The Colorful History of the Pink Elephant Car Wash Sign
The pink elephant neon sign has been glowing brightly in our desert for decades and has become an unofficial local landmark.
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Nathan Jacroux
- Feb 1
- 3 min
Preservation Mirage Launches Its Second Architectural Tray in Collaboration with the Michael Weems Collection
Jorgensen-Mavis Residence by William F. Cody at Thunderbird Country Club to be featured on the newest tray launching today.
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Nathan Jacroux
- Jan 23
- 1 min
Palm Springs Chic? How ’50s-Era Desert Modernism Is Being Adapted for Modern-Day Living
Lockyer’s residential projects across Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs draw on that rich history while utilizing the most cutting-edge...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Jan 3
- 1 min
Saving the Pink Elephant: Nonprofit Preservation Mirage Works to Restore an Important Part of Rancho Mirage’s History
Seeing “pink elephants” is a euphemism for drunken hallucinations—but people driving down Highway 111 through Rancho Mirage have been...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Jan 1
- 2 min
Desert Magazine - Events with a Cause
Preservation Mirage hosted a cocktail reception and buffet on Oct 20 to launch the historic designation and restoration of the pink elephant
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Nathan Jacroux
- Dec 5, 2023
- 2 min
You're Invited to ‘Party with the Pink Elephant’ on Saturday, February, 3rd
Celebrate the historic designation of the city’s only neon sign with an evening of special entertainment at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater
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Nathan Jacroux
- Nov 7, 2023
- 1 min
'Absolutely beloved’: Calif. desert town preserves garish neon sign
In the middle of Rancho Mirage, an affluent California desert community best known as an old Hollywood retreat (Frank Sinatra lived...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Nov 2, 2023
- 1 min
Preservation Mirage raises funds to save Pink Elephant Car Wash sign on 111
Preservation Mirage, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of significant architectural sites in Rancho Mirage, hosted a cocktail...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Nov 1, 2023
- 1 min
Pretty in Pink
When Melissa Riche was moving to Rancho Mirage in 2012, the unimaginable occurred. The Chart House restaurant (aka GG’s Island...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Oct 5, 2023
- 0 min
Rancho Mirage City Council presented with a ‘Rancho Super Car Wash’ Pink Elephant Poster
Preservation Mirage presents the Rancho Mirage City Council with a ‘Rancho Super Car Wash’ Pink Elephant Poster by John Pirman
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Nathan Jacroux
- Sep 9, 2023
- 1 min
Sign of the times
One of the Coachella Valley’s most prominent landmarks along Highway 111 was designated as a historic resource by the city this week.
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Nathan Jacroux
- Sep 7, 2023
- 1 min
‘Pink Elephant’ car wash sign in Rancho Mirage to receive historic designation
The ‘Pink Elephant’ car wash sign in Rancho Mirage will be preserved for posterity thanks to the work of Preservation Mirage.
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Nathan Jacroux
- Sep 7, 2023
- 2 min
Preservation Mirage Secures Historic Designation For The Pink Elephant Car Wash Sign
Rancho Mirage, CA – To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the City of Rancho Mirage, the iconic ‘Pink Elephant’ car wash sign is to...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Jun 5, 2023
- 1 min
Preservation Mirage featured on US Modernist podcast during Modernism Week 2023
Preservation Mirage board president Dan Allen and founder, Melissa Riche were interviewed by George Smart of US Modernist.
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Nathan Jacroux
- Feb 10, 2023
- 1 min
Rancho Mirage's history, mid-century architectural gems to be showcased during Modernism Week
The Tamarisk neighborhood walking tour, presented by Preservation Mirage, will highlight significant, historic homes behind Tamarisk...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Feb 1, 2023
- 3 min
Preservation Mirage Announces Annual Merchandise Collaboration with the Michael Weems Collection
The preservation group is launching an annual limited-edition run of porcelain trays featuring the best of Rancho Mirage architecture,...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Oct 1, 2022
- 3 min
New Membership Program & Kick-Off Event to Celebrate the Architectural History of Rancho Mirage
Preservation Mirage launches four paid membership tiers & resumes in-person events on November 5th with a cocktail reception.
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Nathan Jacroux
- Feb 1, 2022
- 1 min
Preservation Mirage map of Rancho Mirage featured in Palm Springs Life Magazine
Architecture and design buffs can now visit more than 50 homes, communities, and sites of historic and architectural interest in Rancho...
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Nathan Jacroux
- Dec 6, 2021
- 1 min
History Course: PM Educates Residents on Rancho Mirage’s Architectural Legacy in Order to Protect It
What do Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, the Marx Brothers, Hoagy Carmichael, and Gerald and Betty Ford have in...
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