09/28/2026
Behind the Gates| Griffin Ranch 🐎
Long before Griffin Ranch became one of South La Quinta’s sought-after gated communities, this land was part of entertainment mogul Merv Griffin’s 240-acre desert estate. Griffin built his Moroccan-inspired retreat in the 1980s, where he raised Arabian horses and Thoroughbreds and enjoyed a private racetrack, 16-stall stable, lake and extensive equestrian grounds. And the original estate isn’t just a piece of history—it’s still there today, preserved as a private estate on roughly 40 acres adjacent to Griffin Ranch. The remaining acreage became the Griffin Ranch community, carrying some of that equestrian history forward through its pastoral setting and streets named after legendary racehorses like Alydar, Alysheba and Seattle Slew. While the community’s original plans envisioned an equestrian club that was never completed, today Griffin Ranch offers estate-style homes, mountain views and The Griffin Club, with a resort-style pool, fitness facilities, tennis, pickleball, bocce and more. With homes generally selling in the $2M–$3M+ range and HOA dues around $600+ per month, Griffin Ranch offers a pretty unique combination of Hollywood history, equestrian roots, privacy and modern desert luxury.
For more information about this neighborhood and the homes for sale within it, send me a DM!
Craig Conley
Your Desert Real Estate Expert
Bennion Deville Homes
CalBRE01294885|760.485.1111