Coachella Valley did you know the late Jerry Buss, owner of the Lakers, was also the owner of the Ocotillo Lodge in Dowtown Palm Springs? Photo 1 - Soak it up: The Lakers take a poolside break during their Palm Springs training camp Sept. 12, 1980. From left: Coach Paul Westhead, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, Jim Chones, Michael Cooper, Brad Holland, assistant coach Pat Riley and Mark Landsberger. In the back on the diving board are Magic Johnson and Norm Nixon. Photo 2 - Jerry Buss Photo 3 - Ocotillo Lodge Interior Photo 4 - Ocotillo Lodge Exterior Jerry Buss, the real-estate tycoon who earned a USC doctorate in, of all things, physical chemistry, famously brought his Lakers to the Coachella Valley for a dozen pre-season training camps during the 1980s and into the early 1990s. They practiced at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, where excited fans crammed into the gym. They stayed at Octotillo Lodge, which Buss owned at the time. Buss was known for his business creativity, partying and love of women. He was a kindred spirit to Playboy icon Hugh Hefner and a gregarious guy who loved to talk to people around the Ocotillo Lodge pool. His collection of bungalows and small rooms was prime Jerry Buss habitat. In those days, before developers extensively remodeled the property and converted rooms into condo units, the Octotillo Lodge was home to Palm Springs liveliest bar. Its big glass windows looked out onto a massive, party-time pool where cocktail waitresses carried big trays of drinks and a pool boy was on attentive duty. The bar -restaurant area now is a lounge, game room and gym. The class Ocotillo Lodge e is much more sedate these days. The Lakers stayed at the aging but comfortable Ocotillo Lodge property. Their summer visit afforded Buss an opportunity for partying around his pool. The Lakers annual summer stay also generated lots of publicity about his hotel. He was a smart guy. Now you know. Article excerpt from Press Enterprise PALM SPRINGS: Jerry Buss Ocotillo Lodge pool office - m.pe/articles/-725592--.html
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 03:00:01 +0000
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