In 1919 Al built his perfect West Coast
Hideaway in Desert Hot Springs, CA
"Fortress West"
The Beginning . . .
In 1907, the U.S. Army Camel Corps was surveying a route from Los Angeles east through the valley. They spotted two bunches of palms to the north of them and noted it on their maps as "Two Bunches of Palms."
AL CAPONE'S "FORTRESS WEST"
Al Capone's Bar in
His Personal Suite
To say Capone was paranoid is an understatement. Looking for a hideway, far from his rival syndicates and the local law, he heard of a place in the Southern California Desert, just north of a fledgling resort called Palm Springs. An ideal location, as the Southern Pacific Railway ran right through the middle of the Coachella Valley to Los Angeles, giving him easy access by train from Chicago. There was a train depot at Garnet Station in the Palm Springs area and one in Indio.
Al leased the property in 1919 from the Southern Pacific Railroad and started to build his compound. The property was located on a rise to the north providing a full view of the entire valley.
Bungalows were built with beautiful river rock to insulate from the harsh summer heat. Al rocked in the exceptional mineral hot springs, directing the flow and providing a sparkling, healing pool of hot water.
His compound was comprised of large luxurious living suites with stained glass windows and rock fireplaces. Naturally, he added a casino/speakeasy. The entire area was planted with tamarisk trees and other landscaping providing a lush green oasis in the middle of the desert. All walled,and guarded at the entrance by a guard building.
Al's "hideaway" soon became the ideal resort destination for not only the biggest Stars in the Silent Film Industry, but also a playground for his favored mob bosses. The gangsters and stars froliced together in the hot springs, ate and partied together on the barbecue patio and rubbed elbows in the casino/speakeasy. The Roaring 20's. It was an exciting time.
In addition, over his bungalow and accessible by stairs from the suite of his "Fortress West" right-hand man, One Arm, he built a turret manned to look for intruders.
True to form, below his compound were rooms and an elaborate system of tunnels. He maintained a large safe in one of these room (it can be seen today at Two Bunch Palms).
John was told of these tunnels by his mother, and attempted to locate them with the assistance of Accurate Locaters, Inc. Click on "Capone Tunnels" to read all about it.
The mineral Hot Springs where Al dubbed Gladys "TheQueen of Two Bunch Palms"
Gladys slept beside Al when an assassin shot at him, leaving a bullet hole in the vanity mirror across the room.
Al gave Gladys the combination to his safe, where she had unlimited access to the money he hid away there.