Before The Mickey Mouse Club, The Beatles and Farah Fawcett, actor Fess Parker’s role as a real-life frontiersman in Walt Disney’s Davy Crockett television series was the first big media star for baby boomers. Kids from LA to Boston were glued to their parents’ TV screens in 1954 when Disney brought the historical figure to life, which led to $300 million in Davy Crockett coonskin cap sales. The iconic hats and the show’s title song “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” would be features at Disneyland for decades, with rebroadcasts and DVD re-releases of the series continuing until 2015. Parker would keep the coonskin cap craze going for years with his portrayal of another famous frontiersman in NBC’s Daniel Boone from 1964-1970. He played numerous cowboy roles and was named a Disney Legend in 1991. After his acting career, the Texas native founded Fess Parker Family Winery and Vineyards, known for its coonskin cap logo. Fess died in 2010 and is buried beneath a headstone sporting an inscription of his signature headwear.
The actor’s Palm Springs home, known as the Fess Parker Estate, has been listed for $1.975 million. Located in the coveted Indian Canyons neighborhood, the 2,000-square-foot, two-bedroom home is a stylish mid-century modern in a city famous for its modern homes. Sitting on nearly a half-acre of flat, open lawn, the property is surrounded by a massive hedge complemented by 39 palm trees and two olive trees. A succulent garden and a palm-lined pool with views of the San Jacinto Mountains make for a classic Palm Springs aesthetic.
The home’s interiors are striking, with soaring ceilings, big windows, and sliding-glass walls that offer tons of natural light and great views from every room. The expansive primary suite features crisp white-and-dark-wood contrast walls for a chic, minimalist look, while the en-suite bathroom includes both a soaking tub and a unique open shower. The guest bedroom includes a vanity, plus both indoor and outdoor showers. The powder room has been featured in Palm Springs Living magazine. The open kitchen includes all the latest appliances, including a Viking refrigerator and gas range, plus a huge island. The living room includes a fireplace and opens onto the expansive pool deck, complete with firepit, providing a seamless indoor/outdoor experience and ample space for entertaining.
Palm Springs, a Southern California City in the Sonora Desert south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego, is known for its hot springs, stylish hotels, golf courses and spas. It is one of the best places in the world to find mid-century-modern home designs, hosting many prominent icons of the genre, including Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms, Elvis’s Honeymoon House, and the Palm Springs Visitors Center. The Fess Parker Estate backs up against the massive Indian Canyons complex that includes recreational trails and historic Native American sites, just down the street from the Indian Springs Golf Resort and a short drive from Palm Springs’ bustling downtown. Long popular with celebrities, just a few of Palm Springs’ illustrious current residents include Leonardo DiCaprio and several Kardashians. Dead celebrities who had homes in the area include Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Debbie Reynolds and Liberace.
The listing is held by Tim Krubsack of Compass. Photos by Kelly Peak
