A vintage travel collage with a sign for La Bella Sari Motel, featuring a mountain range, outdoor pool area with people, and an indoor lounge with a fireplace and guests.

An Icon Since 1963

Built in 1963 by two women from Los Angeles, the 10-room motel — originally called La Bella Sari — was a retreat for snowbirds drawn to the healing waters and poolside camaraderie of fellow guests.

By the 1980s and ’90s, as travelers favored newer destinations, the property declined and began operating as low-income apartments. In 1999, the hotel was purchased by Slash magazine founder and editor Steve Samiof, a legendary figure in the Los Angeles punk scene.

Samiof and partner Nick Haggerty stripped away dated décor in favor of a crisp, midcentury aesthetic and renamed the property Hope Springs. They retained the vintage roadside sign reading Cactus Springs, a relic from the 1970s. The revitalized hotel quickly earned a cult following among artists and design lovers globally, including early guests like David Hockney, Matthew McConaughey, and Rick Owens.

In 2020, new ownership thoughtfully modernized and upgraded the property for accessibility, safety, and a new generation of desert enthusiasts.

Committed To A Quiet & Peaceful Atmosphere

Hope Springs is a small boutique hotel especially known for a calm, serene atmosphere. To maintain that experience, we do not have TVs, music, or permit talking on cells phones around our pools and spa area. We encourage an environment of quiet voices at all times throughout the property.

A black bird perched on top of a signpost with multiple blank directional signs, against a cloudy sky and mountains in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gallery

Night view of a backyard with a swimming pool illuminated with blue light, tall palm trees, cacti, and a modern house with colorful lighting visible through large windows.

A pLace for Creativity

The desert has long attracted people making things.

Screenwriters seeking uninterrupted quiet. Musicians writing albums. Photographers drawn to the desert light.

Hope Springs carries an authentic connection to that creative legacy.

The property was once owned by Steve Samiof, founder of Slash Magazine — an influential voice in the early Los Angeles punk movement that featured artists such as X, The Go-Go's, and Dead Kennedys.

Hope Springs is a quiet place shaped by mineral water, modernist simplicity, silence, stars, and the kind of stillness that allows ideas to surface naturally.

Some guests call it energy. Others simply call it Hope.

A building with a yellow exterior wall and a sloped roof, illuminated by yellow lights. Tall palm trees and a clear blue sky are visible in the background.

Our Ethos

At Hope Springs, we believe hospitality should feel effortless, personal, and quietly intentional. We are a small boutique hotel, and if you’re seeking space, calm, and care without intrusion, you’ll feel at home here.

We welcome you personally—then step back. We’re always here if you need us, but never in your way.


Our Approach to Care

We treat our guests the way we would treat family—with warmth, respect, flexibility, and genuine conversation. Our small team may not always respond instantly, but you will always have our full attention. Our priorities are simple: safety first, comfort always.


A Place to Disconnect

Hope Springs is designed to be a refuge from noise—both literal and otherwise. There are no TVs or phones in the rooms. We realize life is full of distractions and constant interruptions. We aim to create distance for you from that. We encourage a quiet environment where guests can unwind, reconnect, and reset.

Thoughtful by Design

Everything here is intentional. From minimalist design to the use of platform beds and white linens…From how we price our rooms to how we prepare your morning coffee… We believe in doing fewer things, but doing them well.


Sustainability Without Pretense

We care deeply about minimizing waste. Our breakfast is simple, fresh, and mindful: locally sourced coffee (like Joshua Tree Coffee Company), seasonal options, and the occasional house-made pastry. We reduce waste where we can, reuse when it makes sense, and avoid excess without sacrificing comfort.