mother nature. The winds pick up in the desert and it’s crazy. People’s swimsuits hanging out to dry end up across the property, the yoga deck has had to have it’s covering replaced a couple times and we’ve even used wind sailing material!

Aside from a day pass or stay at Miracle Manor, how do you support different events at the hotel? What are the pressures and rewards of hosting weddings, birthdays, special parties, etc? 

Even though we are a small hotel, we love to see ourselves as a big space for incredible events. We have hosted various types of events, including weddings, birthdays, bachelorettes, corporate retreats, wellness retreats and brand events. We absolutely love partnering with people and brands to help make their vision come to life. People often use our space as a first-time event for themselves. Whether it’s a yoga instructor who wants to lead their first retreat bit might feel scared or intimated, or a person wanting to host their first big birthday party as a weekend event vs a one-evening experience, we love to help make it happen. Our team is so committed to helping people think big and get as creative as they can and we get as excited about their vision as they are. We have the most fun with our events and people really love it and always want to come back and have a reason to book it again for their next big moment in life. 

We do everything from intimate experiences and ceremonies to grand receptions. Our team works closely with event organizers to customize the space and create a personalized experience that reflects the unique vision and preferences of the host.

The reward of hosting these events is immeasurable. The feedback we get, the smiles, the photos they send us and the joy that is felt on property is palpable and it makes us all feel so grateful that we got to play a small part in such a beautiful life moment. That is fuel for our team and it keeps them going. It also helps us all get excited about what else may come and how else we can create magic in the space and on the property. I swear sometimes I can feel the land smiling, especially after we’ve had a special event or group retreat. It’s like it knows it did a good job of holding space and giving each person and guest what they needed. 

What does a perfect day at Miracle Manor/in Desert Hot Springs sound like to you? Is there anything a visitor shouldn’t miss in their time here? 

Love this question! I will tell you exactly! A perfect day at Miracle Manor for me would be:

Waking up naturally as the sun is slowly rising. Make a slow-drip coffee in one of our beautiful rooms with our pour-over and locally made Coachella Valley coffee. Then I would take my coffee outside and do a short meditation on the yoga deck, followed by a private soak in one of our soaking tubs that overlooks the San Jacinto Mountains. Absolutely epic morning!

Afterwards, a cool rinse-off in the room and then a 30-minute yoga flow or stretch, followed by our homemade breakfast in the lobby, which is just incredible. 

If it’s not too hot outside, I would go for a hike in the local Desert Hot Springs area, which consists of amazing hiking through canyons and lots of little gems in the desert terrain.

I would definitely sit outside under the deck or in a lounger by the pool for about 20-30 minutes and journal for a bit. Then I would hang out in the pool for a bit before getting a spa treatment from one of our amazing practitioners. Afterward, maybe a quick nap and then lunch on the property. Danielle makes an amazing spa salad. 

In the later afternoon, when the sun is settling down, I would either go into Joshua Tree to shop a little before watching the sunset in the national park and then grab dinner in Joshua Tree. Or if I wanted a more lively outing, I would go to my favorite stores in Palm Springs for some shopping and then an amazing dinner. All of my favorite shops and restaurants are listed in our rooms as a mini hotel guide on where we love to eat, hike, and shop. My husband and I are total foodies and travel the world to find good food so I stand by all of my recs. Get home and maybe an evening soak in the hot tubs to stargaze and then a little reading or meditating before an early, usually 9-9:30 PM bedtime. 

What do you hope for guests to take home with them after experiencing a stay at Miracle Manor? 

As the owner of Miracle Manor Boutique Hotel & Spa, my greatest hope is for our guests to depart with a sense of peace and well-being. 

That is it. I know it is simple but we truly hope people feel more peace inside of themselves when they leave and a strong awareness of their vitality and capacity to heal and to feel well. 

Miracle Manor is more than just a hotel, and I hope people can feel that when they visit us. Each person has a unique experience and every time they come back, it’s different because they are different. The land, the water, and the healing available there is so much bigger than we are. And I really hope guests will experience that. My husband and I felt it the first time we stayed on property and we continue to feel it every time we go. My shoulders just drop the minute my feet touch the ground. People have told us that just after two nights on the property, they feel rejuvenated, a sense of inner peace that they didn’t have before they arrived and many feel renewed inspiration, which is just so cool to hear. I hope all of our guests connect to a part of themselves that has always been there but perhaps they just haven’t felt in a while. That is an incredible gift. 

I hope Miracle Manor continues to stand out as a beacon of wellness in the industry and a place people know they can come to or return to whenever they need a reset or just a shift in their lives. We all go through different seasons of life, and I hope Miracle Manor can support people through their various stages of healing, growth, and manifestation. We have attracted guests from far and wide who have different reasons for coming but they all tell us how much it means to them and how the stresses of their everyday life feel so shifted after staying there. It gives our guests a sense of renewal and vibrancy. 

My personal passion for health, wellness, and healing continues to drive every decision we make, and it is my intention that Miracle Manor remains a safe haven for transformation and renewal for years to come.

Upon celebrating its 70th anniversary, how has Miracle Manor served its community in the past, and how do you hope it can serve its community in the future? What is the legacy of Miracle Manor Hotel & Spa?

As Miracle Manor celebrates its 70th anniversary this upcoming year, we feel immense gratitude to be a part of this hotel’s long history. It has been a legacy property in the community and as one of the first hot springs hotels in Desert Hot Springs, we are so proud to continue to grow and evolve its existing story. This hotel existed long before us and we hope our work will continue to allow it to exist long after us as well. Since it was created, Miracle Manor has been more than just a place of retreat; it has been a beacon of community, connection, healing, and rejuvenation for so many people. We remain committed to holistic health and well-being for all who come on our property. 

Our goal is to preserve what has already been by honoring the historical aspects of Miracle Manor, while also enhancing the overall guest experience and bringing a sense of renewed serenity with our aesthetics and offerings. Our team does an amazing job of also ensuring that we are making a positive impact in our local community and that was something that was important to us from day one. From offering a weekly Sunday yoga class open to all locals or sponsoring a local basketball team jersey, we have found numerous ways to connect and get involved and we are excited to continue to build our relationships and serve the Desert Hot Springs community in meaningful ways. 

We don’t know a ton about the history of the hotel, aside from what we have found when digging up old boxes or hearing stories from guests who have come for decades, which we love. There are just a few old photos which we treasure and we have connected to the city records office and local library to try and find out more. It’s a funny thing to buy a hotel that you can feel has so much history but not ever able to find a true timeline or outline of its story. 

As we look to the future, my vision and hope remain the same: that we can offer a deeply impactful and meaningful space for people to come and have events, retreats, and gatherings together as individuals and as a community. I have always felt that this little gem in the desert is meant to be a shared experience by friends and strangers coming together to heal, expand, and grow. It has all the offerings for people to deeply receive and we hope that more will come and experience its unique and one-of-a-kind desert magic. 

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Photographed by Nomad Photography and Molly McCauley.