Preservation Mirage

06/11/2026

How can a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright be at risk?

Sadly, significance alone is not enough to protect a historic landmark.

The Sturges House, Wright’s remarkable 1939 hillside residence in Brentwood Heights, has been named the Los Angeles Conservancy’s first advocacy priority on its 2026 L.A. Watch List. Though celebrated as an architectural masterpiece and designated Historic-Cultural Monument, the home has suffered years of deferred maintenance, leaving parts of the structure vulnerable to serious deterioration.

At just 1,200 square feet, the Sturges House is a powerful example of Wright’s Usonian vision for modern living. Its dramatic cantilever extending over the canyon remains one of Southern California’s most striking architectural achievements.

Its inclusion on the Watch List highlights an issue preservationists know all too well: historic places can be lost not only through demolition, but through neglect.

We applaud the Los Angeles Conservancy and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy for bringing attention to this important landmark and advocating for its future.

Preservation requires vigilance, stewardship, and action. The Sturges House deserves all three.



Photo 📸 : LA Conservancy Archives

06/08/2026

Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage helped change the game of golf forever ⛳️✨

In 1951, Eddie Susalla, Associate Golf Professional at Thunderbird, introduced one of the first golf carts to the sport after spotting a gas powered cart cruising the sidewalks of Long Beach. He purchased the vehicle, shipped it back to Thunderbird, and adapted it for golf.

The carts quickly spread to Los Angeles Country Club through overlapping membership, and soon after, across the nation. By 1953, Susalla had developed a four wheeled version, cementing Thunderbird’s place in golf history.

05/29/2026

New to Rancho Mirage? Keep an eye on your mailbox 💌

If you’ve recently moved to our beautiful city, you may receive a little welcome booklet from Preservation Mirage filled with local information and a glimpse into what we’re all about.

At Preservation Mirage, we’re passionate about celebrating and preserving the incredible architecture, history, and design legacy that makes Rancho Mirage so special, and we love welcoming new neighbors into that story.

And to our longtime residents and followers, thank you for being part of this community with us. Your support, enthusiasm, and love for the desert’s architectural heritage mean the world to us.

05/22/2026

Art, architecture, history… and two very special pieces created exclusively for Preservation Mirage by the wonderfully talented artist John Pirman.

Our 18x24 unframed posters are more than beautiful works of art. They celebrate iconic moments in Rancho Mirage history while helping fund our mission of bringing the story of Rancho Mirage to life by connecting people to its vibrant architectural history.

One poster commemorates our first film, Preservation Mirage Presents Richard Neutra’s Maslon House, chronicling the story of Neutra’s 1962 masterpiece through archival photography, home movies and firsthand accounts.

The other celebrates the beloved Rancho Super Car Wash Pink Elephant neon sign, one of Rancho Mirage’s most recognizable landmarks and the city’s only neon sign, preserved for future generations through historic designation efforts supported by Preservation Mirage.

Posters are $30 each, with all proceeds supporting our ongoing preservation work.

Available now through the shop section at PreservationMirage.org

Link in bio

05/22/2026

Art, architecture, history… and two very special pieces created exclusively for Preservation Mirage by the wonderfully talented artist John Pirman.

Our 18x24 unframed posters are more than beautiful works of art. They celebrate iconic moments in Rancho Mirage history while helping fund our mission of bringing the story of Rancho Mirage to life by connecting people to its vibrant architectural history.

One poster commemorates our first film, Preservation Mirage Presents Richard Neutra’s Maslon House, chronicling the story of Neutra’s 1962 masterpiece through archival photography, home movies and firsthand accounts.

The second celebrates the beloved Rancho Super Car Wash Pink Elephant neon sign, one of Rancho Mirage’s most recognizable landmarks and the city’s only neon sign, preserved for future generations through historic designation efforts supported by Preservation Mirage.

Posters are $30 each, with all proceeds supporting our ongoing preservation work.

Available now through the shop section at preservationmirage.org

John Pirman

05/16/2026

Today we get to introduce four future architects to you.

For the third year running, Preservation Mirage has helped fund scholarships for graduating architecture students at College of the Desert. This year, we joined forces for the first time with the AIA California Desert Chapter to support their 2nd Annual COD AIA Architecture Scholarship — a program established in honor of the late Florence A. Hagstrom, Hon. AIA.

Four scholarships were awarded this week. Three carry Preservation Mirage's support, made possible in large part by Sally and Jon Kovler's designated gift toward educational scholarships, and by every member and donor who keeps this program alive.

Rebecca Villa is headed to Cal Poly Pomona. Her family's housing instability shaped how she thinks about design — as advocacy, asking who a space is really built for.

Israel Mojica is headed to NewSchool of Architecture & Design in San Diego. He approaches design as a tool for community connection, and is especially energized by sustainability.

Yudith Villegas Camarena is also headed to NewSchool. Her path to architecture started with the Earth itself, and her ambition is to learn the craft well enough to work in harmony with it.

Sebastian Ventura is headed to NewSchool too, on a scholarship funded by Hoyt Construction. Congratulations, Sebastian!

Thank you to AIA California Desert Chapter, Prest Vuksic Greenwood Architects, KHA Architects, and Hoyt Construction for co-funding these futures — and once again to Sally and Jon Kovler and every donor whose generosity made our share of this possible. Buildings are only half the story. These four are the other half.

05/11/2026

As temperatures rise and another desert season draws to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the members of Preservation Mirage for your continued support, enthusiasm, and dedication to our mission.

Together, we are “bringing the story of Rancho Mirage to life by connecting people to its vibrant architectural history.”

Your membership helps us celebrate, preserve, and share the unique design legacy that makes Rancho Mirage so special. As we look ahead to another exciting season, we invite new members to join our growing community and help keep these stories alive for future generations.

Link in bio.

Photo: ©️

04/20/2026

Missed the premiere? You’ve got another chance…

An exclusive screening of Arthur Elrod: Desert Cool at the Palm Springs Cultural Center — a beautiful look at one of the desert’s most iconic design figures.

📍 Palm Springs
🗓 Thursday, April 30
⏰ 5–7 PM

If you love mid-century design, architecture, or just a bit of desert glamour… this one’s for you.

🎟 Ticket link in the comments

04/16/2026

Missed our February Modernism Week presentation? We just posted the full video to YouTube, watch contemporary master architects Barbara Bestor, Sean Lockyer Lockyer, Leo Marmol and Lance O'Donnell discuss how desert modern architecture influenced their work and where it’s headed. Check it out:

From Inspiration to Innovation | Modernism Week