Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway

1350 Ladera Circle

Palm Springs, CA, 92262

Located at the end of Ladera Circle in Palm Springs, California, the "Elvis Honeymoon House" is a classic example of modern architecture. The house was designed by Robert Alexander in the early 1960s. Its primary design consists of four circular structures on three different levels. (The circular motif is why the house is sometimes referred to as the "platter house.") The front entrance of the house has free-standing steps made out of circular stones that casually rise up over a man-made stream and lead to the front door.
The house has large windows, with wide-open, beautiful mountain views. This combines with the "peanut brittle" masonry to keep the house from ever feeling too sterile or far-removed from the nearby natural desert terrain. In true modernist style, the house fits in with the severe climate of the desert, yet it is never subservient to it.

On September 16, 1966, Elvis leased the estate at 1350 Ladera Circle, Palm Springs, California for one year for $21,000. Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager, lived in the neighborhood and he thought that it would be the perfect place for Elvis to relax, entertain his friends and escape from Hollywood. However, Rona Barrett, the famous Hollywood gossip columnist, also lived around the corner. She became suspicious that Elvis and Priscilla were going to be married when Priscilla Beaulieu arrived on the weekend of April 29th 1967 with her entire family. Elvis' entourage also began to assemble (Joan and Joe Esposito, George Klein, Sandy and Jerry Schilling, Marty Lacker, Dee and Vernon Presley). Apparently "Miss Rona" even had the estate's maid followed in order to find out when and where the wedding would take place. Then she announced on her nightly television broadcast that "the King and Priscilla are to be married in Palm Springs."Originally the plan was to have the wedding and reception take place around the pool at the estate but because of the onslaught of the press and media, Colonel Parker arranged for Elvis and Priscilla to be married in Las Vegas. Escorted by Joe Espositio, the best man, they slipped out of the house at 3:00 a.m. on Monday morning, May 1st, 1967, going out the back way, by the pool and across the fruit orchard to Rose Avenue where limos were waiting to drive them to the airport. They flew to Las Vegas in Frank Sinatra's Lear jet, the "Christina", and by 4:00 a.m. the marriage license was obtained at the court house. At 9:40 a.m. the wedding ceremony took place at the Aladdin Hotel, in owner Milton Prell's suite. The ceremony was followed by a breakfast reception for approximately 100 guests. On the same day, May 1, 1967, at 2:50 p.m., Elvis and Priscilla flew back to Palm Springs to begin their honeymoon.

Elvis carried Priscilla over the threshold and up the stairs of the Honeymoon Hideaway singing "The Hawaiian Wedding Song". Lisa Marie was born on February 1, 1968, exactly 9 months from the date of the honeymoon.The next day Elvis went to United Artists in L.A. to finish "Clambake" and then hurried back to Palm Springs the same evening. It is believed that the "1968 Comeback Special" was planned during the many months he spent at the estate.