Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood Self-Guided Tour

Tahquitz Park (now within the Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood) was subdivided in 1923 by Pearl McCallum McManus, daughter of early Palm Springs settler John Guthrie McCallum. McManus was one of the first to construct a house in the tract, a Mediterranean-style home at 281 S. Tahquitz Dr. (demolished). The geography of the neighborhood has expanded over the years, and many of the homes to the south of W. Ramon Road are new, which are not included in this self-guided tour.

Parking: Free public parking is available on N Museum Drive across from the Palm Springs Art Museum, and there is also free on-street parking.

Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood Tour Begins

Walk past the Alluminaire House, and the house across the street is Le Vallauris. 

Le Vallauris – 385 W Tahquitz

Le Vallauris restaurant is housed in the historic home of George Roberson, the son of Nellie Coffman. Nellie Coffman, often referred to as the “Mother of Palm Springs,” played a significant role in transforming Palm Springs into a popular resort destination. She opened the Desert Inn in 1909, which became a famous resort.

The Roberson home now houses Le Vallauris. The restaurant was established in 1974 by Paul Bruggemans, who chose this charming historic home for its unique character. The house retains its original layout, including an expansive patio shaded by fichus trees. Le Vallauris is known for its exquisite French cuisine and beautiful outdoor dining space.

Turn around, and you will see The Willows behind the Alluminaire house.

The Willows – 412 W Tahquitz Canyon Way

The Willows were built in 1925 as the winter home of businessman William Mead, designed by architect William Dodd of Dodd & Richards. This land was notable for the Tahquitz creek running through it and the abundance of willow trees. Although not widely known today, Mead was a significant community figure with wealth from real estate and fire insurance, who later founded the Central State Bank. In 1925, Dodd & Richards also designed a similar home for Roland Bishop, a prominent Los Angeles businessman and head of Bishop & Co., which was acquired by Nabisco in 1930.

Samuel Untermeyer, a renowned lawyer from New York, purchased The Willows in 1930 after William Mead’s death. Untermeyer made several modifications to the property, including enclosing a patio and adding a box-beam ceiling with painted panels. He expanded the gardens and added a pool, transforming the property into a tropical oasis. During the rise of Nazi Germany, Untermeyer invited Albert Einstein to stay at his Palm Springs home, and Einstein later stayed at El Mirador Hotel.

Another famous guest was James Walker, the Mayor of New York, who stayed at The Willows and later at El Mirador during an investigation into his leadership. Samuel Untermeyer spent his final winter at The Willows and died there in 1940. After his death, the property changed hands several times, eventually becoming a boutique resort. It is a Class I Historic Site.

 Head to the corner of W. Tahquitz Canyon Way and S Cahuilla Road. Palm Mountain Resort & Spa will be on your left.

 Head south on S. Cahuilla Rd. Casa Cody will be on your right, the last property on the block.

 Casa Cody – 175 S Cahuilla Road

In 1916, Herold and Harriet Cody moved from Hollywood to Palm Springs for Herold’s health, seeking relief in the desert air. Herold, a Los Angeles architect, was related to Buffalo Bill Cody and had worked on Riverside’s Mission Inn. Harriet, from a wealthy Philadelphia family and descended from Sir Thomas Moore, met Nellie Coffman at the Desert Inn.

They lived off the rent from their Hollywood home but faced financial issues when tenants defaulted. Harriet traded their Hollywood house for 80 acres in Palm Springs and started a stable to make ends meet. Despite Herold’s passing in 1924, Harriet expanded the stable business and eventually built Casa Cody in 1937, which is now the oldest continuously operating hotel in Palm Springs.

At the end of the block, turn left on W Arenas Rd. Holiday House will be on the corner of W Arenas Rd and S Belardo Rd.

 Holiday House – 200 W. Arenas Road

Lloyd Whaley opened Holiday House in 1951. He had visited Palm Springs with his family since the early 40’s. Whaley is credited as a builder and land developer of over 5,000 homes in Long Beach and 2,000 in his subdivision called University City near the coast. The architectural designer was Herbert W. Burns. The hotel boasted a heated swimming pool, greens, shuffleboard games, an outdoor cabana for day and night functions, bicycles for tenants, and other recreational facilities. It was designed to be an extended-stay hotel.

The building covered 10,500 square feet and contained 13 apartments, most of them with fully equipped kitchens and breakfast nooks. According to Herbert Burns, another outstanding feature was that each apartment was soundproof, wired for radio and recordings that came from a central control board.

It was initially built as a single story, and a second story was added in 1962, against Burns advice. The owners of the Sparrows Lodge bought the property and put it on a fast track to total transformation that took nine months. In 2017, the 28-room Holiday House re-opened with its original name and spirit. For the reboot, they enlisted L.A.-based designer Mark Sikes, who married midcentury modern elements with touches of whimsy like cornflower pattern bedspreads and ceramic monkeys to accent countertops in the white-tiled bathrooms. The pool has been completely redone, while the shuffleboard court is original. Artwork in the lobby includes pieces by David Hockney, Roy Liechtenstein, Herb Ritts, Alex Katz, and others.

 

Head south on S Belardo one block to the corner of Baristo. Del Marcos Hotel will be on the south corner.

 Del Marcos Hotel – 225 W Baristo Road

Owner Samual and Adele Marcus hired architect William Cody to build the handsome Del Marcos Hotel in 1947. This was Cody’s first commission, and this launched his Palm Springs career. He was a prominent architect whose visionary work in Palm Springs during the mid-20th century helped shape the city’s iconic modernist landscape. Known for his minimalist and sleek designs, Cody blended indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly, creating elegant structures that harmonize with the desert surroundings. Del Marcos Hotel set the tone for his career by showcasing bold lines and a harmonious connection to the natural environment. Cody’s architectural legacy in Palm Springs includes residences, hotels, and commercial buildings, all characterized by their open layouts, clean lines, and integration of the desert landscape, making him a key figure in Desert Modernism.

There were 16 rooms, and no two rooms alike. A feeling of spaciousness was brought about by carefully designed furniture, placed to give the maximum amount of freedom in moving about. It was, and is, an indoor-outdoor way of living with substantial window areas overlooking Palm Springs’ beautiful vistas, typical of William Cody’s designs.

The hotel offered plenty of parking, kitchenettes in most rooms, and an open plan surrounding a central swimming pool. Although two stories, the long sloping roofline grounds the building. The base of the “U” faces Baristo Road with the entry lobby and covered breezeway in the center. There is a shuffleboard court in the far southwest corner of the property.

Del Marcos was receiving national recognition. The American Institute of Architecture presented William Cody with the Award of the Year for resort design. The hotel was also brought to the attention of readers through an illustrated article in an issue of Architectural Forum, which had a sizeable nationwide circulation.

A Class 1 historic site designation of the Del Marcos Hotel was made official on May 2, 2012.

Across the street from the Del Marcos Hotel is the old Community Church.

 Community Church of Palm Springs – 284 S Cahuilla Road

 It was built in 1936 by Charles Tanner. On February 21, 1954, President and Mrs. Eisenhower worshipped here during a week-long visit to Palm Springs. The firm of Willimas, Willimas, & Williams designed alterations in 1947 and 1952. The church was extensively damaged by fire in 2013.

The damaged building site next to the church was known as the Orchid Tree Inn. It consisted of seven buildings built between 1915 and 1948, which multiple owners developed over time. The property comprised a variety of building types, including a Craftsman bungalow (destroyed by fire), a two-story apartment building designed by Albert Frey (recently destroyed by fire), two one-story apartment buildings, a small Spanish-style duplex, a one-story motel complex, a four-unit apartment, and a courtyard motel. Prior names included The Sakarah, The Apache Lodge, and the Bel-Ardo Billas. The city is negotiating development with the current owner.

 Next to Del Marcos on the corner of S Cahuilla Rd is the Women’s Club.

 Palm Springs Women’s Club – 314 S Cahuilla Rd

Pearl McCallum McManus, daughter of pioneer J.G. McCallum, married real estate mogul Austin G. McManus and became a skilled land trader. She donated land for the Palm Springs Women’s Club (PSWC) and contributed significantly to the community. To continue her charitable work, she founded the McCallum Desert Foundation in memory of her father. This foundation supported PSWC with grants in the 1980s. Pearl is remembered for her responsibility, integrity, generosity, and passion, qualities that continue to inspire PSWC members.

John Porter Clark designed the PSWC clubhouse, which was dedicated in 1939. This clubhouse exemplifies early California’s modern style, which was influenced later by midcentury architecture in Palm Springs by architects like Albert Frey and Richard Neutra. The clubhouse is a key feature of the historic Tennis Club neighborhood, also created by Pearl McManus, and attracts architecture enthusiasts.

The clubhouse serves as a gathering place for members and hosts numerous events, including public events, throughout the year.

Head back to Belardo and continue south. You will first come to La Serena Villas, then the Avalon Hotel & Bungalows, and last on the west side of the block, Ingleside Estate.

 La Serena Villas – 339 S. Belardo Road

 Frank Pershing had just opened Estrella Villas in 1933 (Avalon, next stop) and then built La Serena Cottages as bungalows and apartments. He went into business with Mr. Oucault, the famous cartoonist and originator of Buster Brown cartoons, and was also his brother-in-law. Brewster, Benedict, and Taylor were the architects, and Atkin & Marsh were the builders. Frank became a council member in 1938.

The Kor Hotel Group purchased the property in 2004. It contained 17 units ranging from single-night hotel rooms to monthly rented four-bedroom units. They were granted permission to renovate the .9-acre property. Work started but was never completed as funding for the project eventually evaporated. They planned to make it part of the Viceroy brand.

In 2008, the owners applied to demolish the hotel in response to complaints that the property had become a health and safety hazard. The City Council issued a stay of demolition in July 2008, and in November 2008, the City’s Historic Site Preservation Board recommended Class 1 Historic Site designation. Unfortunately, the City Council chose to recommend a Class 2 Historic Site designation, which only created a written and photographic record and allowed the demolition of the bungalows to proceed.

Lars Viklund had purchased the Del Marco. He ended up buying the property to restore it to its original specifications. Unfortunately, the buildings were not salvageable. They hired May Sung, the co-founder of SUBU Design Architecture of Los Angeles, who had also been working on their home in Manhattan Beach. They also used her expertise to restore the Del Marcos. The bungalows were rebuilt in the same footprint they originally occupied, but this time with more modern amenities and larger bathrooms. It was a $10 million restoration project. New amenities include a Mediterranean tapas restaurant, Azucar, with a rooftop deck that looks out upon Mount San Jacinto. Two of the units are designed as one-bedroom suites with kitchens. The suites can connect to the adjoining bungalows to create a larger 1,500-square-foot home.

 Avalon Hotel & Bungalows – 415 S. Belardo Road

 The Estrella Villas (Avalon), which opened in 1933, was considered one of the swankiest apartment courts in the village at the time. Jackie Cooper and his mother were guests at Estrella Villas in April 1939. Jackie had a few days off between his new picture, “What a Life.” They would rent a cottage for the winter. Bing Crosby and his wife, Dixie Lee, would also be guests the same year. His favorite cottage was #106. In 1941, Judy Garland enjoyed a few weeks at Estrella Villas. She was there with her mother and her girlfriend, Betty Graham.

The new Estrella Inn opened in January 1973 with builder, developer, and owner Bud Ruppert of Palm Springs. It was operated under the Estrella Villa Garden Hotel Corp. It was now a 52-room hotel.

The Estrella was restored to that era’s original charm and elegance in 1996, boasting 62 beautifully appointed deluxe guest rooms, suites, and private villas with fully equipped kitchens and fireplaces. A complimentary breakfast was offered in your room, at one of the villas, or the poolside.

Brad Korzen, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles-based Kor Group, purchased the property and completely revamped it throughout 2001 and 2002. New additions were introduced, including the Estrella Spa and the restaurant Citron. As a result, Conde Nast Traveler selected the property as one of the 80 best new hotels in the world, placing it on the 2003 “Hot List.” It was renamed as Viceroy Palm Springs on January 1, 2004.

The Viceroy became the Avalon Hotel in 2015. Kelly Wearstler Interior Design helped revamp the bedrooms, common areas, and food and beverage outlets.

 Ingleside Estate – 200 W Ramon Rd

 Humphrey Birge came to Palm Springs in 1922. He owned the Birge Wallpaper Manufacturing Company of New York. His home was called the Humphrey Birge Estate, also known at the time as Twin Palms. It was considered a landmark in Palm Springs. He sold the property to Jackson and Ruth Hardy in 1940, who decided to transform it into a luxury hotel. The 32 rooms had been remodeled, and they kept the antique furnishings that came with the home. Each guest room had a fireplace and French doors opening into the gardens. Trees were moved to give guests the finest view possible.

Stars such as Lily Pons, a famous operatic star, and her husband, Andre Kosterlanetz, a noted orchestra leader, were frequent visitors. She resettled in Palm Springs after an active New York Metropolitan Opera season. Lily ended up taking over a villa for 13 years. Charles Laughton, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Gary Cooper, Salvador Dali, the elusive Howard Hughes, Lucille Ball, Bette Midler, Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Xavier Cugat, Jackie Coogan, Kay Ballard, Yogi Berra, John Florsheim, and Jolie Gabor were all guests. The list goes on and on.

The Ingleside rooms, suites, and villas now number 30. Beverly and Mel Haber purchased the property and discovered many hidden treasures, such as Imperial jade, art, books, photographs, and a special file on those who stayed at the inn during the Ruth Hardy days, each with its own priceless story to tell.

 Turn right at W. Ramon Rd, go one block, and turn right again at S. Cahuilla Rd.

 Take the first left on W Monte Vista Dr, and it will curve into S Monte Vista Dr.

 Continue north to the first street on the left, Santa Rosa Dr. The Alshuler residence will be the first house on your left.

 Ernest Alshuler Residence – 421 Santa Rosa Dr.

The original home was built in 1939 for Katherine Romer and designed by F. Nelson Breed. An addition was made in 1950 by Albert Frey with John Porter Clark for Alshuler. It was sold in 1954, and it is believed to have been remodeled in 1954 by E. Steward Williams. Alshuler was President of Sentinel Radio Corporation, a well-known radio manufacturer from Chicago. He was heavily involved in creating the first Community Hospital, which is now Desert Regional and was named President of the Hospital Association in 1949. He was also on the board of the Desert Museum, which was later called the Palm Springs Art Museum. Mrs. Alshuler was President of the Garden Club.

 The Houseman Residence is two houses down on the left.

George Houseman Residence – 416 S Patencio Rd

George was a winter visitor to Palm Springs since 1925. He was active as a developer in Portland, Oregon. He built the Barbara Hotel in Los Angeles, which boxer Jack Dempsey owned. In 1938, he purchased this residence. He served on City Council from 1942 to 1944.

Continue on Santa Rosa Dr, heading to the mountains. There will be a jog in the road crossing over S Patencio Rd, and the Peake residence will be at the corner on the left.

 Peake Residence – 501 Santa Rosa Dr

 Will and Wanda Peake built this home in 1940. Will lived in the house until his passing in 1963. They had been visiting Palm Springs since 1925. He was chairman of the board of Consolidated Freight Lines, one of the largest trucking companies at the time. It was founded in 1929 in Portland, Oregon. At its height, the company had over 15,000 employees.

Next to the Peak Residence on S Patencio Rd. is the Gould Residence

 Ray Gould Residence – 475 S Patencio Road

Gladys and Ray Gould built this home in 1956. Records show a pool permit was issued in January. It has a circular curve drive, and the house wraps around the pool. You would find them having Sunday brunch at the Tennis Club most weekends. Ray passed away in 1968, still owning this property. He was a pioneer automobile dealer (Chrysler) for 50 years in Beverly Hills and Long Beach. The rooms are shaped like pie wedges joined in the center.

 The Bourne residence will be on the opposite corner at S Patencio Rd and W Patencio Lane where S Patencio Rd ends.

 Arthur K Bourne Residence – 486 W Patencio Lane

Walter Neff designed this residence in 1933 for a wealthy playboy and heir to the Singer Sewing fortune. The home features classic elements of California’s golden age architecture, including Moorish influences and a spacious, inviting layout. This 9,318 square-foot home has 10-bedrooms, 11-bathrooms, and sits on over an acre. Walter built houses for some of the wealthiest and most famous clients, including King Gillette, Darryl Zanuck, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Harpo Marx, and Red Skelton, to name a few.

Head up W Linda Vista Drive, and the Crockett residence will be the second home on your right.

 Merrill Crockett Residence – 590 W Linda Vista Drive

 This residence was commissioned by Merrill and Juanita Crocket, who moved to Palm Springs in 1932. He owned the popular Village Pharmacy. They purchased the land from Pearl McManus in 1949, owner and developer of the Tennis Club. This 2,350 square foot residence with three-bedroom and two-bath was designed by Herbert Burns in 1951. Merrill and Herbert were good friends. He styled this like several other buildings in the Tennis Club neighborhood in an “old West” aesthetic. They sold the property in 1956. The concrete wall was added in 2005.

Former Palm Springs City Councilman and architect Chris Mills is Crockett’s grandson.

Head back to S. Patencio Rd and continue north.

395 S Patencio Rd

This residence sits on a double lot (.69 acres). It was originally designed in 1962 by Richard Wheeler, an architect from San Diego who was the architect for the corporate headquarters of San Diego Gas & Electric in 1968. In 1978, Albert Frey enhanced it with a master suite and guest house/garage addition. The unique curved architecture embraces the panoramic, unobstructed mountain views and invites you outside to the round pool and abundant grounds.

Continue north past W Panga Way, and the Abernathy residence will be on your right.

 Madge Phillips Abernathy Residence – 310 S Patencio Rd

The residence was designed in 1959 by Herbert Burns for Madge Pillips Abernathy. It was sold to David and Hope Hearst in 1962. David was the son of William Randolph Hearst. She was also friends with Rosalie and George Hearst, the eldest son, who also owned a home in the area. Madge was a prominent Palm Springs civic and social leader and a distinguished artist.

 Continue and turn left at W Baristo Rd. The Four Seasons is on the north corner of Baristo and San Jacinto Dr.

 The Four Seasons Apartment Hotel – 290 San Jacinto Dr

On the corner of San Jacinto Drive and Baristo. This apartment complex was built in 1962 and designed by Herbert Burns. There are 24 units.

 Head to the end of W Baristo, and you will come to Spencer’s Restaurant.

 Palm Springs Tennis Club – 701 W Baristo Rd

The Palm Springs Tennis Club was built by Pearl McManus with two tennis courts in 1937 and featured the most photographed pool in the West. When they were installed, the tennis courts were considered to be the best in the world. The swimming pool that followed, with its landscaping, including v-shaped palm trees, became a model for resort pools for years. The clubhouse opened in 1938 and was designed by Los Angeles architect Paul Williams, the first black American Institute of Architects member. The original club building has undergone extensive expansion.

Pearl leased the property to a couple from Beverly Hills who did not manage it well. In the summer of 1939, she contacted Tony Burke, who was doing public relations work for the El Mirador Hotel, and offered him the position. The Club had less than 50 members in 1939, but Tony grew it to 90 within the first season. It became popular with those staying at the Smoke Tree Ranch.

The Tennis club hosted many fashion shows. For example, in 1954, movie stars in the audience for the fashion show included Mitzi Gaynor, Terry Moore, Debbie Reynolds, Susan Zanuck, Ann Francis, and Jane Powell.

In 1961, Harry Chaddick toured the property with Frank Bogert, who was Pearl’s Club Manager then. Harry was a successful developer from Chicago and became enamored of the area. He was impressed with the Club and spoke with Pearl about selling. Nothing came of it, so he returned to Chicago. Weeks later, a representative of Pearl’s offered to sell the property to Harry. Pearl had taken a liking to Harry and knew he would treat her beloved Club with dignity and respect. Harry closed the deal over the phone. When Harry took over, there were four courts, a clubhouse, a restaurant, ten bungalows, and a pool across the street. He added more bungalows and two courts soon after.

Harry purchased the vacant property south of the Club and developed it into a private condominium project along with three more courts. As buyers moved in, they invariably joined the Club and could be seen daily on the courts. Once the hotel and condos were built, he hired Bill Smith, who was well-known then. Bill ran Harry’s tennis program for the next 10 years. Under his direction, the Club became known as “The Tennis Players Club.”

In 1980, Harry decided to sell. Ray Watt, one of America’s premier developers, bought the property. A new, innovative vacation concept, “timeshare,” began. The first sale was made in March 1981, and a unique tennis environment was born. New timeshare tennis enthusiasts augmented the private membership, bringing a fresh group of players to the courts. The word quickly spread that the best tennis, regardless of ability level, was to be found at The Tennis Club. The Club has 11 well-maintained courts in a beautiful setting. Members, Timeshares, and local tennis guests can access the resort’s pool, hot tub, and gym.

 Turn right to S Tahquitz Dr. until you come to a gate at the corner of W Arenas Rd.

 Colony 29 – 147 S Tahquitz Dr

Development of the subject property began around 1926 when renowned impressionist painter Alson Clark constructed the first two buildings at 139 and 141 S Tahquitz Dr.

In 1929, John Burnham commissioned the construction of 147 S. Tahquitz Dr. He was the son of Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. His father was famous as the supervising architect of the Chicago World’s Fair. John was a banker and investor who founded the nationwide investment firm Burnham & Co. He was also an amateur painter and a patron of the arts. Burnham retired in 1924 and shortly after began spending winters in the desert.  He commissioned architect H. Palmer Sabin to design a Spanish-style estate. It was called the “Street of Spain” for its European-style architecture. The estate included a guest house and three bungalows for his painter friends. It now consists of 6 homes. Few houses existed in this neighborhood at the time.

John Burnham later co-founded the Desert Art School with Pearl McManus, housed in the old McCallum adobe. In 1954, he sold the main house and two bungalows to Francis Crocker, who developed the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. However, the site remained an artist colony as late as the 1970s. It was later sold, renovated, and called Colony 29, a vacation rental and event space. It is currently owned by SOHO House.

 Head east on W Arenas Rd. Desert Hills Hotel is on the south corner of San Jacinto Dr.

 Desert Hills Apartment Hotel – 601 W Arenas Road

Herbert W. Burns designed this 14-unit complex designed in 1956 for Allen and Joanne Petty. With its classic coral pink signage on weathered brown board and batten, it is where Doris Day used to stay. The Desert Hills is now a boutique hotel.

 Orbit In is across the street, just past San Jacinto Dr on the left.

 Orbit In – 562 W Arenas Road

The Orbit In was designed by Herbert W. Burns in 1955 and opened as Village Manor Apartment Hotel. He purchased the land in 1949 and sold it in 1955 once completed. It is an important intact example of a commercial desert modernist hotel structure from the midcentury modern period. He was an important figure who designed at least a dozen commercial buildings and over two dozen residential or private buildings here in the desert.

It has 9 studio-style units, each with a private rear patio and most retaining the original pink-tiled bathroom. It was originally built with five rental units, each with a separate kitchen and a large owner’s unit with a guest room, kitchen, and small office. The building has been modified but is essentially unchanged. The units surround a courtyard with a large pool and an outdoor covered bar addition.

Just down from Orbit in.

The 500 West – 500 West Arenas Road

Designed by Herbert Burns in 1970, this is now an exclusive 10-unit condo.

Amin Casa is across the street.

 Amin Casa – 529 W Arenas Road

Amin Casa Palm Springs was originally built in the 1920s and 1930s. It is alleged that the property was once the home of Hollywood screen legend Gloria Swanson. Swanson, best known for her role as Norma Desmond in the film Sunset Boulevard, made this expansive property her desert retreat.

In 2015, the property was acquired and underwent extensive renovations to transform it into the luxurious boutique hotel it is today. The renovations preserved the property’s original charm and elegance while adding modern amenities and comforts. The hotel now features beautifully landscaped gardens, private bungalows, and a pool studio suite, all designed to offer a relaxing and memorable stay.

Head south on S Patencio Rd. Koradia Pension will be on your right.

 Korakia Pension – 257 Patencio Dr

Gordon Coutts, a Scottish painter, came to Palm Springs in 1924 in hopes the arid climate would help him recover from bronchial troubles. He was friends with Winston Churchill and had painted a portrait of Andrew Carnegie. After a lifetime of wandering the world, he spent his last years in Palm Springs. He studied art at the Academy Julian in Paris, where he established himself as a landscape and portrait painter. You will find his works hanging in the Australian National Art Gallery, the Adelaide National Gallery, and the Melbourne Art Gallery. Poor health hit him in the 1920’s and brought him to Palm Springs where there was a small artist colony at the time.

Gordon built the home in the Moroccan villa style, and it is a rare example of Moorish Revival architecture. Originally named Dar Maroc, it was inspired by his experiences in Tangier and incorporated elements of North Africa and Morocco. Typical characteristics include heavy use of horseshoe arches, ornate decorative patterns, onion domes, lacelike trim, vaulted ceilings, and decorative tile and plaster finishes.

Construction was done in 1924-1925, and the exterior walls were finished in white stucco. The villagers referred to it as Coutts Castle. He hosted a bohemian salon of artists that included American Gothic painter Grant Wood, the English portrait artist Sir John Lavery, and film stars like Errol Flynn and Rudolph Valentino.

Gordon lived in this home until his death in 1937. He had suffered a heart attack while in his studio. He is buried in the Welwood Murray Cemetery in Palm Springs. The property remained in the family. In 1952, it was listed as the Gordon Coutts Apartments and owned by his daughter, Jeane.

Continue to the end of the block. Turn left at W Baristo and left again at the next block on S Lugo Rd, heading back to W Arenas Rd. The Four Hundred is across the street when you come to W Arenas Rd.

 The Four Hundred – 400 W Arenas Rd

The property was designed and developed by Herbert W. Burns as a furnished 8-unit luxury apartment complex in 1954. It also became the home to him and his wife, Gayle. The unique pool, the resort-like landscape, the iconic midcentury modern architecture, and the stunning view of the mountains blend harmoniously even to this day. The Four Hundred was styled to complement the adjacent Town & Desert Apartments (The Hideaway) and other Burns designs. The architecture includes a low, linear look accented with masonry composed of thin, regular strips of Arizona Sandstone, masonry planters, and built-in wall clocks.

Before selling off most of the units as co-ops, Burns added one more unit: number 9. This incorporated a second style of stone, similar to another Burns project, The 500 West. This mix of masonry gives us the façade Palm Springs has known since the late 1960s. Burns owned and lived in unit 5, which includes many forward-thinking features.

Directions: The Hideway is next to The Four Hundred.

 The Hideaway – 370 W Arenas Rd

A 10-unit apartment hotel originally opened as The Town & Desert Apartments. It was designed in 1947 and owned by Herbert and Gayle Burns. He believed a house should not be built to impress or show off success but to be a haven and a place where you can completely relax. The openness of his designs allows people to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. It was originally configured with five rental units with small kitchens, a larger owner’s unit with guest room, maid’s quarters, an office, and a garage. The garage was later converted into a living space.

Burns purchased the land in 1946. They sold this property in 1954 and moved to The Four Hundred building, which they also owned, and were innkeepers. He also owned the land on which Village Manor was being built (Orbit In) and, once complete, sold it in 1955. Gayle was reported to have lived at The Town & Desert Apartments until her death in 1976.

End Tour

We hope you enjoyed your tour of the Historic Palm Springs Tennis Club neighborhood and learned more about the history and architecture that makes it so unique.

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