Even for an experienced pro such as Wayne, the call from the exclusive Two Bunch Palms Resort in California led to some exciting surprises. Would his survey unlock the secret tunnels of the hideway of Al Capone, known in those gangster days as Fortress West? Using detection equipment designed and built by his own company, Accurate Locators of Oregon, Wayne’s task was to locate the secret tunnels used by the mobster. Al ("Scarface") Capone, the first Public Enemy No.1, ordered some 500 hits. Though normally associated with Chicago and the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Capone created hideaways such as Desert Hot Springs. By the late 1920's Capone was a tired, slightly apprehensive man in search of a safe retreat. Elderly natives of Desert Hot Springs recall the day when a group of hard-faced men in dark suits and fedora hats got off the train at Garnet Station and starting driving across the desert. Legend tells us that these men ended their journey at an oasis, sitting on a berm rising above the desert floor and hosting hot mineral springs and two large bunches of palm trees. Within days a new legend began drifting across the valley: Two Bunch Palms had become Al Capone's “Fortress West.” Capone built the first permanent buildings ever erected at Two Bunch Palms - bungalows composed of large gray stones, planked oak floors, rock fireplaces, and small stained glass windows. Perched on top of the main residence sits a sentry turret, and beneath the desert sand is a tunnel system -- security measures to ensure the safety of its occupants. Stone walkways and a giant outdoor rock cooking pit were added; and the hot springs were enclosed into pools built of rock. Capone gradually built more structures to include a brothel, gambling hall and a guest cottage. Years later, it appears that a large opening in one of the guest-cottage walls was walled-in with stone and cement, suggesting a blocked access, but access to what?

Al Capone enjoyed partying with Hollywood movie stars of the silent screen era, which is how he met his girlfriend, actress of stage and silver screen, Gladys Walton. (Read more about Gladys Walton at gladyswalton.com). She had debuted in films in small parts. However, as her acting talent came more out into the open, she was given larger and more important roles in films, such as La La Lucille in 1920 with Universal Studios, as well as The Secret Gift, also in 1920. She was also given a role in Pink Tights (1920), opposite film star Jack Perrin. Their fortress became the playground of Mafia bosses and movie stars.

A modern gambling casino now shared the oasis. Under the casino is a massive safe (pictured to the right)that Gladys Walton had total access to whenever she needed money. Here, the hard-faced city men sat night and day watching all the roads leading to the oasis. Legend has it that on one particular night, a gunfight erupted inside Capone's cottage while Gladys Walton slept beside him. Capone reportedly shot and killed the would-be assassin and left a large mirror scarred with a bullet hole.

The historian of Two Bunch Palms Resort is John Herbel-Walton, her first-born son. It was John Herbel-Walton who, with the cooperation of the resort owners, invited Wayne Good to confirm the location of the tunnels.

John Herbel-Walton and Wayne Good taking a break from tunnel detecting with their pulse induction metal detector.

Wayne & John at Capone’s cottage using 1X1M Pulse Induction coil

On top of the main residence sits a lookout tower, and beneath the desert sand is a tunnel system and security measures to ensure the safety of its occupants. Stone walkways to the casino were added and the hot springs were enclosed into pools built of rock. Capone gradually built more structures to include a brothel, gambling hall and guest cottages. Years later, it appears that a large opening in one of the guest-cottage walls was walled-in with stone and cement, suggesting a blocked access, but access to what? Using the Underground Imager System, Wayne found two possible tunnels leading from the Capone cottage (one such tunnel pictured below). One tunnel heads to the Grotto and the other to the Casino.

Using a pulse induction locator, an anomaly was detected consisting of a large space, possibly a small room, under the patio of the Capone cottage that required further investigation. The pulse detection indicated a very loud metal reading. (The red pigment down the center of the rainbow graphic represents the patio tunnel) When using imaging scanning, Wayne suspected strongly that there were pipes in that Capone escape tunnel because of his readings and because the tunnel headed straight from the Casino (now the Two Bunch Palms Restaurant) to his hideout exit below his fort.

Wayne has demonstrated with his advanced geophysical equipment that this secret retreat for the rich and famous has yet more secrets to be revealed.

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