Draft:El Rancho Vista Estates
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Submission declined on 10 July 2025 by Qcne (talk).
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El Rancho Vista Estates is a residential neighborhood in Palm Springs, California, located in northeast Palm Springs, just east of the Palm Springs International Airport, and is bound by Vista Chino to the north, Gene Autry Trail to the east, Chia Road to the south, and the airport property to the west.[1] It was developed between 1959 and 1962 by builder Roy Fey. The neighborhood features homes designed by architects Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison, noted for their contributions to the Desert Modernism architectural style.[2][3] It is a historically significant neighborhood in Palm Springs because it contains the highest concentration of Wexler and Harrison designed homes in the city.[3]
History
[edit]The development of El Rancho Vista Estates was spearheaded by Roy Fey, a former Chicago accountant and builder who moved to Palm Springs in the mid-1950s.[4] Fey collaborated with Wexler and Harrison to create a neighborhood that combined modernist architectural principles with affordability.[5] A 1959 article from The Desert Sun announced the launch of the $1 million resort home development.[6]
The first phase of construction was completed between 1959 and 1960, producing 75 homes using three basic floor plans.[7] Two subsequent phases saw the development of an additional 40 ranch-style homes in the 1960s and 1970s,[7] however those homes were not designed by Wexler and Harrison.
Architecture
[edit]El Rancho Vista Estates is a prominent example of Desert Modernism (also referred to as Mid-Century Modernism), featuring homes with flat, butterfly, and downturned eave roof designs.[7] The architects incorporated clerestory windows, decorative concrete block screens, and open-plan interiors to integrate indoor and outdoor living.[8] The neighborhood was designed with three primary home models: the Bermuda, the Capri, and the Casablanca, each featuring distinct layouts.[1][9] These plans were all variations on an open-plan layout and oriented to maximize mountain views and solar exposure, with each house "painstakingly oriented on its lot to welcome winter sun and shun summer heat," according to Fey's marketing materials.[7][9]
A notable home in the neighborhood, known as the "Barbie House," was designed for a member of the Mattel company executive, Louis Greenwald Sr., who was the brother-in-law of Ruth Mosko Handler, the founder of Mattel. The house is associated with the iconic Barbie doll's cultural legacy.[10]
Community and Preservation
[edit]The El Rancho Vista Estates Neighborhood Organization (ERVENO) was established to represent residents and collaborate with the City of Palm Springs.[11] Gateway Park was developed through a partnership with the city, enhancing community spaces.[12]
Preservation efforts have been led by residents such as John Lewis and Jane Steichen-Lewis,[13] who have restored several homes in the neighborhood.[14] The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation nominated the Ratner Residence as a Class 1 Historic Resource for its architectural significance, as an intact example of the Wexler & Harrison Bermuda model home.[15]
The neighborhood is regularly featured during Modernism Week, where tours showcase its mid-century architecture.[16]
Notable Residents
[edit]
Architect Richard Harrison lived in the neighborhood, demonstrating his connection to the project.[1] Other notable residents include fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne and actor Andy Dick.[17][1] Ken Moses, a longtime Palm Springs resident and community advocate, has also contributed to the neighborhood's preservation culture,[18] as have Ashley and Erik Rosenow, the former president of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation.[14]
Legacy and Recognition
[edit]El Rancho Vista Estates is recognized as an important part of Palm Springs' mid-century modern heritage. The Citywide Historic Context Statement emphasizes its architectural contributions.[19] Publications such as Atomic Ranch and the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation have documented the neighborhood's architectural significance.[20][21]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Fun Facts About El Rancho Vista". MADE Weekly. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Colker, David (July 1, 2015). "Donald Wexler dies at 89; leading Midcentury Modern Palm Springs architect". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b "El Rancho Vista Estates Modernism Home Tour". Modernism Week. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Fey, Roy (May 1980). "The Developers: Roy and Bob Fey". Palm Springs Life.
- ^ McGrew, Patrick (2010). "Donald Wexler: Architect". Palm Springs Preservation Foundation.
- ^ "New $1 Million Resort Home Development Announced". The Desert Sun. November 12, 1959.
- ^ a b c d "El Rancho Vista Estate Real Estate". ttkrepresents.com. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ^ "El Rancho Vista Estates". USModernist. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b "Original ERVE". El Rancho Vista Estates. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ^ "Growing Up Mattel: A Palm Springs Toy Story". Visit Palm Springs. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Neighborhood Organization Directory". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "El Rancho Vista Estates". Modern Living Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "El Rancho Vista Estates". Modtraveler.net. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ^ a b "The Real Steel". Palm Springs Life. September 2015. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Ratner Residence Nomination" (PDF). Palm Springs Preservation Foundation. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Modernism Week". Modernism Week. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Palm Springs Wedding at Jack LaLanne House". 25 March 2018. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Meet Ken Moses". The Palm Springs Post. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Citywide Historic Context Statement". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Atomic Ranch Feature". PressReader. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Celebrating Wexler" (PDF). Palm Springs Preservation Foundation. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
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