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The 2010 ASHS Annual Conference

Celebrity Homes Tour with Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway

Objective(s):
Celebrity Homes Tour with Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway – Weekdays Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Our tour will take you through downtown Palm Springs and on to Rancho Mirage, playground of the Presidents...Cathedral City...and Palm Springs Palm Springs' days as the playground of Hollywood's elite are long gone, and today you'd be hard-pressed to find even a trace of it downtown. The Palm Springs Walk of Stars keeps the memory alive, with everyone honored on it having lived in the town. This star honors entertainer Bob Hope, a longtime Palm Springs resident.You will see the Horizon Hotel which was built in 1952 as a getaway for Hollywood producer Jack Wrather and his wife, designed by William A. Cody. The low, flat roofs and clean lines are typical of mid-20th century buildings in Palm Springs, but this place has a twist: There are no square corners so the rooms and structures are all slightly diamond-shaped. Next you will visit a mid century modernistic home known as the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway because of its famous residents, Elvis and Priscilla Presley. The Mid Century Modernism Classic Estate was built in the early 1960's by a prominent Palm Springs developer Robert Alexander for his wife, Helene. The house was designed in four perfect circles, on three seperate levels, incorporating glass and peanut brittle stonework to allow indoor-outdoor living. Nestled at the base of the San Jacinto mountains, the honeymoon suite offers a panoramic view of the Santa Rosa Mountains and the Coachella Valley. It is said to be one of the outstanding homes in the world. In September 1962 Look Magazine featured the estate as a centerfold and called it "The House of Tomorrow" in an article entitled "The Way Out Way of Life". It portrayed the Alexanders and the Estate as the center of social activities in Palm Springs in the early 1960's. It also appears as a centerfold in "Palm Springs Weekend" by Hess and Danish. Several movies have been partially filmed here, including scenes from the movie "Elvis and Me". It is truly a "rock-star's house".The Estate has been carefully restored to its original 1960's splender. It features art deco design and furnishings throughout the spacious living room, dining room, den, kitchen, and honeymoon master suite.The secluded grounds include a large pool with a stage and private garden, tennis court and a fruit orchard. The Estate has the capacity to accommodate up to 180 people. It is the mid century modernism icon and masterpiece. It is 10 minutes from Palm Springs International Airport and 5 minutes from downtown. Cost: $67.00 per person The Departure Site will be at front of the Marriott Hotel at 784855 Country Club Drive
Wednesday, August 4, 2010: 1:00 PM
Tour Lobby