Atomic Bombshells and Yeehaw Cowgirls: My keep on the drag queen-owned Trixie Motel in Palm Springs

Drag queen turned bellhop

Let’s start with who Trixie Mattel, the owner and creator of Trixie Motel, is. If you already know (and stan!), feel free to skip to the next section.

Trixie Mattel is a drag artist who competed on season seven of the reality competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Placing sixth on her first attempt at the title of the “next drag superstar,” she returned for season three of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” where she snatched the crown and the $100,000 grand prize. Her most notable accolades, however, have occurred off the small screen.

Since appearing in the franchise, Trixie has launched her own makeup company, Trixie Cosmetics, and recorded four studio albums in her signature new-age folk style. Along with her comedic partner, Kayta, Trixie released a New York Times best-selling parody self-help book and starred in the acclaimed web series “UNHhhh” for eight seasons.

Boutique hotel experience serving thoughtful camp

The Trixie Motel is nestled on a quiet block in northern Palm Springs. There, guests are completely immersed in a world of retro-futuristic patterns and many shades of pink. Entering the property, you’ll be welcomed by a gorgeous shared courtyard that includes the hotel gift shop, outdoor bar and plenty of cozy seating options. At the motel, the only feature, fixture or accent not represented in the Trixie palette is the crystal-clear water of the heated hotel pool. Even the concrete slabs of the courtyard itself are painted in alternating shades of pink and white.

Because of the commitment to theme, as well as the generously tall privacy walls that surround the property, it truly feels as if you have departed the hustle and bustle of Palm Springs and entered into Trixie’s very own Barbie Dream House (if she were looking for passive rental income, anyway!).

As you make your way around the pool to the check-in desk, you’ll pass all seven of the hotel’s individually themed accommodation offerings: four standard rooms, two suites and one Honeymoon suite. Stepping into the lobby, the theming will continue to make you gag (in drag lingo, this means it will blow you away).

“Lobby” does not feel like an accurate name for this room — it’s a true common space where guests can relax, mingle and unwind. Here, the pink and white color scheme is carried in from the outdoors through bricks, tiles and beams. Hearts, flowers and abstract shapes fill patterns and take three-dimensional form as booths, pillows and light fixtures. There’s even a Ms. Pacman arcade game wrapped in Trixie Mattel wallpaper.

At closest examination, guests can even spot winks and nods to their famous host throughout the lobby: Trixie is photoshopped into gallery wall photos with famous celebrities throughout history, including young Leonardo DiCaprio, James Dean and RuPaul; and the hotel bar (that doubles as the check-in counter) is named “Barbara” in honor of her third studio album released in 2020. She can also be found in various doll forms sprinkled throughout the space and adjoining sunroom.

Upon check-in, guests are given an old-school room key and led to their chosen accommodation. Rooms are marked with a symbol that hints at the theme waiting to be revealed behind each door. For our stay, we chose the Atomic Bombshell Room for night one and the Yeehaw Cowgirl Suite for night two.

Entering our Atomic Bombshell era

The Atomic Bombshell room is a sight to behold. Walking through the door’s threshold, guests enter a celestial universe of which Trixie is no doubt its fearless leader. A palette of blues, purples and peaches breathes extraterrestrial life into every corner of the room. On paper, I would agree that any sort of galactic decor runs the risk of appearing gimmicky but here, the interior design choices perfectly balance both “atomic” and “bombshell.”

The centerpiece of the room is the oversized circular bed that faces the expansive windows overlooking the hotel’s courtyard, giving the sense that your chic otherworldly spaceship has landed at the Trixie for the evening. Not only is this bed the true statement piece of the room, it’s comfortable as well.

It’s the stylistic details that make this room shine. The same pattern is carried through from the wallpaper to the bedspread and the curtains to the bar tray. There’s even a hyper-modernist portrait of Trixie Mattel holding a cocktail that hangs over the vanity and a UFO chandelier that boasts a variety of color settings.

Though Trixie is the supreme ruler of this atomic spaceship, you are the captain — at least as far as climate control goes. The room is controlled by a Google Nest, making setting the temperature to your liking a total breeze.

Another standout feature is the powder room, or “drag room,” as Trixie describes. Connecting the bedroom to the bath, you’ll find a lovely enclave equal parts closet, kitchenette and dressing room. There’s a vanity and mirror for getting ready, a mini fridge for beverages and a dresser and rack for storing your luggage.

The intergalactic motif continues into the bathroom, as well. The custom wallpaper anchors the perfect selfie mirror above the sink, the shower is decked out in gorgeous pink tile and beautiful stained glass artwork emits blue light into the room. The water pressure and temperature control in the shower are top-notch and high-end products from Milan+Goetz are provided.

Drag queen turned chef and bartender

After a restful night dreaming up what my drag name would be in a parallel universe (I landed on “Shania Twink,” by the way), it was time to check out the ever-important hotel breakfast offerings. At the Trixie, guests can request breakfast starting at 8 a.m. You simply have to walk by the front desk and let a member of staff know that you’re ready and they will prepare a delightful breakfast picnic basket to enjoy on the dining patio, by the pool or in the comfort of your own room.

Our baskets included a pair of croissants, two Chobani yogurts with granola, mini jars of Nutella and two bottles of Simply Orange. It’s wasn’t exactly the most farm-to-table breakfast in the world, but what it lacked in fresh ingredients, it made up for it in presentation and cuteness. There’s also a well-stocked complimentary coffee bar in the lobby, boasting a variety of creamers and sugar alternatives. Espresso drinks can also be ordered for an additional charge.

From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., you can also order bites from the hotel kitchen, such as popcorn, nachos, fries, pizzas and charcuterie boards. To wash it all down, guests can select a cocktail or mocktail from the hotel bar (callback to the check-in counter!). Beverages are all named after rooms on the property or one of Trixie’s iconic catchphrases. The menu ranges from the “Flower Power,” a concoction of champagne, vodka, elderflower liqueur and mixed berries to the “Skinny Legend,” a basic blend of vodka, soda water and splash of cranberry juice.

Personally, I can vouch for the Trixie nachos and the parmesan fries, both of which were deliciously elevated takes on classic comfort foods. On the drink side, the “Queen of Hearts” cocktail, made with bourbon, blood orange juice, club soda and mint, was drag royalty indeed.

Shantay our stay … in the Yeehaw Cowgirl Suite

In any other hotel on the planet, I would feel inconvenienced by needing to switch rooms for a second night, but getting to immerse myself into another Trixie universe was an absolute treat.

The Yeehaw Cowgirl Suite is about 40% larger and 100% more wild west than the Atomic Bombshell room. The suite opens up into a bedroom of blues, browns, pinks and oranges. A hand-painted mural of colorful cow spots adorns the exposed brick wall and a new pattern of custom wallpaper ties in with the bedding and curtains. This time though, planets and stars were traded for cacti and guitars. If you look really closely, you’ll even notice that Trixie’s likeness is represented in the pattern as well.

Again, here in the Yeehaw Cowgirl, the magic is in the details. The chandelier is draggified with cerulean fringe, the bar is wrapped in hand-painted leather and a hyper-futuristic cowgirl Trixie presides over the suite in portrait form. There’s even a guitar tucked away in the corner for those looking to strum a quick tune.

The bedroom connects to the kitchenette via an open concept bar with high top seating where you’ll find a sink, Keurig coffee station, a small seating area, mini fridge and an exterior door that opens to the hotel’s back alley. In the back of the suite, a powder room adds more square footage, granting guests the perfect nook to get ready for a night out on the town and plenty of space to store luggage.

The bathroom is fairly comparable to that of the Atomic Bombshell — just dressed up in warmer tones and hues. The main difference is the addition of a shower bath. It’s here where this suite’s stained glass marvel is situated, emitting pink and teal light into the room through a scene of mountains and cacti.

One big discovery I made in this suite was the record player amenity. Every room and suite at the Trixie Motel has a record player for guests’ enjoyment. Records can be borrowed from the hotel gift shop and include many of the most beloved LGBTQ+ anthems of the last few decades (and, of course, all four of Trixie’s studio albums as well!). Even better, the record players connect to their respective Bluetooth speakers in the room or suite’s bathroom.

Becoming a member of the House (Motel) of Mattel

By the beginning of my second day at the Trixie, I’d uncovered every Easter egg, career callback and act of fan service that the property had to offer. There was now only one thing left to do: venture into the Trixie Motel gift shop and line the queen’s pockets even further.

Walking into the gift shop, which — of course — doubles as the hotel office, guests will be rendered immediately giddy at the Trixie Mattel retail universe. Here, you can purchase Trixie Motel merchandise such as tumblers, robes, tank tops, bathing suits and bucket hats. Also available at the swipe of a credit card are Trixie Mattel books and numerous products from Trixie Cosmetics.

And if it’s simply eye candy you’re after, you’re in luck, too. The gift shop also includes a showcase of Barbies throughout the decades as well as clocks that indicate the times in the LGBTQ+ “capitals” of the world: Palm Springs, Provincetown and Mykonos.

In the end, the financial decision to purchase a $35 Trixie Motel tank top was made for me. At least, that’s what I tell myself — I simply couldn’t resist. Capitalism Barbie strikes again.

A moment in the mirror

If someone told me ten years ago that I would be spending Valentine’s Day at a drag queen-owned hotel with my partner of three years, I would not believe you.

You see, I am from a small town in eastern North Carolina where a “drag race” involves souped-up cars and screeching tires, not fourteen fierce queens vying for a cash prize (and a year’s supply of makeup from Anastasia Beverly Hills). My hometown was great to me in many ways, but like many small towns across the U.S., its acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community had its limitations — and conditions. There was a narrow window for exactly how a queer person could present outwardly and still be accepted. Drag certainly fell far outside of this window of palpable queerness.