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Playground to Presidents – Rancho Mirage

There are many ways to describe Rancho Mirage; peaceful, elegant, cultured and conveniently located in the center of the valley.  Rancho Mirage is a 21st century city, while honoring its legacy of Native American & European cultures.

Although the first modern settlements date back to the 1920s and 1930s, Rancho Mirage got its claim to fame after World War II. The Annenberg Estate, owned by philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg, brought International Dignitaries and Presidents together at their estate known as Sunnylands, which is how Rancho Mirage earned the nick-name, “Playground to the Presidents”.

The current Rancho Las Palmas Resort was once home to “The Desert Air”, a fly-in golf and private resort, the social heart of the community and popular destination from 1954-1978. 

Thunderbird Country Club is a world renowned private country club; developed in 1946 by Frank Bogert and later with the help of Johnny Dawson developed the first golf course in the Coachella Valley in 1951.

 Thunderbird Heights, an exclusive guard gated community terraced on the hillside with panoramic valley views was formerly a horse ranch known as Thunderbird Guest Ranch. Developed in  1946 and hosted guests such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz to name a few.  Mirada Estates is an exclusive guard gated community of Custom Estates nestled into the mountain above the Ritz Carlton Resort.

Rancho Mirage is a luxury resort destination with 12 Golf Resorts with Fairway Homes and condo’s ranging in price from $200,000 to over $8 million. A progressive city that continues to keep the quality of life of their residents in focus, currently they’re in the process of burying the power lines and integrating an underground utility wiring system.

Interesting Rancho Mirage Facts

  • Area – 24.77 sq miles
  • Elevation-252 feet above sea level
  • Population- 17,057 year-round permanent residents: with an additional 13,278 residents who visit during the winter season
  • Total Dwelling Units(including those only occupied on a seasonal basis) 14,634
  • Median Age-61
  • Median Family Income-$89,000
  • Average Temperature-88° daytime; 55° night
  • Average Rainfall-3.38 inches per year

More than 11,000 Snowbirds call Rancho Mirage home during season – they’ve discovered the exceptional desert resort lifestyle and one of the communities we recommend when looking for a great place to call home.