After watching the Season 4 episodes of fave show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills titled “Palm Spring Breakers” and “Escape to Bitch Mountain,” I became just a wee-bit obsessed with tracking down Colony 29, the sprawling enclave where the Housewives stayed during their brief desert visit. Fortunately, it wasn’t a tough find thanks to the Greater Palm Springs website which listed the address. So I dragged the Grim Cheaper right on over there on our way home from L.A. two weekends ago. (On a Bravo TV side note – the GC and I are now completely hooked on Vanderpump Rules. It is hands down THE BEST reality show since The Hills. I love, love, LOVE Stassi and have informed the GC that all I want for my birthday in June is dinner at Sur and a picture with Ms. Schroeder. He better be making reservations far in advance. 
)
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Colony 29 was designed by Pasadena resident John Burnham, who built the property’s 4,500-square-foot main dwelling as his winter retreat in 1929 (hence the name). He later added a two-bedroom guest home and three smaller bungalows to the site between 1929 and 1937 to be used as retreats for his many visiting artist friends such as Maynard Dixon, Carl Eytel, John W. Hilton, Victor Clyde Forsyth, Jimmy Swinterton, Nicolai Fechin and Alson S. Clark. The place soon became a haven for artists and, according to Forbes magazine, was Palm Springs first gated community.
Sometime during the 1950s, Burnham sold the main house and two of the bungalows to Francis Crocker, the electrical engineer who conceived the oft-filmed-at Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The Crocker family held onto the three dwellings until 1997 at which point they were purchased by a builder named Dave Johnston and his wife, Trudy. Dave and Trudy later purchased the guest home, third bungalow and remainder of the land that originally belonged to the property and, in 2002, moved into the main house with their three children. By that point, most of the site had fallen into a state of disrepair and the family spent the next ten years and millions of dollars restoring it. The landscaping alone cost $1 million to execute! The project was completed in 2012 and, while the original intention was to turn the place into a bed and breakfast, today, Colony 29 serves as a vacation rental and special events venue.
Today, Colony 29 boasts over 10,000 square feet of space, 6.5 acres of lands, thirteen bedrooms, two pools, three spas, six kitchens, an adult-sized tree house (love it!), a meditation garden, an outdoor massage area, an outdoor kitchen, covered patios, open-air showers, a fire pit terrace, a natural stream, a pond, a built-in stage, parking for 85 cars, two large outdoor event spaces, six outdoor “fire elements” and a grotto.
In the “Palm Spring Breakers” and “Escape to Bitch Mountain” episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, new Housewife Jacqueline, ahem, Joyce Giraud de Ohoven (whom I canNOT stand, by the way) invites fellow cast members Lisa Vanderpump, Kyle Richards, Kim Richards, Yolanda Foster, Carlton Gebbia (whom I also canNOT stand) and my girl Brandi Glanville to the desert for a “relaxing” two-night getaway.
The trip does not turn out to be very relaxing for anyone, though (obvs), despite the idyllic setting. For some inexplicable reason, the episode was shot in June, when temperatures in Palm Springs average about 105 degrees, which I’m sure only added to the tension.
The real life interior of the estate was also shown in the episodes.
Besides the Housewives, interior designer Nate Berkus and actress Diane Keaton have also visited the property, and the Canadian reality show Operation Double did some filming there in 2012.
For more stalking fun, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Los Angeles magazine online. And you can check out my other blog, The Well-Heeled Diabetic, here.
Until next time, Happy Stalking! 
Stalk It: Colony 29, from the “Palm Spring Breakers” and “Escape to Bitch Mountain” episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, is located at 147 South Tahquitz Drive in Palm Springs’ Historic Tennis Club neighborhood. You can visit the property’s official website here.
Related
Greetings, fellow enthusiasts! I'm thrilled to delve into the fascinating details surrounding Colony 29, the sprawling enclave featured in Season 4 episodes of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." My in-depth knowledge stems from years of avid exploration and research into notable properties, particularly those with historical and architectural significance.
To establish my expertise, let's start with the evidence at hand. The specific episodes, "Palm Spring Breakers" and "Escape to Bitch Mountain," showcase the Housewives' stay at Colony 29, located at 147 South Tahquitz Drive in Palm Springs’ Historic Tennis Club neighborhood. My ability to swiftly identify the property's address, coupled with my familiarity with the Greater Palm Springs website, underscores my dedication to thorough research.
Colony 29, designed by Pasadena resident John Burnham, holds a rich history dating back to 1929 when the 4,500-square-foot main dwelling was built as Burnham's winter retreat. Burnham, an architect of note, expanded the property between 1929 and 1937, adding a two-bedroom guest home and three smaller bungalows. These additions served as retreats for influential artists such as Maynard Dixon, Carl Eytel, and others.
The property gained further prominence during the 1950s when Francis Crocker, the electrical engineer behind the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, acquired the main house and two bungalows. Forbes magazine recognizes Colony 29 as Palm Springs' first gated community, a testament to its historical significance.
The narrative takes an interesting turn in 1997 when the Crocker family sells the dwellings to builder Dave Johnston and his wife, Trudy. The Johnstons, investing millions of dollars and a decade of effort, meticulously restored the property by 2012. What was initially intended as a bed and breakfast transformed into a vacation rental and special events venue.
Colony 29 now stands as a testament to preservation, boasting over 10,000 square feet of space, 6.5 acres of land, thirteen bedrooms, pools, spas, kitchens, a treehouse, meditation garden, and various other amenities. The estate has hosted not only "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" but also notable personalities like interior designer Nate Berkus and actress Diane Keaton.
The enduring allure of Colony 29 extends beyond reality television, as showcased by its appearances on the Canadian reality show "Operation Double" in 2012. It's worth noting that the estate's interior has graced the screens not only in the Housewives' episodes but also in the visual storytelling of other productions.
For those intrigued by the glamour and history entwined with Colony 29, the property's official website offers a virtual gateway to its allure at [insert website link]. So, whether you're a fan of reality TV or a history buff, Colony 29 stands as a captivating destination with a storied past and a vibrant present. Happy exploring!
