Desert Sun Resort in Palm Springs closes permanently
Another blow to southern California’s naturist community amid closures and change
Desert Sun Resort, a renowned clothing-optional destination in Palm Springs, has announced its permanent closure. A statement on the resort's website reads: “Desert Sun Resort is now permanently closed for business. If you have made a deposit for a reservation with us, we will be issuing a refund to your credit card for deposits paid. Thank you for your understanding and support during this time. We wish you all the best in the future.”
Established in 1992 as Desert Shadows Inn, the resort began with just 11 rooms. Over the years, it expanded to a nine-acre property, adding amenities such as a full-service spa, restaurant, and bar, becoming a premier nudist destination on the West Coast. In 2008, John and Elizabeth Young acquired the resort, implementing significant renovations, including a million-dollar remodel of hotel rooms, pools, jacuzzis, the restaurant, and spa facilities.
A notable feature of the resort was the Lee R. Baxandall Bridge, built in 2003. This pedestrian bridge, often called the “naked bridge” or “Bridge of Thighs,” was designed to provide privacy for guests crossing a public road, symbolizing the resort’s unique place in Palm Springs.
In October 2023, reports indicated that the resort had been sold for $6.95 million and was under contract, though details about the new owners and their plans were not disclosed at that time. Soon after, it was announced that contract negotiations had fallen through due to complications with the many easements on the property. The club has continued operating for over a year since then, but the current closure announcement now confirms the end of Desert Sun Resort’s operations.
This closure comes at a challenging time for the Southern California naturist community, which has faced significant setbacks recently. In December 2024, Olive Dell Ranch, a historic nudist resort in Colton, California, transitioned to a clothing-mandatory policy, marking a departure from its long-standing naturist traditions. Wildfires in the region have also beset local naturist individuals and spaces, including the temporary closure of the popular naturist B&B Arroyo Del Sol in Altadena after a mandatory evacuation from the recent Eaton Fire on January 8th. Zorthian Ranch, a textile ranch also in Altadena that would often play host to nude events, was also destroyed by the Eaton Fire and is indefinitely closed.
Local naturists are reeling from the flurry of closures in just the last month. Now, with the closure of Desert Sun Resort, Glen Eden Sun Club in Corona becomes the only remaining American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR)-affiliated resort in Southern California.
As of now, no further information has been provided regarding the reasons for the closure or future plans for the property. Attempts to reach the club for details have been unsuccessful as of the time of this publication. Guests with reservations are advised to monitor their credit card statements for refund confirmations.
Planet Nude will continue to follow this story and provide a deeper dive as more details emerge. 🪐
The Desert Sun Condominium Association which is on adjoining property is hopeful that any new owners of the property would continue the nudist tradition and form a relationship with the association similar to a relationship with Desert Sun Resort that existed in the past.
A number of years ago I visited Lee Baxandall at Desert Sun. (The pedestrian bridge was named after him.) Lee and I had been among the dozen naturists who sued the Interior Department in order to continue the Cape Cod National Seashore beaches as clothing optional. We had the more infamous Alan Dershowitz (sp?) as the attorney. He did not check for environmental examinations and we lost the law suit. BUT we did win recognition by the judge that we had a right to be skyclad at these beaches. (We lost because the lookyloos were damaging the beautiful sand dunes "spying" on us! I hope the new owners of Desert Sun continues to supply Palm Springs with this skyclad facility...and continue to honor Lee! Stay bare, stay free!!!