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.