Historic Hotels: The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn

This property is part of our Historic Hotels series, which features Harper hotels and resorts that began as private homes to the world’s famous—industry pioneers, authors, real estate magnates and, yes, even a dictator.

The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn, California

In the stark shadows of a Palm Springs hillside footed with ancient desert willows, William Mead, a prominent figure in California banking and political circles, found a winter refuge. When the Meads decided to build a home there in 1924, they enlisted the help of revered architect William J. Dodd, who designed the home to blend in with the desert topography. This can be seen throughout the hotel today, including in the “Rock Room” where a foundational boulder is at home in the walk-in shower. After Mead’s death in 1927, Samuel Untermyer purchased the residence as a restful retreat. Untermyer, who is remembered as a brilliant corporate attorney and staunch opponent of Adolf Hitler, had famous friends including New York Mayor Jimmy Walker and Albert Einstein.

“Einstein came multiple times in the early 1930s and he loved Palm Springs,” says Dr. Tracy Conrad, the current owner of the hotel. Perhaps the most unforgettable memory of Einstein at The Willows comes from columnist Cissy Patterson, who hiked up the mountain hoping to interview the scientist and came upon him sunbathing in the nude. Einstein’s comfort and relaxation is testament to the nature of the place, not to mention the solace and tranquility that has beckoned people here since the beginning. Einstein’s bench, where he would sit gazing out at the desert landscape, remains in exactly the same spot, on a hillside above the property.