When the Marrakesh Country Club opened its doors in 1969, it was a Hollywood Regency-styled dream. Created by visionary architect John Elgin Woolf, the clean lines and soft pink facades of the residences and clubhouse blended into the warm sunset skies of Palm Desert, establishing it as a bespoke paradise for its members.
While the surrounding desert landscape has evolved over the past several decades, Marrakesh remains a cultural and architectural treasure preserved in time. Still pink. Still elegant. Still ICONIC.
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Photo by Channing Benjamin.
This past fall, the 155-acre property received formal recognition for its influence on Palm Desert’s architectural and cultural landscape by earning an esteemed designation as a historic district. Home to 364 residential condominiums alongside a golf course, spa, clubhouse and 14 pools, the country club has prioritized maintaining the property’s original feel over the past several decades. From preserving the original exteriors of the residences to mindfully renovating the clubhouse in 2023, each refinement of the property has been carefully integrated to preserve the elusive paradise’s essence that residents have adored since the beginning.
After an extensive review, the City of Palm Desert Historic Preservation Committee concluded that Marrakesh met the criteria to be considered a historic district based on its robust elements of social and cultural history, including the work of skilled architects, designers and builders, and its ability to convey architectural and historical cohesiveness across the property.
Photo courtesy of Marrakesh Country Club
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To celebrate the milestone achievement, Marrakesh hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 14, an event that served not only as a tribute to its rich past but also as a clear standard for the future. Marrakesh is a reminder that true ICONIC architecture doesn’t chase trends; it endures for generations.
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