📬 May 2026
One year ago, we started Desert Dispatch with a simple goal: pay closer attention to this place. Twelve months later, Palm Springs isn’t standing still.
A Soho House is moving to the Historic Tennis Club. The most dangerous hike in the valley is still pulling people in. Marilyn’s 100th is about to take over downtown. And a midcentury masterpiece just hit the market for $3.5 million.
This issue marks one year and everything happening right now.
🌴 Soho House Sets Its Sights on Palm Springs
Courtesy of Soho House
A project that’s been whispered about for years is now taking clearer shape: Soho House plans to open a Palm Springs outpost in 2027.
The private members’ club is proposing a seven-acre development at the former Colony 29 site in the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood. The plan includes a 185-foot pool and a wellness-focused clubhouse with amenities like cold plunges and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Some nearby residents have raised concerns about traffic, noise, and the broader impact in the neighborhood.
🗞️ Palm Springs Now: The Big Stories
🚡 Tourism and Recreation
PSP’s expansion is moving from concept to dollars, what you need to know.
Southwest Airlines picked PSP to launch its “Sip and Ship” perk: check your wine like luggage, how it works.
Big changes in Agua Caliente tribal leadership, who’s in and who’s out.
🏗️ Development and Infrastructure
Plans approved for site of 2025 terrorist attack, details here.
Convention center plans move forward despite pushback, who’s against it.
Palm Springs housing prices drop, more here.
Albert Frey church-turned-theater named landmark, more here.
🎭 Arts and Culture
Lucie Arnaz brings her family act to the Plaza Theatre for New Year’s Eve, more here.
The Palm Springs Hot Rodeo brings more than traditional rodeo including goat dressing, steer decorating, and wig-and-dress drag racing, schedule and tickets.
🏔️ Cactus to Clouds: The Trail Everyone Underestimates
You’ve seen it from the pool. That ridge line cutting up Mt. San Jacinto like it’s daring you. It is.
Skyline Ridge, better known as Cactus to Clouds, climbs more than 10,000 feet straight out of Palm Springs. No switchbacks to ease you in. No margin for error once the heat kicks in. People underestimate it every year because it looks so close, so calm, so… manageable. It’s not.
We broke down what that hike really demands, why it keeps drawing people in, and how quickly it can turn.
🌹 Mother’s Day Gift Certificate
Skip the flowers this year. Give mom something she’ll actually use: a gift certificate from Old Ranch Inn for a future stay by the pool with a view of the San Jacinto mountains rising in the distance. She deserves it.
👠 Going platinum for Marilyn’s 100th
Marilyn 100 (May 29–June 1) brings a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest gathering of Marilyn lookalikes at the Forever Marilyn statue.
The Plaza Theatre hosts a centennial film series, pairing her classics with live performances.
🇲🇽 Cinco de Mayo
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the best Mexican food in town: El Patio for old-school charm, Las Casuelas Terraza for a lively courtyard and strong margaritas, Clandestino for something a little more elevated.
For something special, catch the Border Grill pop-up at Alice B.
⭐️ May the 4th, Palm Springs style
Celebrate Star Wars Day with screenings of A New Hope at the Plaza Theatre and the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
From one desert to another, Palm Springs meets Tatooine for a night of timeless mythology.
👗 Trina Turk puts house on the market at $3.5 million
Photo credit: Simon Berlyn
Fashion designer Trina Turk has put her Palm Springs statement piece, Soleil House, on the market for $3.5 million.
The 1963 midcentury home, originally designed by architect Harold Bissner, sits against the rocky edge of the Cahuilla Hills—less a house than a composition of glass, light, and desert.
🇺🇸 Memorial Day Weekend: What’s Happening
🇺🇸 Memorial Day Flower Drop
The most meaningful moment of the weekend. A vintage warbird releases more than 3,000 red and white carnations over the crowd in tribute to fallen service members, following a flyover and memorial ceremony. Learn more
🏳️🌈 Desertopia
A multi-day LGBTQ+ festival that takes over hotels and clubs across Palm Springs. Expect DJs, pool parties, late-night events, and a crowd that turns the entire city into one continuous party. View events & tickets
🏖️ Pool Parties + Drag Brunch + Nightlife
Palm Springs does what it does best: pool parties, drag brunches, club nights and pop-up events across the city. It’s less one event, more a citywide takeover of music, cocktails, and heat.
XOXO Palm Springs, June 2026
🎨 XOXO Palm Springs Arrives This Summer
Palm Springs is getting a new kind of festival. XOXO Palm Springs, debuting June 11–22, is a citywide celebration of arts and culture that transforms the desert into an open-air creative playground.
Think theater, film, dance, architecture, gallery shows, and immersive experiences unfolding across the city.
🌴 Mrs. O’Donnell’s Corner
🤠 We hear the team from Hunny’s is opening a new restaurant called Nashville next to the Village Pub. It’s supposed to have Nashville hot chicken. Can’t wait.
🥟 One More Bite Dumpling House out of the OC has already opened a location in Palm Desert and will be opening on Palm Canyon Drive where Antigua used to be. We love some dim sum.
🌿 Two doors down, Mountain Rose Herb Mercantile is set to open. With locations in Seattle and Eugene, Oregon, the Palm Springs store opening in June.
🀄️ If you are into mahjong, and who isn’t in Palm Springs, you have to check out Backstory on Tahquitz Canyon Way. Owners Mary and Amy have a great selection of tiles, racks, and mats.
🎭 Pro-tip: Before the Plaza Theatre opened last year, we got a behind-the-scenes tour and it was cool. Now, they are offering the tour on the regular. It’s a good time.
🪩 Another good time is Disco Drag Bingo at V Wine Lounge hosted by Ember Vain. Be sure to say hi to Daddy James.
If you know something cool happening in Palm Springs, email us!
💻 Pro-Tip: Book Direct & Save
Planning your next getaway? Skip the middlemen and book directly at oldranchinn.com to unlock the Private Rate — exclusive savings just for our inner circle (that’s you).
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📬 Thank you so much for reading the May issue of the Desert Dispatch!
One year. Twelve issues. We started this because we wanted an excuse to pay closer attention to where we live. Somewhere along the way, you started reading, writing back, forwarding it on, and stopping us at the inn to ask follow-up questions.
That part we didn't see coming. Thank you.
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