The Parker Palm Springs has lived many lives, including as the private residence of the singing cowboy Gene Autry and media mogul Merv Griffin. But throughout its 70-year history, the lush estate has endured as one of the most glamorous and exclusive crash pads in the Coachella Valley.
In 2003, the renowned New York real estate developer Jack Parker Corp. assumed ownership of the iconic desert establishment. They enlisted the then-emerging designer, Jonathan Adler, to realize his eccentric and whimsical vision. Adler was granted full creative freedom to craft the hotel’s distinctive and widely-admired aesthetic, characterized by a fusion of quirky, colorful details, featuring vibrant glass sculptures, unique circular hanging fireplaces, and original artworks by renowned artists such as Bert Stern and Victor Vasarely. To further enhance the experience, The Parker offers a complimentary art tour upon request. Additionally, landscape designer Judy Kameon, renowned for her residential gardens for luminaries like Sofia Coppola, envisioned the lush botanical surroundings and welcoming outdoor spaces.
In the northernmost and southernmost buildings, you’ll find the 144 rooms that exude the vibrant style of the swinging midcentury era. As you step through the red lacquer front doors, you’ll be greeted by spacious, sunlit interiors adorned with ’70s-style wall art, retro low-slung furniture, Moroccan textiles, and sliding glass doors draped in white shutters. The Hammock Rooms feature outdoor seating areas with hammocks and vibrant bougainvillea, while the Poolside Rooms provide convenient access to the adults-only Gene Autry pool and the family-friendly Silicon Valley pool. Throughout the grounds, twelve one-bedroom villas offer private enclosed patios, complimentary poolside cabanas, minibars, and a living room. For the ultimate indulgence, consider the two-bedroom Gene Autry Residence, a lavish 2,200-square-foot retreat complete with a full kitchen, dry sauna, and a hidden screening room nestled behind a movie poster.
At Parker Palm Springs, days start with breakfast at the cheery open-air Norma’s. The five-star diner serves crunchy French toast, lemon custard doughnuts, huevos rancheros, and other crowd-pleasing favorites all day long. At lunch, guests congregate at the poolside Lemonade Stand for 10 different types of lemonade along with casual fare like prawn ceviche and street-style tacos. The menu at mister parker’s starts at 5 p.m., when chefs deliver a pre-dinner amuse bouche straight to guests’ rooms; however, the exclusive gastronomic experience officially commences when the lightbulb hanging outside a door off the lobby is illuminated. With one seating per night, mister parker’s is one of the hottest tables in all of Palm Springs, with a jacket-required dress code, live piano entertainment, and dishes that spotlight exclusive ingredients like grade 9 Wagyu beef and Muscovy duck.
For stylish sipping, guests can choose between the swanky Mini Bar—decorated with love seats, a suspended fireplace and dark emerald and mirrored surfaces—where Champagne, negronis and the desert’s driest gin martini are among the sips on offer. There’s also Counter-Reformation, a moody low-lit European-style wine bar with an eclectic selection of wines by the glass and small plates like jamón Ibérico with pan con tomate, Portuguese-inspired pastel de bacalao fish cakes, and cheese from Murray’s New York.
