Louis McLaughlin Blankenhorn-Donald S. Gilmore Residence 1850 Smoke Tree Lane, Palm Springs, CA 92264
The very first (and arguably most historic) private home to be built on Smoke Tree Ranch, the Blankenhorn-Gilmore Residence’s rustic, Ranch-style design has served as a model for the nearly 100 homes that have followed. Built in 1930, the home has the unique cachet of having been the work of two master architects, with its original design by Garrett van Pelt, Jr., a major figure in Southern California architecture during the period, and Albert Frey, one of Palm Springs’ iconic architectural masters, who sensitively added to the house in later years.
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On November 9, 2023, the Palm Springs city council unanimously (5-0) approved the Class 1 Historic Resource designation of the Blankenhorn-Gilmore Residence. PSPF board member Tracy Conrad made compelling public comment in support of the designation.
On September 5, 2023, the city’s Historic Site Preservation Board voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend to city council approval of the Class 1 Historic Resource designation of the Blankenhorn-Gilmore Residence. Speaking in enthusiastic support of the nomination were PSPF board member Tracy Conrad and the nomination’s author and PSPF board advisor Steve Vaught.
On August 8, 2022, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation (acting as agent for the owner) submitted the 71-page Class 1 Historic Resource nomination for the Blankenhorn-Gilmore Residence to the city of Palm Springs.
In March of 2022, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation board of directors assigned the task of writing the Class 1 Historic Resource nomination for the Louis McLaughlin Blankenhorn-Donald S. Gilmore Residence to PSPF board advisor Steve Vaught.
