I’ve often heard both new residents and visitors say the “heart” of Old Palm Springs is centered in The Movie Colony and Old Las Palmas neighborhoods. To be sure, some of the earliest stately residences were built there in the 1920s and ‘30s. They were typically thick-walled Spanish Revival homes that make an architectural connection to this stretch of the northern Sonoran Desert and a nod to the region’s early colonists.
In fact, really old Palm Springs is located downtown at the intersection of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Palm Canyon Drive. Near there, Dr. Welwood Murray built The Palm Springs Hotel on a patch of land he bought from speculator Judge John McCallum. The latter bought hundreds of acres in the Valley in 1885, when the Southern Pacific Railroad reached Los Angeles and sparked a real estate boom. Murray leased the nearby hot springs from the Cahuilla Band of Indians and bought a few more parcels, including the land that would become the Welwood Murray Cemetery.
The positioning of the hotel was not solely based on its proximity to the hot springs; Tahquitz Creek flowed into the Valley from just a hundred yards away and irrigated the fruit trees that McCallum planted. This early “neighborhood” would later include landmarks such as the O’Donnell House, The Willows, Korakia Pensione (which was originally used as the winter studio for Scottish painter Gordon Coutts), Ruth Hardy’s invitation-only Ingleside Inn, and Casa Cody. Another landmark, Nellie Coffman’s Desert Inn, was demolished to make way for an ill-fated mall called Fashion Plaza, which was then demolished so Palm Springs’ first high-rise hotel, Kimpton Rowan, could grace the village’s downtown skyline.
In any event, this original nucleus of the village was also the site where local visionary Pearl McManus built the Palm Springs Tennis Club in 1937. You might think that this neighborhood was dubbed “Old Town” or “Old Palm Springs.” But evidently, the cachet of the tennis club (which attracted a constellation of stars) meant that the area was known as the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood since then. Except for a few notable buildings such as Korakia, The Willows, the building that houses Le Vallauris, Casa Cody, the Ingleside Inn, and a few others, the neighborhood has become rather eclectic over the years. There are Spanish Revival houses, stunning mid-century modern homes, 1970s-style condos, and even some stunning modern additions.
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A case in point is the house at 775 S. La Mirada Road. It is located in the south end of the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood, where it jumps Ramon Avenue close to the mountain and the entrance to the Lykken Trail. But, if you dismiss this addition as a mini-hood of Johnny-come-latelies, you will miss some beautifully designed and executed modern homes that are rarely found this side of La Quinta.
The home at 775 S. La Mirada Road is a modern, contemporary residence. Its glass-clad front exterior boasts unparalleled views over the entire Valley, from the Morongo Pass to Mount San Jacinto (along the San Bernardino Mountains due east) and to the far reaches of the East Valley. The 4,317-square-foot floor plan sprawls elegantly over the hillside, and every single space in the house has views either of the Valley to the east or Tahquitz Canyon to the west. The surrounding hillside literally connects to the living spaces and gives that immersive ideal that is so central to a decade of desert modernist architecture. Strategically placed boulders throughout the 0.56-acre lot give the feeling that this contemporary masterpiece sprang fully formed from the hillside. The main living area opens completely to views of the long pool and rugged mountainside. An interposing water feature makes it feel like one of the canyon’s waterfalls is literally forming a pool at your feet.
The intricately designed home features four spacious bedrooms – each accompanied by its own luxurious bathroom – plus an additional powder room and a convenient pool bathroom. The primary suite is a private oasis; it features a sumptuous soaking tub, a large shower that doubles as a steam shower, and two primary closets for your storage needs. The heart of the home – the gourmet kitchen – is equipped with a top-of-the-line Bosch appliance package and an ice maker for your entertaining needs. The open-plan kitchen is not only tailor-made for entertaining while cooking; it also offers extraordinary views of the mountains. A separate refrigerated wine room for wine enthusiasts adds to the exceptional appeal of this property.
You can enjoy the ultimate in outdoor living with an outdoor shower, two inviting fire pits, and an outdoor kitchen that’s perfect for entertaining or relaxing under the stars. Sustainability meets luxury with solar panels that provide energy efficiency. Additional highlights include a spacious air-conditioned four-car garage that ensures you have ample parking and storage space. Be part of the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood and its history while experiencing the best of Palm Springs living, where luxury, comfort, and breathtaking natural beauty come together in perfect harmony.
