Turtle Back Mesa Bed & Breakfast | Southern California

Turtle Back Mesa Bed and Breakfast is a tranquil oasis nestled in the Spa City of Desert Hot Springs, 25 miles east of the city of Palm Springs. This area offers a unique getaway experience, a chance to relax, unwind and reconnect with nature.

Turtle Back Mesa offer relaxation in the mineral-rich water in stunning surroundings with unobstructed views of the Santa Rosa Mountains and Mt. San Jacinto.

Hot mineral water comes out of the ground at about 139°F through a 425 ft well and then directed into the outdoor pool, a 16 ft by 9 ft soaking pool, and a 6 ft by 6 ft soaking tub and then is cooled down to a more comfortable temperatures. Geothermal water contains sodium, sulfate, chloride, borate, boron, bicarbonate, fluoride, and traces of other minerals.

Turtle Back Mesa Bed and Breakfast is open to overnight guests only. There are 3 types of rooms. Clothing is optional. The B&B is not a pet-friendly area and ask the owner if you want to bring your kids. This is a non-smoking facility.

Besides bathing, there are also plenty of things to do and see in the area - from scenic hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing to visiting the world-famous Joshua Tree National Park, endangered Salton Sea, or riding Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of the Mount San Jacinto.

History

This unique B&B was started by Marlyn and Ernest Sussman when they bought 10 acres of land with a hot spring well. Marlyn was a designer and an artist who created the Santa Fe-style home with B&B and art studio. This type of design features nine-foot ceilings, rounded corners, wood-beamed vegas, curved openings leading from room to room, and thick walls. Most of the furniture indoors was designed and built by Marlyn as well.

The name of the Turtle Back Mesa comes from the fact that from the bird's eye view, the area looks like a turtle back! The turtle theme started here when Marlyn brought Ernest a little pipestone turtle she got from Kicki Indian Village during her trip to Mississippi.

Next time she got him another turtle and then another one. Right now the Turtle Back Mesa has over 400 turtle-related art pieces, many of which you can see during your visit! It includes items from Native American cultures, as well as from Africa, Asia, and countries of the Caribbean. The turtle represents stability, long life, good fortune, and security of the house. Unfortunately, Marlyn passed away, but Ernest still welcomes guests at Turtle Back Mesa!