Palm Springs Royal Hawaiian seeks historical status

The Royal Hawaiian Estates, a tiki-themed Palm Springs condo complex designed by mid-century modern architect Donald Wexler is seeking Class 1 historic site status.

Click below to access the report. Lots of words, but some great photos that hopefully will make this cause a success. In Palm Springs, the Historic Site Preservation Board is the first step. If it passes, the motion moves to the City Council.

http://www.palmsprings-ca.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9341

Looks like a place where I could live! I particularly enjoyed the photo used as an architectural example of the Bali Hai in New Orleans. I had never seen a picture of it before although my family is from New Orleans and I own an old Bali Hai mug. See here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drzarkov/2303115346/

It's the mug on the far right on the middle shelf.

Mr. Mod,

Great link to the Royal Hawaiian Estates, definitely a place worth preserving.

Dr. Zarkov,

More info on the Bali Hai (and other Cajun Tiki) can be found here:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=29982&forum=5&hilite=cajun

DC

The Mod Jetsetter -

Thanks for the focus here. I will read the 40-page proposal tonight, it looks well researched, documented and prepared.

I'm all for historical status for most extant mid-century structures, especially So. Cal ones. Too many beloved icons have fell victim to the wrecker's ball during my lifetime.

...and for some more nice photos of the Royal Hawaiian Estates by TikiKate here:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=28430&forum=2

Here is the website for the Royal Hawaiian Estates, a very nice collection of info and images, new and old:

http://royalhawaiianestates.org/

I love the fact that one of the units used to belong to a Cinematographer:

"Milton Krasner was an Oscar-winning Technicolor cinematographer of 1954's Three Coins in the Fountain. He was also a seven-time nominee noted for his vibrant compositions on many of 20th Century-Fox's biggest Cinemascope hits from the previous decade. Krasner lived at 117 Twin Palms Drive."

Great news - the Palm Springs City Council just voted to give the Royal Hawaiian Estates an Historical District status. The Royal Hawaiian is now one of only two historical districts in the city.

Tiki is alive and well in Palm Springs!

That's great news! Thanks for the update.

That's Fantastic! I love that place. :D

That's great news! I was hoping they would. Didn't take long at all :)

AND they shall have it!!! I stake my soul on it!
They can take our lives, but they can't take our historical mid century Tiki Poly influenced establishments from us!
will you join the "Peoples Preservation Army" and strike down these mini-mall building devil worshippers!

Are You with Me!

That is great news. IN 2004 I was in Palm Springs and stumbled upon this place, as they were having an open house in one of the units....It was AMAZING.

Fantastic news!

Congrats to all the people involved to make this happen.

Good things come to those with passion, persistence and patience :)

Just went by and walked around them. They are right next door to the Caliente Tropics Motel and the soon to be open Tropics Restaurant. Think Tiki and orange with lots of archways that look like orange 7's.

Tiki Modern, page 134/35:

"Meanwhile, on the mainland, Polynesian fever was in full swing. To evoke the atmosphere of a pleasant island vacation, developers used the names of famous Hawaiian locations, even hotels. The Royal Hawaiian Estates in Palm Springs was such a contemporary condominium complex. Designed by Donald Wexler’s firm in 1959, it’s architecture followed the theme with low A-frames, natural rock walls, moderne outrigger beams and, as if turning the A-frame triangle upside down, jutting patio dividers that make this the only building I know of that actually has tail fins."

Caption: "The Royal Hawaiian’s modernist zig-zag of A-frame rooflines is dramatically underscored by the triangular “tail fin” patio dividers. Even the outrigger beams end in small triangles."

The outrigger triangles, like most apartment outriggers beams, were cut off, but since the new owner's board is Tiki-sympathetic, they are looking into replacing them.

On 2010-02-06 18:50, bigbrotiki wrote:

The outrigger triangles, like most apartment outriggers beams, were cut off, but since the new owner's board is Tiki-sympathetic, they are looking into replacing them.

That's really good to hear, I hope it happens.

I'm gonna have to go back and soak it in later this week. maybe tomorrow, when i get off of work.