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The Beat Hotel —

It was 1957, when an ordinary hotel in Latin Quarter of Paris was dubbed "The Beat Hotel" and then became center of this literary groundbreaking artistic energy.

The three men that christened this hotel were some of core founding fathers of counter cultural Beat Generation: William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, and Allen Ginsberg. The Beat Hotel at 9 rue Git-le-Coeur on Left Bank was original live-in retreat and study center for ten years until it was torn down in 1967.

Serendipitously, another nondescript mid-century modern hotel was being built same year Beat Hotel was christened. This hotel, practically half way around globe, came to life in Desert Hot Springs, California. The true purpose would, unfortunately, not be known for more than forty years, when it would be resurrected from dead and its name changed from Monte Carlo Resort Motel to The Desert Hot Springs Beat Hotel. This two story, eight unit hotel, after a sad period of dilapidation and resurrection, would become a live in retreat and study center for lovers of arts, and in particular, literary and visual arts of William Seward Burroughs. According to its owner, chief restorer, and curator, Steve Lowe, it is a living museum that caters to writers. On an equally remarkable side note, Steve owns another impressive Lowe Desert motel called The Lautner, which was designed by architect John Lautner.

Steve admits that vision for Desert Hot Springs Beat Hotel came from two places: 1. A similar looking hotel structure, El Muniria Hotel in Tangiers, Morocco, where infamous William Burroughs wrote his most famous book, "The Naked Lunch", and, 2. From "The Last Hotel", a book written in 1986 by a peculiar Burroughs collaborative visual artist and author named Brion Gysin.

Gysin imagined that El Muniria was transported to Southern California, 200 miles from Los Angeles and rebuilt on San Andreas Fault. If you look at any Southern California map, location to prediction is uncanny. The "new" Beat Hotel is a place of rest, rejuvenation, and where a person can recharge his or her mind. Having no telephones or televisions in any of eight rooms, this is clearly a living museum that pays homage to William S. Burroughs. The Beat Hotel is a piece of installation art with a mineral fed swimming pool and spa that must truly be experienced to be fully appreciated.

According to Burroughs, writer and artist, "One of jobs of artist is to fabricate dreams for other people. We dream for these people who have no dreams of their own to keep them alive."

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Palm Springs is home to a world famous collection of modern architecture, immaculate golf courses, gated communities, a bustling night life, trendy shopping, and a brand new casino. However, Palm Springs also has a very eclectic side which stems from its rich history. There was a time when this sun-drenched desert valley was a cultural center for artists, musicians, dancers, and literati.

In spite of all new resorts, old Palm Springs is making a new comeback. Guests are choosing smaller, more intimate hotels, allowing them to live destination instead of just visiting. They enjoy other side of Palm Springs, side set to a beat of chamber music and a time when writers and artists traded their works in Bohemian manner.

Like generations before us, people from around globe flock to this desert oasis to retreat. Perhaps we withdraw to escape routine and stress of everyday life. Maybe it’s to gain renewal through creativity, meditation, study, getting back to nature, or just to chill and have a good time.

To escape means to step into another pattern, a different time, and an unknown world. If this is side of Palm Springs that you want to experience, then I have perfect hotel for your great escape!

To get to it, you have to take a back street, just a short walk from main strip of restaurants and shops, but far enough away that you are tucked into shadow of San Jacinto mountain peak where you can hike trails that leading into alp.

I appear at Korakia Pensione after one adventurous week of rock climbing and slumbering in a pitched tent on desert floor. Blackened from sun and soil of my last climb before trip into town with beaten and dismantled luggage surrounding my dusty feet, I can only envision thoughts that flash through minds of hotel staff as they greet me. I am quite a sight! However, their hospitality is as warm as heat of Palm Springs and owner Douglas Smith compliments my tan.

Examining lobby I suddenly realize that Korakia is unlike any place I had ever abode before. I am whisked away to another country, a place that can only be reached by crossing several oceans. There are soaring beamed ceilings, white washed stone walls, rounded corners, and furnishings from all over globe, including an Italian sideboard and a chest and chairs from Afghanistan. The staff wears simple, white linen clothing like Greek summer attire.

What continent am I on? I ask myself as they check me in with pen and paper. There is no computerized check-in process here. Messages are individually delivered to villas, bungalows, and guest houses. There is no state-of-the art anything. No television. No email checking. No alarm clock in room. However, you can watch movies outside near candle-lit pool and outdoor fireplaces.