Cree Estate

Many Palm Springs residents know of pioneer Raymond Cree only because a local school is named after him. In fact, Cree was one of the area’s most important developers who recognized early on the exciting potential of the Coachella Valley’s wide open spaces and captivating beauty. One of Cree’s spectacular contributions is the lavish hacienda he built back in the 1930s as his own private hideaway. Sprawled over two and a half acres of lush landscaping, the Cree Estate captures the simplicity and warmth of old-fashioned Mexican architecture, while artfully incorporating modern amenities in a way that makes them seem as apropos as the Spanish red-tile roof. For your most important celebration, this embodiment of Old World charm can become your personal desert paradise.

A grand Spanish fountain greets guests as they approach the large driveway that circles around a grassy island. Orange and apricot trees filter the sunlight alongside a cluster of lofty palms—an impressive 78 of those graceful emblems of the desert are scattered over the grounds. The hacienda is a genuine all-adobe home, and the front wall has cunning miniature alcoves that showcase antique statuary. A wrought-iron gate leads to a wide lawn just right for a wedding ceremony, and a vine-covered arbor along one side makes a picturesque aisle. Whitewashed adobe walls decked with autumn-hued lantana enclose the grass, and include two old wooden doors, delightfully weathered and worn, that evoke a sense of timelessness and tradition.