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.

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 Maranz House by Val Powelson

The Charney Residence by Wexler & Harrison Architects

The Firestone House by William Pereira

The Ball-Arnaz Residence by Paul R. Williams

Jeff Chandler Residence, Architect Unknown

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.

Bing Crosby’s Home, Architect Unknown

Frank Sinatra’s Home by William F. Cody

The Dillman Residence by Christer Barlund

Blue Skies Trailer Village by William F. Cody

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Related Reading:

A Brief History of Celebrities and Their Starchitects

Albert Frey’s Desert Modernism Had a Sense of Humor