SPACE: The Racquet Club

When it comes to iconic playgrounds of the rich and famous, The Racquet Club of Palm Springs was one of the city’s first and foremost.

Founded in 1933 by actors Ralph Bellamy and Charlie Farrell, it quickly became one of the first luxury desert hot spots and has historically welcomed a veritable who’s who of celebrities and politicos looking to enjoy a good time in the desert sun.

For decades, the Racquet Club welcomed some of the most famous VIPs in the world including Bob Hope, Spencer Tracy, Jayne Mansfield, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra and both John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy, to name just a few. And according to legend, it was while sunbathing at the club that a young Marilyn Monroe was first discovered by talent scout William Morris. But as with many such icons, the club’s star slowly began to fade. Until now..

In 2004 Michael Mueller, a renowned architect who has worked for both Frank Gehry, Hodgetts + Fung and financial guru Van Scott Jones, began that $33 million renovation project.

Featuring nearly all the original structures, including the infamous pool, The Racquet Club has been updated with a keen eye for preservation and an open pocketbook for luxury. It comprises a collection of bungalows, lofts and town homes starting in the low $400,000s and featuring state-of-the-art appliances, designer flooring and a host of amenities. The historic Bamboo Room, known for its cutting edge drinks—including the now-famous Bloody Mary—developed one morning by a brilliant bartender as a hangover remedy for over-partying guests—has been transformed into a stunning five-star restaurant. With the combination of its ultra-hip design and ultra-luxe living, The Racquet Club promises to once again be the place to be in Palm Springs.