The homes in the Marrakesh community were designed by architect John Elgin Woolf, who tapped into the “Hollywood Regency” style of architecture. / Amelia Hadley/Special to MyDesert
Written by
Amelia Hadley
Anyone who has ever driven on Portola Avenue in south Palm Desert knows Marrakesh Country Club.
Maybe not by name, but by color.
Pink.
With a pink exterior wall, pink guard shack, pink gates, pink clubhouse, pink everything, the Moroccan-themed gated community is memorable.
According to residents and employees, it’s also a very special place to live.
The homes — 364 in all— were designed by well-known architect John Elgin Woolf. Woolf tapped into the “Hollywood Regency” style of architecture when designing the Marrakesh homes.
The homes range from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet and boast front courtyards, lush landscaping, formidable double-front doors and vaulted ceilings.
What they say
“Marrakesh is amazing because every person here has a different story and is from a different place,” said Fran Anderson, 71. “Friendships are formed despite geography.”
Anderson and her husband bought their home in Marrakesh Country Club 10 years ago.
After looking at homes throughout California, they were sold on Marrakesh’s golf course, greenery and views.
Anderson, a historian and former publisher, published “Within These Walls: The History of Marrakesh Country Club” about eight months ago.
“There is a rich history to the country club,” she said. “Part of that is born out of the social component found here.”
An entire chapter of the book is dedicated to the social activities Marrakesh offers to members, she said.
Every Thanksgiving the Andersons invite their children and grandchildren to visit, she said.
“We borrow friends’ houses so all of our family can stay on the Marrakesh campus,” she explained.
For the four-day holiday weekend the youngsters fish in the pond, swim in one of the community pools and have putting contests, she said.
“It’s wonderful to have everyone together to celebrate the holiday,” Anderson said. “We really like that this is a place where all members of our family can find something fun to do.”
Gary Fessenden, controller and acting general manager for Marrakesh Country Club, considers the executive-length golf course to be a major draw.
Especially to the 40-somethings — the younger set that’s recently started calling Marrakesh home.
“People in their 40s and early-50s may have children at home, and busy work schedules,” Fessenden pointed out. “They want to play a pristine executive course like Marrakesh without spending hours doing it.”
“This is also a boutique community,” he added. “It’s very unique and people like that about it.”
Features
In addition to the Ted Robinson-designed par-60 golf course, Marrakesh Country Club offers many amenities and social activities.
There are 14 swimming pools and spas peppered throughout the property. There are also lighted tennis courts, bocce ball courts, croquet lawns and a putting course.
The clubhouse features an athletic facility and restaurant.
There are also nearly two dozen social clubs, Anderson said.
Background
Marrakesh Country Club was the brainchild of developer Johnny Dawson, the man behind Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
The development took about 10 years to build, with all 14 phases complete by 1978.
The name for Marrakesh came from a suggestion made by Palm Desert founder Cliff Henderson who said the views of snowcapped Mount San Jacinto reminded him of the Atlas Mountains surrounding Marrakesh, Morocco, Anderson said.
Research by the development’s original design team revealed that Morocco is known for its salmon-pink sandstone walls and buildings, hence the color scheme of Marrakesh Country Club, Anderson added.
Nearby
The Living Desert, El Paseo and Highway 111 are all closer than one mile from Marrakesh Country Club.
George Washington Charter Elementary School, Hope Lutheran Church, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church are also nearby.
Directly across Portola Avenue from Marrakesh’s entrance is the secondary entrance to The Vintage, Indian Wells’ uber-exclusive gated community.
Interstate 10 is approximately six miles away.
