Originally built in 1924 by Scottish painter Gordon Coutts, Korakia Pensione (Palm Springs, CA), an Auric Road resort, was designed as a creative retreat inspired by his time in Tangier, with the architecture and interiors designed to recreate both the aesthetic and social rhythms of his earlier life. This hidden oasis features secret gardens, pools, lounges, and fountains scattered among 28 villas and homes. The pensione’s courtyards and villas quickly attracted a circle of artists, writers, and public figures, including Rudolph Valentino, Errol Flynn, Agnes Pelton, and Grant Wood, flocked to the destination, drawn to its charming courtyards and villas. Winston Churchill, a friend of Coutts, also spent time painting on the property, enticed by the desert’s distinct light, a legacy now reflected in the property’s Churchill Suite.
In July, Korakia will introduce a new spa and wellness enclave inspired by Palm Springs’ elemental landscape, from the desert sun and mountain winds to the surrounding peaks, fault lines, and geothermal waters. Designed to heighten the body’s natural restorative process, the wellness experience will guide guests through a considered sequence of dry heat, wet sauna, exfoliation, massage, aromatherapy, and facial treatments. The opening will also include a new outdoor fitness area integrated into the property’s gardens, offering an open-air setting for movement, recovery, and wellness beneath the palms and desert sky.
Original elements of the retreat—including the 1920s entrance, fountains, and courtyards—remain intact, while longstanding rituals such as daily Moroccan mint tea, record players, and outdoor film nights highlight the pensione’s longstanding legacy. Today, guests can also experience yoga, meditation sound baths, stargazing, hiking, and horseback riding excursions into the surrounding desert landscape, including Tahquitz Canyon, a site held by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and known for its seasonal 60-foot waterfall. Complimentary bikes are also available to explore the neighborhood. Many of the wellness offerings are on the house to encourage guests to relax and unwind.
