The Twist Palm Springs is not your home away from home. Owners Amy and Tim Brinkman have designed this whimsical boutique hotel so it’s clear from the moment guests arrive that they are now on vacation, and the most pressing matter is deciding which drink to enjoy by the pool “We want to make each guest experience unique,” Amy said. “For amenities, we want to have that pop of surprise. We were one of the first to add bikes, and guests absolutely love that. We’re constantly thinking about new things to offer.” Situated in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood, The...

The Twist Palm Springs is not your home away from home. Owners Amy and Tim Brinkman have designed this whimsical boutique hotel so it’s clear from the moment guests arrive that they are now on vacation, and the most pressing matter is deciding which drink to enjoy by the pool “We want to make each guest experience unique,” Amy said. “For amenities, we want to have that pop of surprise. We were one of the first to add bikes, and guests absolutely love that. We’re constantly thinking about new things to offer.” Situated in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood, The Twist is a mid-century modern delight. The accommodations — studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites — are all spacious and feel more like apartments, with full kitchens and large sitting areas. If a unit is on the bottom floor, it has a private patio with a firepit, while those on the second floor have balconies with spectacular views of the mountains. Amy and Tim worked with local design firm H3K to ensure the rooms had a “bright, colorful, sunny Palm Springs.” “We love color, and went crazy with it,” Amy said. “Each room has different wild wallpapers and wild artwork.” Outside, there’s a refreshing pool, spa, fire pits, and mini-golf area, with loungers and tables and chairs set up for dining and playing games. On the weekend, there’s an unadvertised margarita happy hour, and hotel guests only have to take a few steps across property to get a morning pick me up from Ernest Coffee or cocktails at Tailor Shop Palm Springs. “What we hear over and over from repeat guests is it’s just got that fun vibe,” Amy said. “They call it their own hidden gem.” The Twist dates back to 1946, and underneath the property, there’s a tunnel that goes under Palm Canyon Drive that was once used for gambling runs. It was a mixed use building, with Don the Beachcomber in the front space and apartments used by celebrities, including Zeppo Marx. By the time Amy and Tim bought the property, it was a rundown apartment building, an eyesore they saw everytime they drove to their home in Old Las Palmas. “We see buildings and fall in love with the bones,” Tim said. “We knew we could make this something.” Tim and Amy are the owners of LIT Property Group, and started with apartments and corporate rentals in San Francisco. The Twist was their first hotel, and at the time of purchase, it was in such bad shape that it lost its certificate of occupancy. Thanks to an entire renovation, they brought this mid-century modern property back to life, and today, it is more vibrant than ever. As fresh and modern as The Twist is, there are still some historic features that Amy and Tim knew they wanted to keep in place, including the tiki torches at the front of the building. They have been refurbished and light up at night, a beacon attracting visitors to this property that offers a quintessential Palm Springs stay. “The Twist backs up to the most expensive real estate in the Coachella Valley, and is also walking distance from all of the nice restaurants in the Uptown Design District,” Tim said. “Once people have exposure to it, they love it and say, ‘This is where I want to be.’”