Palm Springs has been a favorite hideaway for generations of celebrities, even earning the nickname “Hollywood’s Playground.” Our close proximity to Hollywood made us a star-studded weekend retreat for world-famous movie stars and musicians who purchased homes and rendezvoused in nearby hotels and resorts.
That legacy lives on today, and Hollywood’s Playground is yours to discover. Order the steak Frank Sinatra used to eat at Johnny Costa’s, or the pastrami sandwich that Elvis enjoyed at Sherman’s Deli. Golf where Walt Disney and Bob Hope hit the links, and hike where Frank Capra filmed one of his early movies. Have a drink where the Rat Pack sang and partied the night away. And stay in Gloria Swanson’s former residence – or Leonardo DiCaprio’s current one. Live the life of the celebrities during your next visit to Palm Springs.
The Twin Palms Estate
From overnight rentals in celebrity homes to hotel rooms with Hollywood ties, you’re never far from a star-studded connection when you stay in Palm Springs. Lodge overnight in the 1.3 acre estate designed in 1963 for Dinah Shore, the timeless mid-century modern home that’s now the residence of Leonardo DiCaprio, who rents it out when he’s away. Or splurge with a half-dozen of your friends on a getaway to Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate, a midcentury modern classic designed for the Chairman of the Board in 1947. Amin Casa, Gloria Swanson’s former residence turned hotel, is another great option for those who want a brush with fame. Or stay inside Gene Autry’s former residence, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling he maintained while he operated the on-site hotel, now the Parker Palm Springs.
Melvyn’s
The Rat Pack’s Palm Springs legacy lives on in a collection of restaurants and clubs that once served those legends. Back in the 1970s the late Johnny Costa began working as Frank Sinatra's personal chef, and also founded his eponymous restaurant that Ol’ Blue Eyes used to frequent. Johnny Costa’s still serves the “Steak Sinatra” that Sinatra himself used to enjoy, pan seared and sauteed with garlic, mushrooms and bell peppers in a red wine sauce.
Sinatra held his wedding rehearsal dinner in 1976 at Melvyn’s Restaurant at Ingleside Inn, Palm Springs’ most iconic celebrity hangout that features an oak mahogany bar dating back to 1895 and remains the place to see and be seen. Everyone from Liza Minnelli to Debbie Reynolds, John Travolta and Sammie Davis, Jr. have frequented there over the years. And Sinatra, Davis and Dean Martin frequently sang the night away together onstage at The Purple Room, a supper club tucked inside the Club Trinidad Hotel that still hosts live entertainment every night of the week (temporarily closed due to COVID-19).
Forever Marilyn Statue
Marilyn Monroe’s 26-foot-tall likeness – the “Forever Marilyn” statue – will soon be unveiled in a new location after traveling around the United States and as far away as Australia over the last decade. Palm Springs is a fitting location for the giant statue, as a talent agent first discovered Monroe by a pool at a tennis club here in 1949.
The statue, which depicts Monroe’s iconic pose from the 1952 film “The Seven Year Itch,” is sure to become the most popular selfie spot in Palm Springs once it’s unveiled. Make sure to stop by and snap a selfie for your Instagram once she returns!
Indian Canyons Golf Course
Explore the vast, open expanses that have captivated generations of Hollywood legends. Tee off at the Indian Canyons Golf Resort, two courses and 36 holes set on 500 acres where Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Frank Sinatra and presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan all played. Try to spot one of Walt Disney’s several homes surrounding the resort’s North Course; Disney even donated an elaborate fountain still in use today between the course’s 9th and 18th holes.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s spectacular vistas have attracted a host of celebrities over the years. Dean Martin once filmed a scene for “The Wrecking Crew” in the tramway station, while The Doors played a concert in a lodge near the top of the tram in 1972.
And nearly a decade before Frank Capra created “It’s a Wonderful Life,” he directed “Lost Horizon” within the stunning scenery of Tahquitz Canyon. The canyon was the setting for “Shangri-La” in the movie; and almost a century later, its incredible waterfalls and surrounding scenery make it easy to see why.