A custom-built Spanish Villa perched high on San Jacinto Mountain
The space
If you, like us, choose singular homes when you travel, you know the difference between a hardcore rental house and an exceptional, curated home. It’s the little things that set the two apart—in lieu of posters and bare shelves, there’s art on the wall and a bottle of Lagavulin on the bar cart, for a nightcap of course. The pots are AllClad, there’s a Moccamaster coffee machine and the cupboards are well stocked for gourmet cooking. Bed linens are crisp while the Frette towels are always white and plush.
At Mesa Ridge, we hope you’ll notice these luxuries and attention to detail that were never added with a business plan in mind. For us, this isn’t a rental—this is our home where we escape to from the real world. If it’s booked on the calendar, it’s likely because we’re enjoying it ourselves—but don’t worry, we also take the guest accommodation experience side very seriously. The house is pristine and ready to welcome discerning residents. There’s a dedicated house manager to check you in and who will remain at the ready should you need anything. We’re also proud to say that Mesa Ridge has been featured in Western Living Magazine, Luxe LA and, most recently (February 2024), when Architectural Digest named us as one of the top rentals in Palm Springs for 2024.
A few things about the ridge part of Mesa Ridge. If you’ve spent anytime in Palm Springs, you’ll know it’s a city built on the flats yet is nestled right next to the San Jacinto mountain range. Spend some time on Maps and you’ll see that there are no more than a dozen or so houses that have been permitted to be built on the side of the mountain: for example, the famed Bob Hope house, Palm Springs Art Museum’s Frey House and this house, Mesa Ridge, in the neighborhood of The Mesa, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Palm Springs. Standing on the former historic MGM Studio lands where Hollywood stars on contract used to decamp (as contracts stipulated actors needed to remain within two hours’ from L.A.), Mesa Ridge sits in one of the most private spots in town. Songbirds and silence are the two constants in your sound department. Your southern views are some of the best views of Palm Springs on offer and your backyard is the mountain. Your private oasis features a mountainside saltwater pool and spa with a full outdoor kitchen and fireplace located in a tucked-away gazebo. The bighorn sheep who live here are frequent and photogenic visitors to the surrounding rocks.
While the 3700 sq/ft house blends seamlessly with some of the 90-year-old homes built by MGM, it is, in fact, a more modern creation built by an engineer who was the home’s first owner in 1990. The engineering part provides great comfort to us given the cliffside locale. On the main level, there are three bedrooms, an expansive kitchen, living and dining room along with a library while the lower level features an additional bedroom with private patio, media room for movie nights and sauna post-plunge.
We are at the far northern end of the Mesa neighbourhood, which means you’re no more than a 5-minute walk to one of the most exciting and emerging culinary destinations in Palm Springs today. Where Palm Canyon Drive turns into South Palm Canyon Drive, Bar Cecil, Mr. Lyon’s and Gabino’s—three of the most popular restaurants in town—have set up shop. Bar Cecil made the Michelin must-visit guide so be ready to book 30 days out when reservations open. The Ace Hotel is a few blocks further, while the Moorten Botanical Gardens are right at the base of our street. We rarely drive to dinner when we are in residence and, instead, choose to either walk or ride the available bikes—although we’ve been known to walk them up the steep parts on the way back!
Downtown is 1.5 miles away, the airport less than 4 miles, Indian Wells Tennis a bit over 16 miles and Coachella a bit over 20. The 36 holes of Indian Canyons Golf are a 5-minute drive away, as are the best hiking trails in the area (including the famous Lykken trail which passes far above the house where hikers get a bird’s eye view of the town). If you’re looking for a properly luxe and private getaway for either a romantic retreat or family reunion, we think you’ll find that Mesa Ridge is in class of its own.
BEDROOM & BATHROOM
• Bedroom 1 - Primary: king-size bed, ensuite bathroom with large walk-in shower & bathtub, dual vanity, television, private balcony with south-facing views
• Bedroom 2: queen-size bed, Jack-and-Jill bathroom shared with bedroom 3, walk-in shower
• Bedroom 3: queen-size bed, Jack-and-Jill bathroom shared with bedroom 2, walk-in shower, desk
• Bedroom 4: queen-size bed, shared access to hallway bathroom with walk-in shower, private terrace with south-facing views
Registration number
3741
Guest access
Entire property
Registration number
3741
