Palm Springs Modern Committee
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First impressions matter.
For years, visitors arriving at Palm Springs International Airport were greeted by a sign that was… fine. Functional. Perfectly adequate. But about as “Donald Wexler” as a strip mall.
Thankfully, that’s now history!
Thanks to a faithful recreation of Donald Wexler’s original midcentury airport sign, Palm Springs is once again making the entrance it deserves. The project was spearheaded by Don Wexler’s son, Gary Wexler, whose dedication helped bring his father’s vision back to life. PSModCom was proud to help support the effort, helping restore one of the city’s most recognizable modernist landmarks.
This is what preservation looks like.
Sure, we love home tours, Happy Hours, and sharing the stories behind Palm Springs’ extraordinary architecture. But at our core, we’re a preservation organization. Sometimes that means advocating for an iconic midcentury building. Sometimes it means restoring the details that make Palm Springs unmistakably… Palm Springs.
Because great design shouldn’t begin after you arrive. It should be there to welcome you.
PSMODCOM Happy Hour History:
Donald Wexler designed the Palm Springs International Airport terminal in 1965 as an open-air gateway to the desert. With its soaring steel roof, mountain views, and seamless indoor-outdoor design, it remains one of America’s finest examples of modern airport architecture. Today, thanks to the recreated airport sign and the installation of reproductions of the original seating, visitors once again receive the welcome Wexler originally envisioned!
Springs International Airport
07/14/2026
Let’s be completely honest: before high-powered central air conditioning, surviving a Palm Springs summer required a level of creative delusion we can only admire. Case in point: sand sailing.
Back in the day, local builder R. Lee Miller looked at the wind-whipped desert flats and thought, “This feels a lot like Newport Beach.” So he built three-wheeled “land yachts” that Hollywood visitors could rent for $2.50 an hour and immediately launch into completely unregulated desert racing behavior.
It was, in essence, a beach day with no beach. A 1950 LIFE Magazine feature by photographer Peter Stackpole captured the moment perfectly, bright canvas sails cutting across the valley floor like a coastal regatta had briefly misplaced itself in the desert.
The machines were simple: two wheels in front, one in back, a hand brake, and absolutely no intention of keeping you under control. Just wind, speed, and optimism!
PSMODCOM HAPPY HOUR HISTORY:
Before sand sailing, R. Lee Miller was already building a reputation for slightly unhinged desert creativity. In the 1920s and 30s, he built a hillside cluster of hand-crafted stone homes in Araby Cove known as his “Hopi Village.” The structures were small, tucked directly into the landscape, and unusual enough that locals eventually started calling the site “Munchkinville.” At some point, a rumor took hold that the homes were connected to The Wizard of Oz and had been built for the film’s Munchkin actors, a story with no factual basis, but plenty of staying power. The myth stuck anyway!
Photos by Peter Stackpole, from the Life Picture Collection
ABERNATHY HOUSE, 1962
Palm Springs, Movie Colony.
Some houses are designed around the view. The Abernathy House was designed around the guest list.
Designed by William F. Cody for James Logan Abernathy and his wife Helen (who, frankly, understood the assignment), this is what happens when your answer to “How many people are coming over?” is simply: “Yes.”
Cody didn’t build a house. He built a party pavilion.
Separate living pavilions. Open-air flow. A central pool that basically acts as the guest list. And enough glass to make every gathering feel like it spills effortlessly into the desert.
This is not a house you simply “visit.” This is a house you arrive at.
The house had been on the market since 2024 but was recently delisted as of July 1. Whether this architectural icon is destined for new owners or not, this is one of Palm Springs’ greatest entertaining houses, hosting fabulous gatherings for more than sixty years!
PSModCom had the honor of hosting the Jet Set Gala there in 2022, an incredible party where each bar represented an airline and dessert was served from a station built around a model Concorde! If you were there, share your pics in the comments!
PSMODCOM HAPPY HOUR HISTORY:
Cody hid a secret weapon in the architecture. Right under those soaring 26-foot ceilings are near-invisible clerestory windows, the kind of detail you only notice after your second drink and a full tour.
From the outside? Floating roof elegance. From the inside? Hot air quietly escapes while the party stays cool. Basically, the house is actively managing the guest experience. And it’s doing it better than most hosts.
Special thanks to photographer Patrick Ketchum (ketchumphotography.com) for letting us use his beautiful images.
06/04/2026
The Palm Springs Modern Committee's annual Architectural Preservation Awards are coming Saturday, October 10!
This special event marks the season opener for all architecture, design and preservation enthusiasts, honoring the dedicated individuals who have invested their time and resources to ensure that our desert continues to showcase the extraordinary midcentury legacy we cherish today.
Learn more and get tickets here!: https://psmodcom.org
05/25/2026
Last call for tickets! The Palm Springs Modern Committee invites you to our Annual Membership Party.
This party is one of our most anticipated and fun events of the year! Capacity is limited.
Saturday, May 30, 2026
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
$75 per person
Tickets link in bio 👆
Step into a reimagined 1980s contemporary home in Andreas Hills, now transported light years beyond its origins. Inspired by science, art, and space exploration, this visionary renovation blends expansive views of Mount San Jacinto with a striking modern interior designed by architect Stanley Anderson.
Creative living spaces, celestial lighting, metallic finishes, and subtle sci-fi references create a futuristic yet inviting atmosphere. From a Starship Enterprise inspired corridor and movie theatre, to curated art and fossils, every detail connects the past and the future.
Join us for a fun party of design, discovery, and celebration!
📸:
04/28/2026
The Sirmai–Peterson House by Frank Gehry, tucked into Thousand Oaks, is a hidden early masterpiece from the mid-1980s; long before the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Using simple materials, Gehry shaped a bold cluster of cubes around a tranquil pond, creating a home that feels both sculptural and cinematic. Often overlooked, it remains one of his most inventive residential designs.
Read full article here:
https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/residential/sirmai-peterson-house-early-frank-gehry-greg-walsh-usa
Tour an early Frank Gehry-designed house in Los Angeles Recently on the market, take a closer look at this lesser-known gem by the late master
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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Palm Springs, CA
92236
