Guess which famous 20th century icon was caught by a journalist here sunbathing in the altogether? No, not Marilyn Monroe. Alfred Einstein! In 1931, the world-famous physicist was visiting his friend and the Willows’ second owner, New York power lawyer Samuel Untermyer, when the incident occurred. (Reportedly the journalist, a woman, was more embarrassed than Einstein.) The property originated in 1924 as side-by-side Mediterranean Revival-style vacation villas built at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains for two wealthy Los Angeles couples, the Meads and the Bishops. In 1994, prominent Palm Springs physicians Tracy Conrad and Paul Marut bought and restored the Mead villa, named the Willows. After a multiyear restoration, they opened the property as the elegant seven-room Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn. It wasn’t until 2017 that they were able to acquire the Bishop villa and connect it, enlarging the inn to 17 rooms.

In addition to antique furnishings and luxe modern amenities, the property features the hardwood floors, wrought-iron ornaments, painted ceilings and mahogany from the original villas. Guests enjoy a complimentary three-course breakfast overlooking the 50-foot waterfall that flows over the boulders behind the inn. After breakfast, they can climb the path up the mountain to the bench where Einstein once sunbathed.