Amid the raucous revelry of the Roaring Twenties, Oasis Palms found itself basking in a newfound era of prosperity. With the train chugging into town daily, a fresh wave of visitors washed ashore, allured by the town’s dry, hot climate, which purportedly bestowed health benefits. These sun-seekers flocked to Oasis Palms, yearning to bask in its radiant warmth, luxuriate in its hot springs, and gaze upon the sprawling vistas of the eastern desert. The town’s soaring popularity translated into a perpetual occupancy for the Oasis Palms Hotel, the quaint Hotel California nestled in town, and the boarding rooms perched above various businesses in the area. From October to March each year, accommodations were in such high demand that vacancies were virtually nonexistent.
While the rest of America became ensnared by the grip of Prohibition, Oasis Palms enjoyed a remarkable exemption— it was magically drenched in wine, beer, tequila, whiskey, and gin. Prohibition, in force from 1920 to 1933, failed to stifle the spirits of Oasis Palms, thanks in no small part to Curtis Smith (1874-1954). The ingenious son of Emmet held a unique role in the Prohibition era that would forever change the fortunes of Oasis Palms. A pharmacist by trade, Curtis uncovered the elusive key to circumvent the strict liquor ban of the time: medicinal alcohol.
Recognizing the potential of this legal loophole, Curtis and his wife Dr. Mary Smith orchestrated a brilliant plan. Within the lobby of the Hotel California, nestled in downtown Oasis Palms, Mary opened a doctor’s office where she could discretely and conveniently see patients suffering from anxiety or depression. For a mere $3 fee, individuals could undergo a thorough medical evaluation, and if the doctor, in her wisdom, diagnosed them with anxiety or depression, a prescription for medicinal liquor was provided. To promote their health spa business, both the Hotel California and Oasis Palms Hotel & Resort Spa guests were granted a waiver for the doctor’s fee. Thus turning the hotels into tantalizing locations for those seeking rest and relaxation while recovering from their “ailments”.
Dr. Smith’s prescriptions could be conveniently filled at various establishments throughout town, each strategically placed to cater to the patrons’ desires. Both the hotel restaurants, the pool hall above the ice cream shop, the diner, and even the frosty stand on the edge of town, featured a pharmacy counter, discreetly dispensing the “medicinal” elixirs of choice. Oasis Palms had ingeniously transformed into a haven of legal libations, offering an assortment of intoxicating concoctions. The downtown area of Oasis Palms flourished in response to this burgeoning demand.