Harold Matzner’s Palm Springs Estate Lists for $19.5M With City-Record Potential

Andrew Bramasco

Harold Matzner’s longtime Palm Springs estate is now on the market for $19.5 million, marking the first time the property has been offered for sale since Matzner acquired the main residence in 1986. If the estate sells near its asking price, it could set a new residential record for Palm Springs.

Located above Old Las Palmas, the compound spans nearly 1.5 acres and includes three residences totaling nearly 16,000 square feet. Together, the structures include 11 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, two swimming pools, and four spas. From its hillside setting, the property offers broad views across the Coachella Valley, with the San Jacinto Mountains rising behind it.

Andrew Bramasco

Matzner was a businessman, philanthropist, restaurant owner, and one of Palm Springs’ most recognizable civic figures. He owned Spencer’s Restaurant, served as chairman of CBA Industries, and chaired the Palm Springs International Film Festival for more than two decades, helping strengthen one of the city’s signature events. He also donated more than $85 million to local nonprofits and causes across the Coachella Valley, including arts, healthcare, and education organizations. That generosity helped earn him the nickname “Mr. Palm Springs.” Matzner died in September 2025 at age 88, and the primary beneficiary of the estate sale is expected to be a charitable foundation.

The estate was assembled over time, beginning with the main residence at 555 North Patencio Road. Matzner later added a guesthouse and acquired the neighboring property at 575 North Patencio Road, creating a larger private compound with multiple places to host family, friends, business contacts, and guests connected to Palm Springs’ social and arts circles.

Andrew Bramasco

The main residence was designed in 1982 by Palm Springs architect Laszlo Sandor. Its architecture reflects a restrained desert modern sensibility, with horizontal lines, stone floors, textured plaster, and large glass openings that bring the surrounding landscape into the home.

Andrew Bramasco

Light plays a central role throughout the residence. The understated materials allow sunlight, shadow, and mountain views to define the atmosphere in different rooms. The interiors, designed by Jack E. Lowrance, were influenced by the Japanese concept of shibui, which emphasizes quiet beauty, restraint, and balance.

Andrew Bramasco

Architectural Digest featured the home in May 1983, shortly after its completion. Decades later, the residence still reads as a highly considered desert home. The great room opens to the terrace through a retractable glass wall, while a sunken seating area creates a more intimate gathering space within the larger volume.

Andrew Bramasco

The home also reflects Matzner’s decades of ownership. Art, antiques, a Steinway piano, and other collected pieces give the residence a lived-in quality shaped over time.

Andrew Bramasco

The neighboring residence at 575 North Patencio Road features a curved staircase, double-height living areas, broad glass openings, and spaces oriented toward the valley views. Other distinct architectural details include a bath wrapped in dark stone, a rain shower beneath a skylight, and a room built directly into the mountain’s boulder face. 

Andrew Bramasco

The guesthouse, with a secluded location that feels removed from the rest of the compound, has hosted several guests connected to the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Cate Blanchett was among the notable festival figures who stayed there during Matzner’s ownership.

Andrew Bramasco

The estate is listed with Eric Lavey of The Beverly Hills Estates. At $19.5 million, the asking price would surpass Palm Springs’ previous residential sale record of $13.06 million, set in 2022, if the property sells near that amount.