Long a Coachella celebrity party spot, Merv Griffin estate is for sale for $36 million

A 40-acre estate in La Quinta that was a longtime home of game show creator Merv Griffin — and more recently, a celebrity party spot during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival — was put up for sale this month, weeks after its current owner withdrew a controversial plan to build 78 short-term rental homes on the property.

The property, located southeast of the intersection of Avenue 54 and Madison Street, was listed for $36 million last week by real estate agents Zach Goldsmith and Mauricio Umansky of The Agency. It’s currently owned by a real estate investment firm led by Mark Majerovic that bought the property for $7 million in 2013.

Built in the 1980s as a dream home for Griffin, the creator of the famed TV shows "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune," the estate includes a Moroccan-style main house, four guesthouses, sweeping mountain views and its own lake and orchard.

The property has a total of 12 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, along with a pool, a six-car garage and horse facilities. The lake, called “Lake Merveilleux,” is described as a haven for migratory birds and is home to koi, bass, and turtles, while the orchard is billed as being home to several fruit trees, including what is referred to as one of the largest fig trees in the Coachella Valley.

The property was originally much larger before about 200 acres were spun off before Griffin’s death to create the Griffin Ranch community, which now surrounds the remaining estate property on three sides, with more than 200 homes constructed.

The potential sale is the latest chapter for a property that has become well-known first as Griffin’s former desert hideaway and more recently as a hub for exclusive parties.

The land surrounding the main compound has been the subject of recent debate, when its ownership group tried to gain city approval to build 78 rental homes on the property, drawing strong pushback from neighboring residents at Griffin Ranch. (While the homes were approved in 2015, the owner needed an exemption to La Quinta’s 2021 ban on new short-term rental permits in most neighborhoods to develop them as short-term rentals.)

Last month, Majerovic withdrew the proposal, citing insufficient electrical capacity from Imperial Irrigation District substations to power the new homes without paying for more upgrades.

More: Controversial plan for short-term rentals in La Quinta withdrawn for now over power issues

The potential for the property to be redeveloped in the future is touted in the listing, which says the property offers “endless possibilities” for those with a vision for development. The Merv Griffin Estate is currently allowed as a short-term rental, but any future homes on the property would need further city approval to operate in a similar fashion.

“With plans and permits in place, this estate presents a rare opportunity for expansion or redevelopment,” the listing states.

With its large footprint, luxurious amenities and location just over two miles from the Empire Polo Club where Coachella is held, it’s perhaps no surprise that the house became the longtime home of the Revolve Festival, an exclusive party during the festival weekend that’s drawn the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg and Kylie Jenner, as well as many influencers.

After the party was reportedly beset by logistical problems in 2022 that some attendees said left them stranded for hours in the heat, Revolve Fest was moved last year to a location in Thermal.

Now, the house is back on the market just in time for festival season, ready to be snatched up by anyone with millions to spend and the swag to shepherd this party palace into its next era.

“I’m hoping to pass the torch,” Majerovic told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the listing earlier this month. “There’s this cultural identity of this parcel.”

According to the property listing, the house was designed by the well-known Los Angeles interior design Waldo Fernandez and inspired by the design of Yves Saint Laurent’s home in Marrakesh. The listing describes the property as a “true compound” consisting of seven distinct structures, including the 5,049-square-foot main residence described as its “crown jewel.” Other parts of the property include the 1,568-foot West Building, a 1,708-square-foot Gate House and four 500-foot pods for “intimate retreats.”

The listing also touts the privacy and exclusivity of the property, with its 12-foot walls and extensive landscaping. There is also a potable well that comes with water rights that, the release lauds, makes water “virtually free.”

Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com. Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: A hot Coachella party spot, Merv Griffin estate listed for $36 million