Every city in the Coachella Valley has something special to offer. Whether it’s rural living in Coachella, living in the festival epicenter in Indio, shopping on El Paseo, strolling the grounds at Sunnylands, golfing at PGA West, the Balloon Festival in Cathedral City, the Indian Wells tennis tournament, modernism madness in Palm Springs, or soaking in the spas at Desert Hot Springs, each city has its gifts.
Likewise, every city features properties for every taste. Sadly, they’re not fit for every budget, but deals are available if you look hard. Even though most of the residential building in the Valley was done in the last 100 years, there is an extraordinary diversity of architectural styles – from 1930s Spanish Revival homes to much-sought-after mid-century modern homes of the late 1950s and early ’60s to mind-boggling contemporary mega-mansions.
The following homes were not chosen because they’re the most expensive or the most significant – architecturally or historically – but because they’re interesting, and maybe even unexpected, examples of what can be found in whichever city you love best.
Desert Hot Springs
23405 Henry Road
Photography: Teigen Media
Are you an artist who always dreamed of quiet and isolation, yet a quick driving distance to Trader Joe’s or In-N-Out Burger? This 15-acre ranch in Sky Valley (technically, Desert Hot Springs) has everything you need to create great art on a giant scale, even as the apocalypse rages through the rest of the world. The home features a 7-kW solar panel system and a private well. The four-bedroom, four-bath main home is approximately 2,400 square feet. It has an expansive kitchen that boasts slab granite countertops and stainless steel appliances like a Wolf Cooktop and a KitchenAid oven.
However, the stars of this show are undoubtedly the 300-plus palm trees that line the drive and surround the property. For an ambitious artist or project person, there is a 4,000-square-foot steel building with a bathroom, a bedroom, and a mezzanine. The building features three roll-up doors, a full compressor set-up, and work benches. There’s also a 300-square-foot storage building and a greenhouse plus a separate, adjacent five-acre parcel with a 550-square-foot guest house. Dig yourself a pool and you’ll never come out of Sky Valley.
$1,599,000. William Taylor, Desert Elite Properties, #00621745. 760-774-0444
Palm Springs
467 W. Via Lola
Many well-known people enjoyed the sun and privacy in Old Las Palmas over the years. There was Jack Warner, Kirk Douglas, Dinah Shore, Red Skelton, Liberace, Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds, Samuel Goldwyn, and Clark Gable. More recently, Leonardo DiCaprio acquired Shore’s gorgeous Donald Wexler-designed home. Of course, that’s a showbiz crowd. But, there was quieter money behind the giant ficus bushes – like Rockefeller money.
The one-acre estate on Via Lola was originally built by the Rockefeller family as a winter retreat. Others have owned the house over the years and at one time, the property was part of a larger compound cobbled together by bestselling author Sidney Sheldon. In addition to the estate’s boundaries, the six-bedroom, nine-bath residence was meticulously restored to its former grandeur. The home was remodeled with a muted palate; it is serene, not splashy.
Nevertheless, like days of yore when the home was party central for A-listers from every professional walk of life, the property still lends itself to entertaining on a grand scale. In addition to the main house, there is a one-bedroom en-suite guesthouse with a living room and a kitchen tucked away in the front corner of the property to give both hosts and guests total privacy. However, the real standout, freestanding structure is the pool house, which features a large entertaining space, a wet bar, a fireplace, a dry sauna, and an indoor BBQ grill. In this home, you can entertain like a Rockefeller.
$8,999,000. Scott Palermo, Harcourts Desert Home, #1256351T. 760-864-4100
Cathedral City
35297 District East St.
Photography: clarkandvalentine film & photo
At one time, Cat City was sort of the Staten Island of the Valley. Then, about 10 years ago, the Cove was “discovered,” and the city invested heavily in its civic center. Perez Road became an art district, and the opening of a casino seemed to create a milestone in the city’s re-invention of itself.
One of the more interesting developments in the last few years took place east of Crossley Road in the District East development. Anchored by the fabulous La Paloma Resort and the Sol Y Sombra tapas restaurant, the District offers the kind of contemporary sophisticated residences that are perfect for both full-timers and seasonal nomads.
On the market is a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath house that offers nearly 1,900 square feet and six figures worth of upgrades. The model, called “the Parker,” boasts an open living room floor plan with high ceilings that literally flood the space with light. The kitchen revolves around a large marble center island with high-end stainless steel appliances throughout. It features a breakfast bar and a walk-in pantry.
The primary suite, which features a huge walk-in closet, opens on to the pool/spa lanai. The pool and spa are large but do not dominate the perfectly landscaped backyard. The second bedroom is well-separated from the primary suite for maximum privacy. In addition to the living room and bedrooms, there is a den off the hallway entrance that would make a great home office or media room. The two-car garage provides ample storage. The District offers a large community pool, a spa, a dog run, a gym, and a community center.
$1,099,000. Doug George, #02118327. 760-904-6066
Indian Wells
76670 Lark Lane
With so many spectacular houses in Indian Wells, why feature a condo? Well, it isn’t just any condo. When the Sandpiper Community within the Indian Wells Country Club was first conceived, famed architect William Krisel was brought in to personally design the first couple of pods. The homes built after the first two were “Krisel-inspired,” according to real estate agent Sheri Wahlstrom. Though the architect was well-known for his collaboration with the Alexanders in Palm Springs, he was an enormously prolific designer, so it should be little surprise that he worked further east in the Valley.
With three bedrooms and three bathrooms in a 3,000-square-foot house on a 4,536-square-foot lot, this home doesn’t exactly fit into one’s notions of a condo. But, it is definitely one’s idea of the higher-end houses created by Krisel, with its green, double-entry doorway to the walnut slat ceilings and the fun, entryway accent wall. The wood accents throughout the house add warmth to the clean, white surfaces. A wood-finished wall in the bathroom provides an inviting backdrop to a freestanding soaking tub.
The primary bedroom and the other two bedrooms are all en-suite and contain exquisite details and finishes that were applied throughout the house. One of the home’s most unique features is a large atrium patio with a built-in gas grill and outdoor kitchen. While the atrium fills the adjacent rooms with light, the outdoor kitchen provides a private space where the owner can cook and entertain. You might have seen Krisel-designed houses in Racquet Club Estates or Deepwell Estates, but this is an entirely different level.
$2,170,000. Sheri Wahlstrom, #01903325. 760-250-8986
Indio
81967 Camelot Way
Photography: Brandon Brodie
The hell with location. Look, I don’t want to disrespect the Jewel Park neighborhood around Camelot Way. Yes, it’s a rather drab, stucco neighborhood with some houses that are well-taken care of, while others show signs of neglect. The point is, the moment you see the mid-century gem on the corner of Camelot and Merlin (I’m not making that up), your first thought will be: “How did that get here?”
Built in 1959 at the height of the mid-century design and building boom in Palm Springs, this four-bedroom, three-bath home would be a modernism star whether it was in Deepwell, Racquet Club, Thunderbird Heights, or Vista Las Palmas. In any of those neighborhoods, its price tag would easily top $2.5 million. Elaine Stewart of REMAX/All Pro says the present owners tried to determine the provenance of the house without success. Aside from the identity of the original owner (who maybe built it for his mistress), there is no mention of the architect in the city’s records.
The clerestory windows, the adobe brick wall in the den that continues through a glass window into an outdoor seating area, the warmth and simplicity of the varnished wood kitchen cabinets, and the round steel poles that hold up the backyard patio ceiling suggest a Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison design to me, though a case could be made for William Cody or Bill Krisel. Or maybe it was an unknown architect who simply borrowed the best from the brightest.
Whoever it was, they made their mark here. Happily, no one ever came in and decided to “upgrade” the house in the 1980s or ’90s. So, many of the vintage details remain, such as the hideaway bar, the knobs and switch plates, the kitchen cabinetry, and the exposed brick. The upgrades, such as the kitchen appliances and the swimming pool and spa, fit seamlessly. Two of the bedrooms are en-suite and each features a private patio. The spectacular fireplace is the heart of the house. This is a true diamond in the rough.
$899,000. Elaine Stewart, #01169846. 760-668-2399
Coachella
52500 Van Buren St.
This is a completely different dream of desert living. Not a golfer? Not a pickleball player? Not a gala habitué? How about a date farmer?
This 19.11-acre date farm boasts over 600 fruit-producing date palms. Leja Farms has long been known as one of the premier date producers in the Valley. This unique property is now on the market at a drastically reduced price for a back-to-lander who wants to devote themselves to the Valley’s signature crop.
Located only a couple of miles due east from Silver Rock Resort and PGA West, the home attached to the farm is a 3,400-square-foot ranch house built in 1960. It offers four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a den, a swimming pool, and a wood-burning fireplace. Granted, the home could use a loving and visionary make-over, but after that’s accomplished, you would be the proprietor of your own date plantation with room enough for stables, a greenhouse, and whatever else fits your dreams of rural gentry.
$3,000,000. Kim Kelly, Desert Sands Realty. 760-636-5280
Rancho Mirage
66 Royal Saint Georges Way
Designed by Kristi Hanson of KHA Architects in Palm Desert, this four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath contemporary estate is a stunning addition to the coveted Westgate enclave of the Mission Hills Country Club. With views of the San Jacinto Mountains and the Pete Dye golf course, this contemporary stunner built in 2022 on a 0.65-acre lot impresses from the moment you drive through its private gate into the private courtyard. Entering the house, you’re immediately amazed by the great room with a fireplace wall made of stone and granite. The west-facing wall opens completely to the backyard living area with the pool, golf course, and mountains lined up to view as you relax in front of a massive fireplace.
The dining room and kitchen are cleverly separated by pocket doors, so there’s an option to create defined spaces (as opposed to the “furniture store showroom” feel of some open-space plans). The massive kitchen features marble and quartz finishes, custom cabinetry, a waterfall island, and Dacor appliances, plus a butler’s pantry and a catering kitchen.
The primary suite features views of the mountains and a spa bath with a marble finish. The three guest rooms feature en-suite baths fitted with Thassos marble, and an office just past the great room makes working at home a true pleasure. The outside spaces seem like your own private resort with an outdoor living room and fireplace, a covered dining area, and a BBQ grill, plus a fire pit and two fire features that frame a swimming pool.
$5,829,000. Bomgardner Blenkinsop & Associates/Bennion Deville Homes. 714-584-6509
Palm Desert
47425 Medina Drive West
In 1950s and ’60s Hollywood, if you were wealthy and so inclined, you could opt to have your new residence designed in the popular Hollywood Regency style. It’s a difficult style to describe, with elements of Greek Revival architecture, Asian and Middle Eastern influences, Art Deco style, and a little sprinkling of Movie Town magic. If you wanted your interiors in that style (as Walter and Leonore Annenberg did), then you called on Billy Haines, who designed Sunnylands’ interiors and furniture. If you wanted someone to design your house, then you rang up John Elgin Woolf.
That’s what developer Johnny Dawson did in 1967 when he decided to embark on the project that eventually became the Marrakesh Country Club. Eventually, the 155-acre walled and gated development would encompass 364 homes of four distinct types, 14 separate communal pools and pool houses, a golf course, and one of the more distinctive, if not eccentric, clubhouses in the desert.
This three-bedroom, three-bath home on Medina Drive West boasts one of the best locations on the entire property. Situated near where the first fairway meets the second tee box, the home offers panoramic views of the San Jacinto Mountains and the San Gorgonio Mountain. The private and relaxing courtyards feature orchid trees and ceramic tiles that run throughout the house.
The large living room has tall, built-in bookcases that frame a limestone fireplace; it’s the perfect place to catch up on reading the complete works of Dickens during chilly winter nights. The well-appointed kitchen comes with a Bertazzoni Professional Series dual-fuel range and a walk-in pantry – the perfect staging area for feeding friends and family in the formal dining room.
The spacious primary bedroom has access to the patio plus a large dressing area, dual vanities, and a large soaking tub. One guest bedroom with an en-suite opens up to a courtyard; it’s adjacent to a den/office with built-in shelves and French doors that open to a light-filled atrium. Go fetch a truckload of Billy Haines furniture and you’ll be all set.
$1,490,000. Frankie Alvarado, #02068166. 760-656-6102
La Quinta
52830 Avenida Navarro
These days, La Quinta Cove is regarded as a charming neighborhood that’s adjacent to good hiking at Lake Cahuilla, and about the only enclave in La Quinta that isn’t walls and gates. However, over 90 years ago – at the height of the Great Depression – a developer named Harry Kiener dreamed of creating a winter retreat in the desert for his mountain guests up at Big Bear Lake. The Desert Club started with 63 casitas that were built in the Spanish Revival style and were either for sale or for rent.
An Art Deco-style clubhouse with a large pool, a tennis court, and manicured grounds (much like its neighbor, La Quinta Resort & Club) was added in 1937. The club lured many Hollywood celebrities, and many of the casitas were their getaway houses from LA. Unfortunately, changing tastes and ownership saw the club lose its exclusivity, and while it staggered on for a couple more decades as a family-oriented resort, its ultimate decline came in the 1970s. The resort was given to the city, and the City Council decided to let firefighters burn down the clubhouse for firefighting practice. The pool was filled in and little remains now except the tennis court – and the casitas.
Fortuitously, Kiener had the bunaglows built a good distance apart, so over the years, new construction filled in the lots in between them. This might have helped with their preservation. It certainly did in the case of the casita on Avenida Navarro – a three-bedroom, two-bath gem of just 1,212 square feet on a 5,227-square-foot lot. Though that’s below the city’s square footage requirement, the home’s age allowed it to grandfathered – a loophole that allows the home’s wood-burning fireplace, which is a rarity these days in the Valley.
The casita does not feel small. A well-appointed kitchen opens to an adjacent room that can be either a breakfast room and pantry, an office, or a den. A separate dining space can be used as either a bedroom, a den, or an office. The biggest upgrade that was made by the current owner is a new saltwater PebbleTec pool and spa. With views of the Santa Rosa Mountains from the front patio, this historical gem is a steal.
$550,000. Jennifer McKee, #02022976. 760-272-5389
