Five Of The Coachella Valley’s Most Unique Current Listings

This mountainside retreat was built for actress Lily Pons in 1954, with everyone from Danny Kaye to Lucille Ball attending the much-ballyhooed housewarming. Taken down to the studs in 2008 (only the footprint and stone fireplace were left intact), the property was artfully reimagined for the modern day, with well-appointed rooms, spacious living areas, and a second-story casita seemingly ripped right out of a magazine. The nearly 1-acre lot is equally magical, with bighorn sheep regularly descending upon the lush grounds. Bonus – Lily’s hand and footprint are embedded in cement beside the pool.

This Movie Colony landmark was designed by William F. Cody for Kansas furniture titan James Abernathy in 1962. A Class-I historic site, the pad is geometrically fashioned with “five pyramid-roofed pavilions arranged in a pin-wheel plan” comprising nearly 5,000 square feet (plus an additional 5,000 SF of covered outdoor space), all of it awash in Cody’s signature style with clerestory windows, walls of glass and terrazzo flooring. Not surprisingly, the dwelling is a mainstay of Modernism Weeks tours and has been featured in numerous photoshoots.

One of the Valley’s most unique homes, this steel, concrete, and glass marvel is the work of architect Ana Escalante, who consulted with the legendary Donald Wexler on its design. Nestled on a 0.6-acre hilltop lot in Mirada Estates, the pad is being offered for the first time since its 2006 inception. Flush with upscale amenities like Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, a Tesla charger, a misting system, bamboo flooring, panoramic views, and Ritz-Carlton privileges, the home’s stand-out feature is a 75-foot lap pool, which runs straight through the property offering dazzling underwater glimpses via a series of portal windows.

This sprawling parametric-style 1993 manse was designed by Narendra Patel (a protege of Donald Wexler) for Yellowstone Club founder Tim Blixseth, who hosted countless political fundraisers on the property, welcoming the likes of Presidents George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. Most famously, it was at the home’s sunken wet bar that Gerald Ford endorsed Sonny Bono’s 1995 congressional bid. Recently remodeled to the tune of $2.5 million, the estate has been updated with such singular amenities as an 18-seat hibachi bar, a 2-ton Forno Piombo pizza oven, and a 5,000-bottle wine cellar that doubles as a dining room. (Open this Sat. & Sun., 10-12)

While this exquisitely renovated MCM is currently under contract, it still bears mention. Crafted by architect John Outcault for noted journalist/UPI chief Virgil Pinkley in 1961, its provenance is as impressive as its gorgeous interior. Bright and open with soaring redwood ceilings, the home’s handsome updates blend seamlessly with the myriad original details, which include built-ins, cabinetry, and a spectacular floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. The resort-like rear and side yards are impeccably maintained and there’s even a hidden room tucked off the den, sure to bring all your Nancy Drew-inspired fantasies to life!