11 Celebrity Homes That Showcase Desert Modernism in Rancho Mirage
Until 1951, when the Thunderbird Country Club opened its doors in Rancho Mirage, California, the sleepy desert town a few miles east of Palm Springs had been pretty much barren desert. However, the arrival of the first 18-hole golf course in the desert would bring major changes—and herald in an era of new, luxurious living for the town.
Soon, Rancho Mirage was forever changed, with properties selling to stars such as Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz—and even Frank Sinatra, who relocated to Rancho Mirage from Palm Springs in 1954. The legendary Marx Brothers cofounded Tamarisk Country Club, and the midcentury-modern vacation homes that lined the fairways became a glimpse into the "good life"—and a sumptuous slice of American resort style.
A historic postcard sends greetings from the home of Frank Sinatra.
Simultaneously, midcentury modernism was reaching the height of its popularity, and since most of these desert homes were second or seasonal, it was only natural that the architecture leaned towards the more decadent. Leading modernist architects such as A. Quincy Jones, Wexler & Harrison, E. Stewart William, William Pereira, William F. Cody, and Wallace Neff all designed lavish homes for clients with deep pockets—many of them celebrities—and the resulting residences were some of the desert’s finest.
Mod Mirage, a 2018 book by writer, preservationist, and architecture historian Melissa Riche, lovingly details the rich history of Rancho Mirage, and takes a look at its fabulous architecture. Here we have chosen some of our favorite homes with an all-star pedigree.
Sunnylands by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons
The Sunnylands estate was designed by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons for Walter and Leonore Annenberg, who were major influencers in their time. Friends with presidents, royalty, and more, Walter Annenberg was heir to his father’s publishing business, served as U.S. Ambassador to the U.K., and later became famous along with his wife for their philanthropy.
The Annenbergs requested that Jones give a Mayan look to their 25,000-square-foot winter home, completed in 1966. To find Mayan influences in modern architecture, Jones only had to look to Frank Lloyd Wright, who repeatedly appropriated Mayan shapes throughout his work.
The Maranz House by Val Powelson
Designed by Los Angeles contractor and architect Val Powelson, who was also behind Palm Springs’s Indian Wells Country Club, the plans for the Maranz House were based on a principle that was the height of engineering innovation in the late 1950s: the hyperbolic paraboloid roof.
The 1960 home was built for the inventor-founder of Tastee-Freez, Leo S. Maranz, and is considered to be one of the most iconic homes in the area.
The Charney Residence by Wexler & Harrison Architects
Although Sydney Charney, a wealthy Milwaukee lawyer, wasn’t famous himself, he employed the most famous designers of the day for his 1957 Rancho mirage home: Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison as architects, Arthur Elrod for the interiors, and Eckbo, Royston & Williams for the landscape design.
The home’s recent owners, architect Steven Harris and his husband, interior designer Lucien Rees-Roberts, are responsible for the property’s restoration work. David Kelly was brought in to restore and reinvigorate the landscape design.
The Firestone House by William Pereira
In the early 1950s, the work of architect William Pereira was all over Los Angeles. When Pereira was given the chance to design a home for Leonard Firestone, the head of the Firestone company and former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, the architect selected high-quality, commercial-grade materials and finishes which have subsequently withstood the test of time. According to the Mod Mirage author, if the home were built today to the same standards, it would cost $15 million.
Pereira’s modernist ranch for Firestone combined "the strength of his commercial work with the lightness that desert living demanded." The timeless home still looks every bit as contemporary today as it did when it was originally built in 1957.
The Ball-Arnaz Residence by Paul R. Williams
In 1954, Hollywood actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were at the height of their I Love Lucy fame when the early Rancho Mirage adopters built their 4,400-square-foot, ranch-style home as a weekend getaway for their young family.
Architect Paul R. Williams designed the house—the first in the Thunderbird Country Club development—with exposed beam ceilings overlooking the 17th fairway. The house was built on a slight curve with two angled wings, one with a floating roof that shaded the carport.
Jeff Chandler Residence, Architect Unknown
Jeff Chandler was a movie star in the 1950s, with an Oscar nomination for his role as Cochise in the film Broken Arrow. His relatively modest post-and-beam bungalow is in the Magnesia Falls Cove area of Rancho Mirage.
The 1957 house is, thanks to a new owner, in excellent, original condition.
Harry Tugend Residence by William Krisel
Located in the Tamarisk Ranchos neighborhood of Rancho Mirage, designed and master-planned by William Krisel, this house was originally owned by Harry Tugend, a screenwriter who wrote many hit films for Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Shirley Temple, and also founded what is now known as the Writer’s Guild of America.
Jim RicheBing Crosby’s Home, Architect Unknown
Bing Crosby was an original investor in Thunderbird Country Club. Instead of choosing a lot on the golf course, he was one of the first to purchase at Thunderbird Ranch Estates (now Thunderbird Heights) on the hill overlooking the greens. His 1957 house was a modest ranch home with board-and-batten siding and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the valley. Rancho Mirage wasn’t incorporated until 1973, so the entire area was referred to as "Palm Springs."
Frank Sinatra’s Home by William F. Cody
In 1954, shortly after Sinatra and actress Ava Gardner divorced, the famed singer and actor bought an existing home located at Tamarisk Country Club. The modest, long-gable house was designed by William F. Cody and featured a rough stone entrance and clapboard siding. Sinatra added to the desert residence over time—notoriously adding structures in the 1960s to accommodate guests like John F. Kennedy and the Secret Service.
The Dillman Residence by Christer Barlund
This home was designed by Christer Barlund, a Finnish architect who was the student of Eliel and Eero Saarinen, and the colleague of A. Quincy Jones. The first owners were actor and author Bradford Dillman and model Suzy Parker.
The home was in a very private spot, surrounded by foothills and overlooking the desert.
Blue Skies Trailer Village by William F. Cody
Founded by Bing Crosby in the 1950s as a weekend getaway for his many Hollywood star friends, the streets of this William F. Cody–designed Rancho Mirage neighborhood were named after the celebrities who invested in the development. This particular trailer has many original elements, including the ramada by the desert modern architect.
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