Building History

Filmmaker Walt Disney (1901-1966) had vacationed in Palm Springs for more than 10 years before he decided to erect a residence there in 1950. It was located in the Smoke Tree Ranch development. Disney did not get long to enjoy it as in 1954 he was forced to sell the place to raise money for his new project, Disneyland, in Anaheim, CA. (See Michael Barrier, The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney, [Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007], p. 246.)

He erected this second house at Smoke Tree in 1957, following the great financial success of Disneyland. This residence was designed by the WED Enterprises' Chief Architect, Carl W. Denney (1907-2002).

PCAD id: 17512