Palm Springs' Ocotillo Lodge: From Mid-Century Marvel to Rock 'n' Roll Hideout

One of Palm Springs’ most beloved mid-century landmarks is the Ocotillo Lodge—an architectural gem with deep ties to music, sports, and design history.

The Ocotillo Lodge opened in 1957 as the first hotel built by the famed Alexander Construction Company. Designed by renowned architect William Krisel, the property was a showcase of modernist design, with one-bedroom, one-bath units that featured living rooms and kitchenettes.

The standout on the property was the “owner’s suite”—a three-unit configuration where the Alexander family themselves once lived. The suite, like the rest of the lodge, was built using the same color palettes, landscaping materials, and techniques featured in the Twin Palms homes just behind the hotel. The Alexander family used the lodge to give potential buyers a taste of the desert lifestyle they were selling.

In 1963, legendary singing cowboy and California Angels owner Gene Autry purchased the property and moved into the owner's suite. Then in 1968, the hotel was sold to Jerry Buss—who would go on to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, while still owning the Ocotillo Lodge.

According to local lore, the Rolling Stones even rehearsed at the lodge in the early 1970s between tour stops in San Diego and Los Angeles, adding to its rock-and-roll mystique.

Today, the Ocotillo Lodge no longer operates as a hotel. It has been converted into condominiums catering to long-term residents, but its iconic design and cultural legacy continue to attract fans of architecture and Palm Springs history alike.

For Desert in a Minute, I’m NBC Palm Springs historian Steve Sumrall.

Credit: NBC Palm Springs

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