Herbert Burns helped shape Palm Springs’ small-hotel tradition, and this is a rare opportunity to experience three remarkably intact examples of his evolving design aesthetic.
The tour begins in 1947 at The Hideaway, originally Burns’ Town & Desert Apartments. Burns and his wife, Gayle, lived on the property, which combined their residence with guest apartments arranged around a shared courtyard and pool. Its low horizontal lines, deep overhangs, expansive glass and easy indoor-outdoor connection attracted national attention, including a 1948 feature in Architectural Record. Today, The Hideaway is a designated Class 1 Historic Site.
A few doors down Arenas Road is Orbit In, which opened in the mid-1950s as the Village Manor Apartment Hotel. Its intimate scale and beautifully preserved architectural details reflect Burns’ mature approach to desert hospitality. Restored beginning in 1999, it was designated a Class 1 Historic Site in 2015.
The final stop is Desert Hills, designed by Burns for Allen and Joanne Petty in 1956. Originally nine rooms and later expanded to 14, it remained in the Petty family for decades and retains much of the character of a classic Palm Springs apartment hotel.
Don't miss: An Evening of Herbert Burns: The Design Aesthetic of “The Charismatic Chameleon.” Explore Herbert Burns’ colorful Palm Springs legacy with a conversation and Q&A, short-doc premiere, and reception featuring a signature Charismatic Chameleon cocktail.
Together, the three properties reveal Burns’ enduring approach to desert living: intimate scale, indoor-outdoor connection and architecture designed around how people actually relax. Drinks and snacks are included along the way.
Led by Dave Dean, Town & Desert operates several Palm Springs boutique hotels, including these four Burns properties. Rather than substantially reimagining them, the company has focused on preserving their architectural character while thoughtfully updating them for today’s guests.