Welcome to CASABLANCA ADOBE - a historic home in the heart of Palm Springs. Beyond its luscious bougainvillea hedges awaits a 1930’s ranch-style adobe stunner built by Lee Miller on property purchased from Palm Springs pioneer Pearl McManus. In the 1940’s it became home to Oscar-winning screenwriter Howard Koch who wrote, you guessed it, CASABLANCA! Meticulously preserved yet upgraded with modern amenities, welcoming decor and a saltwater pool & spa... Casablanca Adobe is the desert dream spot that movies are made of!
The space
CASABLANCA ADOBE - City ID# of 4089
3 Bedroom + Den/4th Bedroom + 2 Bath
2300 sq. ft. - 0.36 acres
Estately, magical, charming, private, one-of-a-kind... that's how we’d describe this unique, historic-designated home in the center of town. Casablanca Adobe sprawls across a large, gated property on a huge corner lot in the Warm Sands neighborhood. It’s a ten-minute walk to downtown’s vibrant shops, restaurants, galleries, museums and Marilyn Forever. It's a five-minute walk to nearby hot spots like Townie Bagels, Peninsula Pastries (a popular French Bakery) and the antique warehouses.
The grounds of Casablanca Adobe set the tone for an exclusive vacation experience you won't find anywhere else in the desert. Rustic stone and dirt pathways wind through decades-old cacti, citrus trees and desert-scape gardens towards quiet nooks and crannies.
In the front yard, you can take in mountain views from the spacious porch in the morning and enjoy sunsets from the wraparound, sunken fire pit in the evening. A cement-and-stone outdoor dining table rests beneath a grand, eighty-year-old Eucalyptus tree. Beside it, a cascading stone-sided fountain holds center stage and serves as home to Casablanca Adobe’s resident koi - Rick, Ilsa and Sam – affectionately named after Casablanca's main characters. The koi swim alongside a school of goldfish collectively known as The Goldfarbs. They all date back to the home's previous owners, and they're all awesome!
In the backyard, you can dive into the crystal blue waters of the large saltwater pool or relax with friends and family in your very own, private spa. There's opportunity to read a book on the pool’s tanning shelf, do yoga on the turf lawn or take a nap on a poolside lounge chair. The barbecue island boasts a three-burner Sabre barbecue (and rotisserie) with a hard-wired gas line. (The pizza oven is not available for guest use). The eight-person outdoor dining table is a great place for a group meal, and the deep-cushioned club chairs are prefect for a snack and a chat beside the backyard’s outdoor fireplace.
Casablanca Adobe's linear 2300 sq. ft. layout stretches boomerang-style from one end to the other of its huge .36-acre lot. The home's style is classified as "vernacular adobe" as highlighted by handcrafted adobe brick walls and high-beamed ceilings in just about every room. Hardwood floors and Saltillo tile span the length of the house. The home offers 3 bedrooms and a (comfy Restoration Hardware sleeper sofa) den/fourth bedroom that's connected to one of the bedroom-bathrooms. The two bathrooms are separate (no en suites back in the 1930's), one on each end of the house. All four bedrooms are outfitted with Apple TV (a smart TV alternative in one bedroom), luxury linens, dressers, custom closets and direct access to either the backyard pool area or the front garden area.
In the kitchen, you can create unforgettable meals with family and friends. It’s been modernized with marble countertops, a Viking refrigerator and high-end appliances, and it’s equipped with darn near every kitchen gadget imaginable. The adjoining mudroom is the main point of access and provides laundry appliances as well as a coffee bar with a Delonghi coffee and espresso machine.
In the banquet-style dining room, you can enjoy your morning coffee while overlooking San Jacinto Mountain. It’s a casual contrast from the two outdoor dining tables options.
In the living room, you'll sit where many great artists used to gather. Stars like Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe would huddle around the room's massive stone-entry fireplace back in the days when Oscar-winner Howard Koch was blacklisted from Hollywood (there's wild, fun history to this house). Get comfy in any of the stylish leather seating options, tickle the ivories on the Wurlitzer piano and leave your worries behind.
So if you and yours are looking to escape to the desert, Casablanca Adobe is the perfect getaway. It's private, unique, riddled with history and so close to the center of town you can easily take advantage of everything Palm Springs has to offer.
