The Historic Legacy of Bubbling Wells Oasis - Desert Hot Springs Since 1914

The history of our property is deeply intertwined with the remarkable life of pioneer Cabot Yerxa, a true visionary, artist, and humanitarian who was instrumental in the founding of Desert Hot Springs. In 1913, at just 30 years old, he became one of the first homesteaders, walking into the desert with a paper bag of food and a quart of water. He built a small cabin on his homestead of 160 acres.

It was during these early days that Cabot made a discovery that would shape the future of the region: advised by local native tribes, he dug a well and uncovered a seemingly unlimited source of hot mineral water. Just 600 yards away, he found pure, cold water from the Mission Springs Aquifer. This incredible juxtaposition of a hot and cold well led him to name his homestead Miracle Hill.

Cabot Yerxa's life was an extraordinary tapestry of experiences that earned him the title of "The Father of Desert Hot Springs." Born in Sioux territory, he was a world traveler, a soldier in WWI, and a student at the Académie Julian in Paris. He held dozens of jobs and was a self-taught impressionist painter, newspaper columnist, and mystic.

After his global adventures, Cabot returned to the desert in the late 1930s. At the age of 60, he began building his masterpiece: Cabot's Old Indian Pueblo. Inspired by Hopi architecture, this sprawling four-story structure was designed to be his home, a trading post, an art gallery, and an artist's colony. Today, the pueblo stands as a museum and a testament to his incredible life.