El Rancho Vista Estates

Mid-century/desert modern houses

Located northeast of the Palm Springs International Airport, the El Rancho Vista Estates was the first tract of homes developed by noted modernist architect Donald Wexler and is a really nice example of your typical late 1950s mid-century modern neighborhood.

Wexler and his partner Rick Harrison used inventive desert-modern finishes on the homes which included decorative concrete block walls, clerestory windows, interchangeable rooflines and, of course, floor to ceiling windows which melded indoor and outdoor living.

Approximately 75 houses were built here by developer Roy Fey, including one that Wexler personally resided in at 1593 Via Roberto Miguel.

Over the years several questionable additions and alterations were made to the homes but beginning in the year 2000 one pioneering couple (John Lewis and Jane Steichen-Lewis) began buying, renovating and restoring the El Rancho Vista Estates houses – around two dozen so far! – thereby helping to preserve the integrity and history of this classic 1950s neighborhood.

Accessible via the 3300 block of E. Vista Chino. For an interactive map of all Palm Springs’ neighborhoods, click here. …and as always, be respectful of homeowner’s privacy.