top of page

Palm Springs Celebrity Homes: Where Hollywood's Stars Lived in the Desert

Writer: Mischa Francis Velasco
Mischa Francis Velasco
3 hours ago
2 min read

Palm Springs celebrity homes are some of the most famous houses in America. In the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, Hollywood studios had a "two-hour rule": actors under contract had to stay within about two hours of Los Angeles in case they were needed on set. Palm Springs sat right at that limit, and the stars came running.


Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, and dozens of others built or rented desert hideaways here. Many of those homes still stand, and you can see them from the street. Just remember they're private homes, so look, snap a photo from the sidewalk, and keep moving.


Palm Springs, CA Snowcapped Mountains

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF PALM SPRINGS:


Palm Springs' Golden Age Driving Tour is a self-guided GPS audio tour that takes you past celebrity homes and mid-century landmarks, ending at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.


Along the way you'll learn:

  • How Hollywood's two-hour rule made Palm Springs famous

  • Why Frank Sinatra's pool is shaped like a piano

  • Where Elvis and Priscilla spent their honeymoon

  • How the Aerial Tramway was built with helicopters


The drive takes about 45 minutes without stopping.



Palm Springs, CA Palm Trees and Modern House

FAMOUS PALM SPRINGS CELEBRITY HOMES:


  • Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms—Sinatra was just 31 when he hired architect E. Stewart Williams to design this 1947 home. Its piano-shaped pool became the backdrop for legendary Hollywood parties.


  • Elvis Presley's Honeymoon Hideaway—Elvis and Priscilla honeymooned in this round, futuristic house in 1967, right after their wedding in Las Vegas.


  • Marilyn Monroe's house—Marilyn spent time in Palm Springs over the years, escaping Hollywood to rest and read.


  • Cary Grant's house—One of many stars who made the Movie Colony neighborhood their desert escape.


  • Liberace's house—The flashy piano star loved Palm Springs and lived here in style.


  • Kaufmann House—Not a celebrity home, but one of the most famous houses in town. Richard Neutra designed it in 1946 for Edgar Kaufmann, the same man who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.


THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS TO SEE:


  • The Movie Colony—Just east of downtown, where Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, and Kirk Douglas built homes.


  • Old Las Palmas—A leafy neighborhood full of grand estates and stars' former homes.


  • Vista Las Palmas—Home to Elvis's honeymoon house and lots of classic mid-century design.


Palm Springs, CA Marilyn Monroe Statue

TIPS FOR SEEING CELEBRITY HOMES:


  • Stay on public streets. All of these homes are private, so don't walk onto the property or knock on doors.

  • Drive slowly and safely. Pull over if you want to look, and watch for other drivers doing the same.

  • Look for the details. Butterfly roofs, breeze-block walls, and big glass windows are all signs of mid-century design.

  • Come in February. During Modernism Week, some private homes open for special tours.


PLAN YOUR TRIP:


Want the full breakdown—where to eat, where to stay, and the best things to do in Palm Springs? Our Palm Springs travel guide covers all of it.


Check out our Palm Springs travel guide to plan your trip.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page