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August 6, 2014
Hacienda Riviera
The Hacienda Riviera is on the market and today a real estate agent was kind enough to let a couple of representatives of the DHS Historical Society go in and take a look. A caretaker has been living there, so it's in pretty good shape (and the pool looks beautiful!), but it would need lot of work before it could be operated legally as a spa again. The Historical Society has a brochure from 1957 that lists the Hacienda Riviera, but we don't have anything to pinpoint when it was built and opened.
There is a rumor that Steve McQueen used to stay here. The caretaker said he saw him and Ali McGraw there at least twice. If Steve McQueen actually did stay there, this would have been his room.
There's a commercial kitchen in that building (next to the Steve McQueen apartment). They sold food not only to the guests, but through a window to the street.
The healing pool with a seating ledge all the way around.
There are very few guest rooms, but there are a lot of these little cabana rooms that have no electricity or plumbing. Just a room to put your stuff in.
This area used to be an open air patio. The ceiling is the roof. It's hot in summer and probably cold in winter. But look how big it is. You could put multiple generations of your family in here.
One of two dry saunas. Notice the translucent panels that make up the ceiling. The outside temperature got up to only 103° today, but this room was as hot (possibly hotter) as any dry sauna - well maybe not as hot as a Finnish sauna, but hot! It was hard to believe the heater was turned off. I did jiggle the switch to double check.
Filed under Desert Hot Springs,Health,History | permalink | August 6, 2014 at 08:13 PM
Comments
Hey there, does anyone know who the current owner is or what their plans are for developing this place?
Please feel free to text me with any information at 415-992-2433
Posted by: Kalia Knutson at Dec 10, 2023 9:22:52 AM
Hey there, does anyone know who the current owner is or what their plans are for developing this place?
Please feel free to text me with any information at 415-992-2433
Posted by: Kalia Knutson at Dec 10, 2023 9:22:51 AM
All the photos are available at the link provided.
Posted by: Ron at Jul 30, 2016 8:37:25 AM
My grandfather used to own the spa. His name was Jay Shirley. His real name was Boyd Levalley. I sent many summer there from 1968 to 1973. I'd love to have any photos that are still available and have them emailed to me.
Thanks,
Curt Smith
9366 Finucane Drive
Hayden, Idaho 83835
1-208-699-6461
[email protected].
Posted by: Curt Smith at Jul 29, 2016 10:59:31 PM
It would be great, DHS needs to have a hot water spa for us gay folks!, The Riviera would be an amazing spot!
Posted by: Craig at Aug 8, 2014 10:32:33 AM
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