You’ve probably seen it. If you’ve ever stood in the valley floor near the Parker Hotel and looked up at the Santa Rosa Mountains, your eyes inevitably snag on a massive, undulating copper roof. It looks less like a house and more like a high-tech mushroom or a UFO that decided the Coachella Valley was a decent place to park. Honestly, it’s the most famous silhouette in the desert.
The bob hope house palm springs address is 2466 Southridge Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264.
But knowing the street number is basically useless if you're trying to visit. It sits behind the heavy, guarded gates of the Southridge community. You can’t just drive up and snap a selfie at the front door. Security is tight, and the "No Trespassing" signs aren't just for show.
The Volcano on the Hill
John Lautner, the architect, was a genius who learned his craft under Frank Lloyd Wright. He didn't just want to build a house; he wanted to create an experience. When the Hopes commissioned him in 1973, they wanted something that could handle their massive social circle. We're talking 300-plus guests for dinner.
Lautner’s vision was a 23,366-square-foot "volcano" structure. The roof has this massive 60-foot oculus—a giant hole in the middle—that lets the sky right into the central terrace.
It wasn't a smooth process. Not even close. In 1973, a welder’s torch accidentally set the wooden frame on fire. The whole thing went up in flames, causing about $500,000 in damage back then. Construction stalled for years because of insurance lawsuits. They didn't actually finish the place until 1979.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Design
There’s a bit of a "he said, she said" drama in the history of this house. While Lautner designed the shell, Dolores Hope had... ideas.
She hired a Beverly Hills society decorator to do the interiors, which basically broke Lautner’s heart. He wanted raw concrete and minimalist, organic textures. She wanted traditional furniture, murals by Gareth Benton, and a balcony extension in the dining room.
Lautner eventually distanced himself from the project. He felt the "modernist" integrity was compromised by the posh, 1980s-era glitz Dolores preferred. To him, the interior didn't match the radical exterior.
- Size: 23,366 square feet of living space.
- Property: Over 6 acres of rocky hillside.
- Rooms: 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms (plenty of space for a party).
- Amenities: Indoor and outdoor pools, a tennis court, and a putting green.
- The Pool: Legend has it the outdoor pool was designed to mimic Bob Hope's famous profile, though it's more of a subtle nod than a literal caricature.
The Ron Burkle Era
After Dolores passed away in 2011, the house hit the market with a staggering $50 million price tag. No one bit. The price dropped to $25 million. Still nothing.
Eventually, billionaire investor Ron Burkle bought it in 2016 for $13 million. That sounds like a "steal," but it was actually the record for the most expensive home ever sold in Palm Springs at the time.
Burkle did something pretty cool, though. He brought back Helena Arahuete, who was Lautner’s chief architect, to oversee a massive restoration. They stripped away most of the Dolores-era decor. They replaced it with the natural materials—African mahogany and gray quartzite—that Lautner originally intended.
Can You Actually See It?
Since 2466 Southridge Drive is a private residence in a gated community, your best bet for a view is from a distance.
- The Parker Hotel: Stand in the parking lot and look south. It’s right there on the ridge.
- The Araby Trail: If you’re up for a hike, this trail takes you behind the Southridge community. You get a fantastic angle of the house from above, though you're still separated by a fence.
- Modernism Week: Occasionally, the home is featured in high-end private events or films, but it's rarely open for general public tours.
Honestly, the house is more of a monument than a home. It represents the peak of "Desert Modernism" mixed with Hollywood royalty. Even though it’s been renovated to look more like a museum piece, it still feels like the Hopes could walk out onto that terrace at any moment to host a golf tournament dinner.
If you’re planning a trip to see the bob hope house palm springs address, don't expect to get past the gate. Stick to the hiking trails or the valley floor with a good pair of binoculars. You’ll see the copper roof glinting in the sun, and that’s usually enough to understand why this place remains the crown jewel of Palm Springs architecture.
To see more of Lautner's work nearby, you can look for the Elrod House (the one from the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever), which is just down the street on the same ridge. It’s a similar vibe but on a slightly smaller, more "bachelor pad" scale.
The best time to view the house from the valley is right at sunset. The copper roof catches the "golden hour" light in a way that makes the whole mountain look like it's glowing.