the Book

No longer overshadowed by neighboring Palm Springs, Mod Mirage reveals in photos and stories the historic homes and communities of Rancho Mirage that make up its significant midcentury heritage. 

'Mod Mirage' documents the architecturally innovative homes and communities that were built on and adjacent to the historic Thunderbird and Tamarisk Country Clubs from 1950 to 1970, in what is now the community of Rancho Mirage, California. Some of the midcentury’s most distinguished architects, including William Cody, Donald Wexler, William Krisel, E. Stewart Williams, and William Pereira were the designers. This is the first book to focus solely on Rancho Mirage’s rich architecture and influential social history. 

Written by by Melissa Riche the book documents the innovative midcentury architecture and intriguing social history of Rancho Mirage in California, a few miles away from its more famous neighbor, Palm Springs.   It is the first book to focus solely on Rancho Mirage. In the 1950s, two country clubs opened: Thunderbird and Tamarisk.  The rich and famous who flocked there included Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, along with titans of industry, politicians and Presidents.  They left an architectural legacy of beautiful homes, built on golf courses for the first time, and resort-style communities. Significant homes and midcentury communities are combined for the first time in one book, with stunning new photography by Jim Riche and historic material drawn from archives across the USA.

'Mod Mirage' tells the story of the transformation of barren desert into an oasis of influence, intrigue, and architecture. To be published by Gibbs Smith, Fall 2018.

MELISSA RICHE bio

Melissa Riche is a writer, researcher, preservationist and local historian.  She has written about architecture for 20+ years, including recent articles for Atomic Ranch magazine, RM magazine, the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau website, and history articles for the Desert Sun newspaper that have been syndicated nationwide. She has also researched and written historic nominations for two Palm Springs properties on behalf of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation. She grew up in England in a 17th century house that still stands today, and has lived in California for half her adult life.  Architecture and preservation have been important to her since she first witnessed the destruction of important Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles. Melissa Riche is the founder and president of Preservation Mirage, a non-profit dedicated to the education and advocacy for the preservation of important architecture in Rancho Mirage.