Palm Springs is full of homes with Hollywood backstories. But every so often, one surfaces that pairs a recognizable name with architecture that predates the city’s midcentury boom.

That’s the case with El Sueño, a former residence of Oscar-winning actress Donna Reed that has just come to market for $5.25 million. The 1930s home sits in Old Las Palmas, one of Palm Springs’ most established neighborhoods and long a favored address of both celebrities and longtime desert residents.

Reed—known for her roles in It’s a Wonderful Life and From Here to Eternity, which earned her an Academy Award—owned the property from 1955 to 1966. During much of that period, she was starring in her television sitcom The Donna Reed Show. The house also once belonged to Melba Bennett, a prominent Palm Springs philanthropist who was often referred to locally as La Grande Dame.

Nicknamed El Sueño, Spanish for “the dream,” the five-bedroom residence stands apart from the low-slung midcentury homes that dominate much of the Palm Springs landscape. Built in 1934, the abode is quintessential Monterey Colonial Revival, a distinctly Californian architectural style characterized by a two-story structure, a low hipped roof, and a cantilevered balcony stretching across the second floor. That balcony—one of the defining features of the style—faces west toward the nearby San Jacinto Mountains and runs the length of the upper level.

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Inside, the roughly 4,300-square-foot home leans into more traditional materials than many of the area’s glassy modern houses. Brick is used extensively throughout the interior and exterior, appearing along walls, fireplaces, and the entry, while exposed beams and wood ceilings add to the home’s rustic character.

The layout places most of the guest bedrooms and living spaces on the first floor, many opening directly to the backyard. Upstairs, the entire second level is devoted to two primary suites, both with access to the balcony.

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Outside, a leafy backyard is adorned with a kidney-shaped swimming pool, a guesthouse, an outdoor fireplace, and a poolside bar positioned for easy entertaining. The property last sold in 2023 for $4.175 million, records show.

“It is impossible to see this home, understand its history, and not feel a certain sense of romance about it,” said Patrick Jordan of the PS Properties team at Bennion Deville Homes/Luxury Portfolio International, who is representing the seller with colleague Stewart Smith. “Architecturally, there are very few homes like this one in the Palm Springs area. Aesthetically, it’s an absolute standout.”

Old Las Palmas has long ranked among Palm Springs’ most star-studded enclaves. Over the decades, the neighborhood has drawn the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Kirk Douglas, among others. Several of those celebrity homes have recently resurfaced on the market. That includes the former estate of Cary Grant, whose lush four-acre Palm Springs compound hit the market in February asking $12.7 million.

Click here to see more photos of El Sueño.