The Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway: Where Mid-Century Modern Design Meets Rock 'n' Roll History

Tucked into the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs, the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway, formally known as the House of Tomorrow, is far more than a celebrity love nest. It’s one of the most iconic mid-century modern homes in America, an architectural time capsule where space-age design meets Hollywood myth. Designed in 1960 by architect William Krisel for developer Robert Alexander, the home’s sweeping lines, pod-like structure, and panoramic mountain views made it a standout even before Elvis and Priscilla Presley made it infamous.

The House of Tomorrow’s distinctive four-pod design and dramatic folded roofline announce its architectural significance before you even step inside. Designed by William Krisel in 1960, the futuristic facade blends natural stone with geometric precision, making it one of the most iconic residences in Palm Springs.

A Home Ahead of Its Time

Built at the height of America’s fascination with the Space Age, the House of Tomorrow was designed to turn heads, and it did. Its 5,000-square-foot layout is divided into four interlocking circular “pods,” a radical departure from traditional residential design. There are no square corners, and very few straight walls. Instead, the home curves in on itself, creating a sense of fluidity and motion that still feels futuristic today.

The interiors showcase the best of high-concept 1960s modernism: a sunken living room with a suspended, floating fireplace; terrazzo floors that catch the desert light; a circular kitchen with built-in appliances; and massive walls of glass that dissolve the boundaries between indoors and out. Wrapped in natural stone and breezeblock detailing, the house looks as if it were sculpted directly from the desert terrain. Look Magazine famously dubbed it “The House of Tomorrow,” calling it an architectural vision of how Americans would one day live. But in Palm Springs, the future arrived early.

The curved master suite radiates retro glamour, with golden textiles, terrazzo floors, and floor-to-ceiling glass offering panoramic views of the palms and desert beyond. This was Elvis and Priscilla’s honeymoon bedroom, a private sanctuary elevated above it all.

Elvis and Priscilla’s Hideaway

By the mid-1960s, Palm Springs had already become a favorite hideaway for Hollywood’s elite, but when Elvis Presley arrived in 1966, it gained a new kind of royalty. At the time, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was filming Easy Come, Easy Go and looking for a private, stylish retreat away from the public eye. The House of Tomorrow, equal parts architectural marvel and desert sanctuary, fits the bill perfectly. He leased the home for $21,000 a year, drawn to its seclusion, its forward-thinking design, and its dramatic views of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Elvis and Priscilla Beaulieu had been quietly planning to marry in the home’s circular living room beneath its iconic floating fireplace. The setting was intimate, futuristic, and strikingly romantic. But the media caught wind of their plans, and the press descended on Palm Springs before the couple could say “I do.” Fearing a publicity frenzy, Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, arranged for a secret flight to Las Vegas under the cover of night. On the morning of May 1, 1967, the couple exchanged vows in a brief private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel.

Less than 24 hours later, the newlyweds returned to the desert to begin their honeymoon in the home they had originally intended as their wedding venue. Tucked behind rock walls and lush landscaping, the House of Tomorrow offered the privacy they craved and the luxury befitting a global icon. They reportedly spent their days basking in the Palm Springs sun beside the uniquely shaped pool, and their evenings curled up in the sunken conversation pit or stargazing on the wraparound balcony.

The home's sensual curves, cutting-edge comforts, and cinematic setting created the perfect environment for the couple’s first days as husband and wife. Its circular bedroom suite, which offered panoramic views of the desert, became a symbol of postwar glamour—an emblem of the optimism, indulgence, and innovation that defined the era. In the years that followed, fans and design lovers alike would immortalize the house as “The Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway,” a nickname it still proudly carries today.

Preserving an Icon

Despite passing through several owners since its mid-century heyday, the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway has remained remarkably intact thanks to the dedication of preservationists, historians, and mid-century modern enthusiasts who recognize its architectural and cultural significance. Unlike many homes of the era that have been lost to redevelopment or insensitive renovation, this one has been treated with reverence. Its distinctive features, such as the concentric circular floor plan, terrazzo flooring, sunken living room, and iconic stonework, have been carefully maintained or authentically restored using period-accurate materials.

The original layout remains untouched: four interconnected pods that spiral around a central hearth, each designed to capture light, privacy, and views in equal measure. Details like the indoor rock walls, mirrored surfaces, built-in banquettes, and signature breeze block screens still evoke the jet-age optimism of 1960s Palm Springs. Even the futuristic kitchen, with its curved cabinetry and concealed appliances, has been restored to reflect William Krisel’s radical vision of domestic convenience and spatial flow.

From the early 2000s until recently, the home was opened to the public for guided tours and special events, especially during Modernism Week. Visitors walked the same paths Elvis and Priscilla did—past the elevated master suite, through the intimate dining alcove, and out onto the expansive patio overlooking the sculpted backyard and kidney-shaped pool. Docents shared not just the home’s star-studded history, but also its architectural context within the larger narrative of Palm Springs modernism.

Though no longer open for regular tours, the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway remains one of the most celebrated and photographed homes in the city. It stands today not just as a relic of celebrity romance, but as a rare and meticulously preserved artifact of visionary design—one that continues to inspire architects, designers, and dreamers across generations.

A nod to its most famous resident, Elvis Presley memorabilia rests beside a record player in the sun-drenched conversation nook. This intimate corner of the house pays homage to the King’s musical legacy and his time spent here with Priscilla during their honeymoon.

A Must-See for Mid-Century and Music Lovers

Few places capture the intersection of architecture and celebrity as vividly as the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway. For fans of design, it’s a masterwork of William Krisel’s space-age vision—bold in form, rich in detail, and undeniably ahead of its time. For music and pop culture enthusiasts, it’s a portal to one of the most iconic love stories of the 20th century. Together, those legacies transform this house into something far greater than the sum of its materials.

Walking through its pod-like rooms, it’s impossible not to feel the pull of history: the optimism of postwar modernism, the glamour of 1960s Palm Springs, the mythos of a young Elvis at the height of his fame. The home stands as a convergence point where the cultural currents of innovation, romance, and rebellion all found a place to rest beneath the desert sun.

Though the future of the estate remains in flux, the House of Tomorrow endures as one of Palm Springs’ most treasured landmarks. It is more than a footnote in celebrity history; it is a physical embodiment of an era that redefined how we lived, loved, and dreamed. For anyone making the pilgrimage to this modernist oasis, the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway is not just a stop on the tour—it’s a destination in itself.

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