Q: What is Sunnylands?

Sunnylands was the 200-acre Rancho Mirage estate built by Ambassador Walter and Leonore Annenberg. Designed by architect A. Quincy Jones with interiors by William Haines and Ted Graber, the 25,000 square-foot midcentury modern house is located in the middle of landscaped grounds including a private golf course.  The Annenbergs lived in this oasis in the desert for approximately five months each year following its completion in 1966.  During subsequent years, they entertained seven United States Presidents, British Royalty, international political figures, and cultural and entertainment icons at Sunnylands.

In November 2011, Sunnylands will be a 215-acre public attraction that incorporates a historic mid-century modern house with its cultural landscape and accompanying golf course, and an education and interpretive  center with desert garden, solar farm, dedicated to 21st-century environmental sustainability technology. The new Sunnylands will be opened to the public as a historic house museum as well as a site for retreats and summits.

Q: Who runs Sunnylands?

The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands.

Q: What is happening at Sunnylands?

In keeping with the Annenberg bequest, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is building an education center on a fifteen-acre site adjacent to the Sunnylands estate as well as renovating and restoring the original property.  Check the Project Update section of this website for current information.

Q: What is the focus of the new building project?

Exhibitions and programs at the new Annenberg Center will offer visitors an understanding of the midcentury modern architecture and art collections at Sunnylands, the many important political and cultural figures who visited and new sustainable approaches to living in the desert.

Q: When will the project be completed?

The Annenberg Center construction and the renovated estate are scheduled to be completed by November 2011.

Q: Is this a “green” project?

Yes.  The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is committed to environmental sensitivity.  The new construction targets a LEED Silver designation and utilizes a solar field for electrical power and a geothermal system for heating and cooling. The new desert landscape will use no more than 20% of the permissible water under Coachella Valley Water District regulations.  At the historic estate demand for water and power is being reduced dramatically by installing a state-of-the-art irrigation system, a new lake circulation system, and implementing a composting program for grounds maintenance.

Q: What will I be able to do at Sunnylands?

The Annenberg Center will provide a range of public programs and educational exhibits. Visitors can examine the exhibits placing Sunnylands in the context of an architectural movement called California modernism. They can view the orientation film in the theater and engage with the interactive multimedia kiosks that will bring Sunnylands, its residents, its heritage, and its context alive. Changing special exhibitions will be seen in the loggia. Visitors will be able to relax in the Great Room with its spectacular view of Mt. San Jacinto, enjoy the menu options at the Café, and browse in the Store.

Outdoor activities include exploring the unique nine-acre garden that uses desert plants to paint a living canvas while consuming a minimal amount of water. Interpretive materials will also explain the ways in which solar panels and geo-thermal systems will supply energy for this LEED Silver project. A variety of tours of the historic house and grounds will be offered by pre-registration.  A wide variety of lectures, classes, family programs and Desert Garden tours will also be available.

Q: What will it cost to visit Sunnylands?

Visits to the Annenberg Center will be free of charge. Tours of the historic estate, special programs and classes will require a fee and reservations.

Q: How can I learn more about Sunnylands?

Additional information on Sunnylands is available in a newly published book edited by David G. De Long.  Sunnylands is available through the University of Pennsylvania Press at http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14687.html. 

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