DEVELOPING: Desert Hot Springs To Launch Review of Suspected Sex Spa

There are hundreds of resort hotels in the Coachella Valley. There is one however like the 15 room Sea Mountain Spa Hotel in Desert Hot Springs.

Desert Hot Springs City Councilman Russell Betts says he will ask City Manager, Rick Daniels to conduct a full review of the Sea Mountain Spa. The business is in a quiet neighborhood and according to Desert Hot Springs its only permit is for a traditional spa. The business has received numerous complaints from neighbors. Everything from parking to loud noise. There has also been a question of what goes on inside. To find out on Wednesday I went undercover and spoke with an employee Samantha.

I pretended to be a potential guest. When asked if swingers were allowed to have sex with other couples Samantha said, “nude bodies everywhere, there’s a place behind the beach that’s more private.” When asked if couples needed a room to have sex with other couples she stated, “at night we have a massage area we turn into a playroom, there’s a big circular bed, dance floor stripper pole, it is a lot of fun.”

According to the Desert Hot Springs Municipal Code 118.03 Section C, this business is illegal. The Code states, “A sexual encounter establishment is not a permitted use. a ‘sexual encounter establishment’ means any business or commercial establishment that as one of its important business purposes offers for any form of consideration a place where two or more persons may congregate, associate, or consort for the purpose of specified sexual activities.”

I went on to ask Samantha if everyone was “safe”. Samantha assured me everyone was by saying, “we provide condoms and lube.” If you’re wondering if these types of spas are common, according to the Sea Mountain Employee they are not. Samantha said, “we’re the only place in America like this.” The Sea Mountain Spa only allows couples and women, no single men are allowed inside the front door.

Samantha also stated all beverages are complimentary. This includes free margaritas and wine. According to the California Alcohol and Beverage Control, The Sea Mountain Inn does not have a liquor license.

We asked the Desert Hot Springs City Manager Rick Daniels to speak with us about the code and more importantly about Sea Mountain Resort. He denied our request twice. When I went to City Hall to try to discuss the topic with the City Manager, City Council Member Karl Baker walked out of his own office and told me to “get my ass out of here”. We stayed, since City Hall is public property. He also declined our request for an interview.

Another sex spa appears to be opening up just blocks away from the Sea Mountain Spa. When we visited the location it didn’t appear to be open yet.

The Desert Valley Star newspaper first broke the news about neighbor complaints concerning noise and parking issues. Through the Federal Freedom of Information Act, KESQ has requested pages and pages of documents about Sea Mountain Resort from the Desert Hot Springs City Clerk. We will continue our investigation and report on any other issues we find.