Agua Caliente Museum and Spa

“An incredible opportunity to share and celebrate our history, culture and traditions with this community and visitors from around the world.”

– Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe

Situated at the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the 5.8-acre Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza is both owned and operated by the Tribe. It serves as a vibrant celebration of the history, culture, and traditions of the Agua Caliente people. In a harmonious union, the Spa at Séc-he pays homage to the Tribe’s ancient Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring, while the Cultural Museum offers an extraordinary opportunity to share the Tribe’s rich heritage with all visitors.

JCJ Architecture’s design for the spa and cultural center embodies the values and enduring dedication of the Tribe. From master planning and building form to interior finishes and material choices, inspiration was drawn from Agua Caliente traditions, such as basket weaving and pottery (known as ollas), as well as elements found in the natural landscape, including the desert terrain and the Indian Canyons with their unique features like rock formations, the winding Andreas Canyon stream, and the native Washingtonia filifera palm trees.

Expressing this vision, (former) Tribal Chairman Reid D. Milanovich remarked, “Each federally recognized tribe throughout this country has a distinct culture that includes traditions, language, historic clothing, and housing styles as well as historical food and medicine preparations. We want to share our culture with visitors through our authentic voice. This is our story, in our own voice. We are here today just like we have been since time immemorial.”

By integrating the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum with the new Spa and Bathhouse, the design honors the deep-rooted tradition of healing mineral water experiences. The heart of the development is the Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring, originally named Séc-he, resonating with the sound of boiling water, serving as a poignant focal point. It stands as a symbol, inviting Tribal Members and visitors to embrace community, history, and pay homage to the life-affirming waters that shaped the Palm Springs region.

Julia Bussinger, Director of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, described the project as “…a state-of-the-art- facility with a basket-starter shape incorporated in its architectural design and a dome-element in the Grand Lobby.”

Spanning approximately 40,000 square feet, the Spa is a testament to the ancient healing waters of Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring. It houses treatment rooms, men and women’s bathhouses, a tranquility garden, a salon, fitness center, and outdoor mineral pools. The water from the Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring, estimated to be over 12,000 years old, holds a mineral composition found nowhere else in the world, rendering it truly exceptional. For over a century, the Tribe has generously shared these healing waters with visitors, solidifying their heritage and commitment to well-being.

The Oasis Trail meanders between the Museum and Spa, and will include interpretive learning areas, waterfalls that recreate some of the significant elements found in the nearby Indian Canyons, and a flowing stream with indigenous plant material that extends the learning experiences of the adjacent Museum into the landscape.

Recognition

2025 AIA Eastern Oklahoma People’s Choice Awards, Best Large Commercial

2025 American Indigenous Tourism Association, Indigenous Destination of the Year for exceptional visitor experiences and cultural heritage preservation

2024 Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places

2023 National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association Honor Award for the plaza’s unique, basket-weaving-inspired floor designs.