The Art Of Being Free At The Vista Grande Resort For Men

The Vista Grande Resort isn’t just a men’s clothing-optional boutique hotel in the heart of Warm Sands. It’s a philosophy and an opportunity for gay men from all over the world to gather and simply be who they are. “The Art of Being” is their adage, and it’s embedded in the guest experience as much as it is embedded in their logo.

Established in 1984, Vista Grande was the first gay clothing-optional hotel in Palm Springs. It’s also the longest running, and their mission remains steady: “To save the world one man at a time, providing discerning gay travelers with an unforgettable blend of comfort, fun, and pleasure in our secret garden sanctuary where we celebrate life, love, and personal freedom every day.”

The moment you arrive at Vista Grande, you enter a secret garden that feels like an endless oasis of pleasurable potential. The lush landscaping envelops the labyrinth-like property and is carefully curated by one of its founding fathers, Robert Fields. It almost feels like a tropical rainforest in the center of the low desert. With an ever-breathtaking view of the San Jacinto Mountains, Vista Grande invites you to explore your vigor for being alive. It also invites quite a few hummingbirds to the party as well!

The property’s gorgeous waterfall. Photo courtesy of Vista Grande Resort

What makes Vista Grande truly unique though is a commitment to their philosophy. You can feel a visceral surge of freedom in every aspect, from their inquisitive amenities to their communal sense of hospitality. The attentive staff’s comforting approach makes you feel more like family than the average resort as well. And since Vista Grande doesn’t “specify,” it makes for a popular, unpretentious mix of men of all types, ages, shapes, and sizes that seems to make everyone feel right at home.

The Avalon seating area. Photo credit: Gregory Douglass

Vista Grande is one of the only men’s clothing-optional resorts that offers extended stay opportunities. Their spacious garden apartments are fully equipped with all the comforts you would expect in a home, but with additional concierge hotel services, housekeeping, swimming pools, a spa, a steam room, waterfalls, and beautiful views of the gardens (and the neighbors)! What’s more, an extended stay at Vista Grande grants anyone the liberty to experience a prolonged sense of freedom rather than just a weekend of delight.

My husband Glen and I spent a pleasurable evening in one of their four Mirage Waterfall Suites, located in the beautiful enclave just steps from the steam room, 18-man spa, blue lagoon, and waterfall. It’s the perfect fairy tale setting for just about anything, and Mirage suites are elevated by concierge services like VIP parking, welcome gifts, and breakfast trays delivered to your room daily. We even had special burgundy towels specific to the Mirage suites experience to wear like badges of honor throughout the evening. At the end of our stay, the staff proudly proclaimed to us, “You are Mirage Men now!”

Breakfast in bed. Photo courtesy of Vista Grande Resort

Get cozy on the couch in one of the Mirage suites. Photo credit: Gregory Douglass

Another unique aspect of Vista Grande is the layout of amenities throughout the property. There are two swimming pools on the grounds, each equipped with a floating canopy covering about a third of the pool for shade. The Vista Grande Villa art deco-style pool serves as a quieter, non-smoking and no-music pool with a vintage Palm Springs vibe. The Avalon pool is a more expansive “party” area that is ripe for male adventure.

During our stay, I had the opportunity to connect with Robert Fields himself, and it didn’t take long for me to realize how deeply invested he is in the essence of Vista Grande. He compared his sprawling garden creations throughout the property as a “canvas to paint upon.” He also hinted at the magical relationship he had with his late husband Bob, and how together they created Vista Grande to serve as an extension of their mutual celebratory spirit for all others who visit the resort to benefit from. Robert is still very much the heart and soul of the place, and it’s apparent how much his employees appreciate him and his philosophy too — most have been working there for years.

After just 24 hours, I left the Vista Grande Resort feeling inspired, rejuvenated, and much freer than I had felt before checking in. I can only imagine what a longer stay would have revealed in “The Art of Being.”

All men are welcome at Vista Grande Resort. Photo credit: Gregory Douglass

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Apply Sunscreen (Everywhere)

Big changes at work had me feeling stressed and I needed some relaxation. While gossiping around the water cooler, a co-worker suggested doing something I’d never considered before: staying at a gay, all-male, clothing-optional resort in Palm Springs. I, being a guy who likes putting on pants in the morning, wasn’t sure about the idea. I didn’t really know much about Palm Springs—from the freeway, it looked like a wind farm. But the idea lingered and doing something wildly out of character was exactly what I needed for perspective.

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Let these YouTubers take you on a tour of gay Palm Springs

Before you book your next stay at a men’s clothing-optional hotel in Palm Springs, take a virtual tour of some of the city’s finest resorts.

These YouTubers did the legwork for you, showcasing in their videos the best of the best when it comes to gay boutique hotels and other LGBT-friendly restaurants, shops, attractions, and hot spots.

Spartacus International Gay Guide takes viewers on a journey through the city, discussing its history and showcasing the different clubs, bars, and restaurants that heat up after dark. This video puts the spotlight on several men’s clothing-optional resorts, including Hacienda at Warm Sands, INNdulge, Escape Resort, Santiago, and Triangle Inn. Host Philip Kanchana called Palm Springs “the coolest, hottest place I’ve ever been, and I will be back.”

“Palm Springs has the atmosphere of a small village, but one that’s very gay friendly. That’s a combo you won’t find in a lot of places.”

Esteven and John shared their Palm Springs couple’s escape, vlogging about the sun-filled vacation. They stayed at Escape Resort — where they loved the comfortable robes and the fact the hotel is owned by a gay couple — and INNdulge, where they appreciated the massive room, complete with a kitchen, and beautiful pool. They also visited several restaurants and got a taste of the nightlife. “I’m ready to come back,” Estevan said while lounging by INNdulge’s pool, “and we haven’t even left yet.”

Josh Rimer of Gayosphere trekked across Palm Springs for his video about fun things to do in the city. He went hiking in Indian Canyons and Palm Canyons, swung by the Palm Springs VillageFest, and lounged by several pools. Palm Springs, he said, “has the atmosphere of a small village, but one that’s very gay friendly. That’s a combo you won’t find in a lot of places.”

Finally, Who’s Hot in Palm Springs checked in to the Santiago Resort in order to show viewers the recent changes made to the property. He didn’t leave any part of the hotel out — he showed off the continental breakfast available for guests, filmed close-ups of the room, interviewed a few of his fellow guests, and even shot footage of the grounds after dark. “One of the best qualities of Santiago is the service,” he declared. “When I said the guys are the greatest, they really are.”

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How to choose a men’s clothing-optional resort

There’s no need to pack a big suitcase for stays at these Palm Springs resorts.

The city is home to more than 20 men’s clothing-optional boutique hotels, where guests are free to roam the property sans attire. These resorts are known for their gorgeous pools and spas, steam rooms, gardens, and comfortable accommodations. For first-time visitors, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a clothing-optional hotel.

Small boutique hotels that cater specifically to gay men and women, or anyone who wants a clothing-optional experience, provide spaces that are “worry-free, stress-free, and nonjudgmental,” says Michael Green, owner of The Triangle Inn Palm Springs. “There are people who come from all over the world — sometimes from places, regions, or even countries where they are not accepted but also persecuted for being gay.”

It’s key to remember that not wearing clothes is optional, and if a guest doesn’t feel comfortable removing their garments right away, that’s OK — they can wait until they feel more comfortable, or remain clothed during their entire stay.

“Clothing-optional resorts attract all ages of gay men seeking a safe refuge, where they can feel free from outside influences,” INNdulge owner Jon Jackson says. “Only about half of our guests enjoy nudity, but all of them love having the option. Most come for the social aspect of spending their holiday exclusively with like-minded gay men.”

Another important thing to research before booking a stay is the sexual “temperature” of a resort, as this varies from property to property.

“A lot of people choose a clothing-optional resort because there is less pretense when a person is naked,” notes Ric Gomez, owner of Tortuga del Sol. “One of the myths I believe still exists is that gay clothing-optional resorts are sexually-charged hotels with low standards and minimal amenities. In reality, the majority of gay clothing-optional resorts are owner operated and exceed the hospitality and amenities levels of larger, mainstream hotels.”

These resorts are judgment-free zones, Gomez says, and in Tortuga del Sol’s common areas, “guests are free to openly demonstrate affection for their companion, or make a new friend or friends.” There are also guests with all body types, because “Nudism is a lifestyle that embraces the human body in all its forms,” Robert Aikens, head innkeeper at La Dolce Vita Resort and Spa, says. “There are many reasons people come to clothing-optional resorts, but always be friendly while respecting other’s rights to privacy.”

Palm Springs is known internationally for welcoming members of the LGBTQ community, and they flock to these resorts because they “are able to find an experience they literally cannot find anywhere else,” Green says. “Lots of our guests get to the resort, do some shopping, then come back and pretty much never leave except to shop or hike or see the sights. We are a destination within a destination for them.”

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How To Enjoy Three Palm Springs Gay Resorts In One Week

By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong

Our Palm Springs adventure began as we stepped off our plane into the Palm Springs International Airport. The first thing we noticed was the aroma. The open air design of the airport means that passengers are immediately greeted by the fresh, clean Palm Springs air. After six hours on a plane, it is a simple pleasure.

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Take full advantage of being on vacation

A rock sign that says INNdulge in front of INNdulge Palm Springs gay men's clothing-optional resort in Palm Springs, California

The name says it all.

At INNdulge, guests take full advantage of being on vacation, relaxing in the saltwater pool and 12-man jacuzzi and reveling in the property’s gardens. This clothing optional gay men’s resort in the Warm Sands neighborhood is a mid-century modern hotel built in 1958, with 24 rooms. Jon Jackson has owned INNdulge for 10 years, becoming a hotelier after retiring as an attorney.

“My hospitality experience is in restaurants, but those skills easily converted,” he said.

An expanded continental breakfast is served in the morning, and an evening social hour and weekend pool parties bring guests together. Visitors often tell Jon they enjoy “the social aspect of staying with other like-minded gay men,” and in turn, he’s thrilled to provide “a great product and service.”

INNdulge, he added, “is a property that caters to gay men, who appreciate the pride of ownership we take in maintaining our property, and who in turn treat it with the type of respect deserving of a home away from home.”

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The Triangle Inn Owners are Nearing a Milestone Anniversary: 20 Years in Palm Springs

The front entrance of Triangle Inn Palm Springs has a brick wall with its name in large black letters

For Michael Green, the past two decades feel like they’ve gone by in the blink of an eye.

Michael and his husband Stephen Boyd own The Triangle Inn (https://www.palmspringspreferredsmallhotels.com/stay/triangle-inn-palm-springs), a gay men’s clothing-optional resort, having purchased the property in January 2000. They bought the hotel after spending their careers in advertising, embracing the opportunity to try something new. Now, nearly 20 years later, Michael can’t believe they’ve been hoteliers for so long.

Michael and Stephen have created such a welcoming atmosphere that it’s inspired several guests to actually move to Palm Springs.

People often ask them if they’re tired of running their own business, or want to try something new. “To me, as long as we still enjoy it, we should keep doing it,” Michael says. “It’s great owning a small hotel. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a great lifestyle.”

The Triangle Inn was built in 1958, and Michael and Stephen are its fifth owners. They’ve been through renovations and upgrades, and are always doing something to enhance the property. Along the way, they’ve made tons of friends, and have created such a welcoming atmosphere that it’s inspired several guests to actually move to Palm Springs.

“It’s what happens when people come and fall in love with the hotel, fall in love with the city,” Michael says. “All of a sudden, they think, wow, we need to have a part-time place here, or retire here. That has really been a phenomenon that has fueled a lot of Palm Springs’ resurgence.”
 

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Slip Into Nothing But Sunshine in Palm Springs

Palm Springs, known for its welcoming, “come as you are,” spirit and iconic desert modern living, has rightfully earned its place on every self-respecting queer’s bucket list. But be warned, once you visit, you’ll want to keep returning to this desert paradise where privacy is prized, the parties can last for days, art and culture thrive, and the San Jacinto Mountains offer selfie-worthy settings at every turn.

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INNdulge Resort Palm Springs: Gay Traveler’s Interview with Owner, Jon Jackson

By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong, Gay Travelers Magazine

Palm Springs, California is a wonderful place for anyone to visit but it is especially significant for gay travelers. Palm Springs has an inclusive, welcoming vibe, excellent entertainment and dining options, beautiful views and a variety of quality gay resorts to choose from.

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