House of The Week: Clark Gable’s Old Stomping Grounds

Make like Rhett Butler and scoop this pink mansion in Palm Spring’s Old Las Palmas.

Price: $1,995,000 USD Details: 3,301sq/ft. 4 Beds, 6 BathsNeighbourhood: Old Las Palmas, Palm Springs.The Skinny: Palm Springs’ real estate took a major wallop during the 2008 meltdown but you’d never know that looking around the desert these days. Starting in 2010 the prices started to climb and they haven’t stopped since. Old Las Palmas is the Shaughnessy/Glenora/Mount Royal of Palm Springs—big houses on big lots for bigwigs. This place comes with a serious pedigree—not only did Clark Gable and Carole Lombard live here but it’s now owned by One of Kirk Douglas’ sons (and Michael Douglas’ brother) so there a lot of memorabilia scattered around.The Pros: Location. Old Las Palmas is hopping these days—Leonardo Di Caprio just bought a house a few blocks away,as did Gary Oldman. This place has a sprawling lot, with a separate large pool casita and a guest suite above the garage, perfect for Fonzie in Happy Days. it’s old but seems like it’s been well maintained and at $600 per sq/ft it’s well priced for the neighbourhood. And with everyone going gaga for mid-century houses that were, lets face it, tract housing 60 years ago this hacienda style offers a more genteel approach to living. Oh year, IT WAS CLARK GABLE’S HOUSE!The Cons: It’s not mid-century and the renos have even taken some of the more classical style away from it. Ceilings are low and the pool is situate a weirdly long way from the main house. And while it’s only a block to the main drag of Palm Canyon, it’s also only a block to the main drag of Palm Canyon and that block is populated with a vacant lot, so it’s not the most private of locations. It’s pretty pink too.The Verdict: The price has dropped on this from $2,200,000 but it’s still not moving even in this hot market. Sure it has some awkward flow, but it’s location and celebrity provenance more than make up for it. It comes furnished, so there’s a saving and that includes a pool table that Harold Adler custom-made for Kirk Douglas. I feel like this is ripe for a slightly lowball offer and once you redecorate and improve a few flow issues you will have a place that it’s truly unique.See full listing here.