INNdulge Palm Springs: 30 Years of Clothing-Optional Luxury, Love, and Lifelong Friendships

By GoNaked Travels Staff
Originally reported by David Hudson for GayCities

There are resorts that offer sun and cocktails. And then there are those that offer something more—a sense of belonging, of being seen, of home.

For 30 years, INNdulge Palm Springs has been that sanctuary for gay travelers: a midcentury modern oasis in the Warm Sands neighborhood that has become a pilgrimage site for generations of men seeking comfort, community, and connection in the desert.

From Roadside Motor Lodge to Queer Paradise

Built in 1958, the property started life as a modest motor lodge before being reborn in 1995 as INNdulge Palm Springs under the ownership of Jean-Guy LaChance and John Williams. Fifteen years ago, stewardship passed to Jon Jackson and his partner Joseph “Sandy” Miller, who have spent the last decade-and-a-half blending preservation with passion.

Jon, a former attorney from Utah, and Sandy, a onetime CFO from North Carolina, met in San Francisco and brought their shared curiosity and care to Palm Springs in 2010. “When the opportunity to buy INNdulge came up,” Jon told GayCities, “we just went for it. We didn’t have hotel experience—but we had heart.”

They’ve proven that heart counts for more than credentials.

Preserving the Magic, Enhancing the Experience

Jon and Sandy have carefully upgraded the resort while keeping its classic mid-century charm intact:

• Fully refurnished guest rooms
• New roof and pool refinishing
• Courtyard sculptures by artist Mavis McClure, blending art with desert serenity

Each addition honors the building’s retro bones while inviting guests into a refreshed, luxe atmosphere that still feels personal and warm.

The kidney-shaped pool, central to the INNdulge experience, remains a shimmering heart where stories, sunburns, and flirtations unfold daily.

A Changing Palm Springs

Running a gay resort in 2025 isn’t the same as it was in 1995. Jon has watched Palm Springs evolve:

“Over the past 15 years, the gay population has grown,” he explains, “but so has the straight tourism boom—thanks to Coachella and other festivals. As a result, some gay resorts have shifted their focus or sold to the straight market. But INNdulge will always be a safe space for our community.”

Even as the city’s nightlife diversifies, INNdulge remains proudly, joyfully queer—proof that spaces built for us, by us, still matter deeply.

Where Friendships Turn into Family

Ask any INNdulge regular what keeps them coming back, and you’ll hear the same thing: connection.

Jon recalls one couple who met poolside during their first visit. “They became friends, fell in love, and came back a year later to get engaged,” he says. “Then they held their wedding here. Every year since, we’ve celebrated their anniversary together.”

Stories like that are common at INNdulge. Guests arrive as strangers and leave as chosen family, bound by shared laughter, naked vulnerability, and memories that age like fine wine under the desert sun.

Thirty Years of Bare Bliss

On October 31, 2025, INNdulge celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special afternoon gathering from noon to 5 p.m. The team is inviting past guests—especially those who now call Palm Springs home—to come back for cake, champagne, and a few emotional toasts.

If you’ve ever stayed there, you know: this is more than a party. It’s a reunion of souls who’ve built a legacy of friendship one pool float at a time.

“The most special thing,” Jon says, “is watching guests arrive as strangers and leave with lifelong friends. Some even bring the families they’ve formed here. That’s what INNdulge is really about.”

Plan Your Stay

If you’ve never experienced INNdulge, maybe it’s time. Here’s what you need to know:

• Location: Warm Sands, Palm Springs, CA
• Vibe: Gay, clothing-optional, midcentury chic
• Perks: Pool, hot tub, art, community, laughter, and zero pretense
• Website: inndulge.com

Because sometimes paradise isn’t a destination—it’s the company you keep.