Palm Springs Home of Colonel Tom Parker for Sale

Colonel Tom Parker. Parker is credited with ‘discovering’ the then-unknown Elvis Presley

PALM SPRINGS — The former residence of “Colonel” Tom Parker in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs. is on the market. It is located at 1166 Vista Vespero,

The 1957 Alexander home, designed by renowned architects Palmer and Krisel, is adjacent the famed Elvis Honeymoon House, also known as The House of Tomorrow.

The following property information was provided by Realtor.com:

Address: 1166 N Vista Vespero, Palm Springs, California
Price: $2,395,000
Square Feet: 2,616
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3 Baths
Built: 1957

It is a midcentury gem. The steel and glass courtyard gate welcomes you into this renovated midcentury modern residence. Remodeled in the late 90’s, this private .28-acre lot includes an office,  den, and an eat-in kitchen complete with granite counters and natural wood cabinets.

The renovated interior was done by NB Design Group, an award-winning design firm out of Seattle. The design maintains the integrity of the home but adds many luxurious amenities. The residence also features a Hot Purple Energy solar system. The property’s back yard has it all, including a very private pool and spa area with a fire feature. The outdoor
dining area and bar offers views of the surrounding mountains.4

If it is notoriety that you crave, look no further. This home was once owned by Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Parker is credited with ‘discovering’ the then-unknown Elvis Presley in 1955. He maneuvered himself to become Presley’s sole representative and within months he had won him a recording contract with the RCA Victor record label. This led to
Presley having a commercial breakthrough in 1956 with his first single “Heartbreak Hotel” and rising to become one of the most popular and commercially successful entertainers in the world.

He negotiated Presley’s merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in film musicals. He also influenced Presley’s personal life, including Presley’s decisions to accept military service in 1958 and to marry Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. Parker continued in his management role until Presley’s death in 1977.

To get the property, Parker wooed homeowner Frances Lastfogel – a former vaudeville headliner and wife of William Morris Agency chairman Abe Lastfogel – paying her a visit while she was in the hospital. He brought in a giant vase of flowers and sweet-talked her into selling him the house. After he purchased it, Parker’s wife Marie made everything in the house blue
and white, right down to the drapes and bed sheets and even the gravel in the driveway. Parker spent his days at the residence relaxing by the pool and hosting lavish barbecues for Elvis and “the Memphis Mafia.” Parker had a barbecue pit in the backyard and convinced RCA to install a commercial walk-in meat locker (which still exists at the house today) for the vast amounts of meat Parker bought and inventoried like gold.

Dean Martin lived directly behind the Colonel’s house and Martin’s wife Jeanne used to look through the fence to try and get a glimpse of Elvis according to their son Ricci, who later inherited the house. Recognizing Elvis’ need for privacy, Parker had a private entrance constructed for the star to come and go.

When the press caught wind of Elvis and Priscilla’s pending marriage, they rushed to the Colonel’s house and he told them they had already left for Vegas. Both were actually hiding in the house and when the press rushed off, they headed to the airport to board Frank Sinatra’s private jet to Las Vegas.

This listing originally appeared on realtor.com.