La Quinta’s public course, Silver Rock
Point Happy Ranch in La Quinta: Originally called the “Gateway to La Quinta.” This beautiful community in a choice location had it’s origin in our Coachella Valley as a small trading post sometime before 1900 on homesteaded land owned by Norman “Happy” Lundbeck. Local resident and agent, Kim Kelly 760-285-3578
So why is it named Point Happy Ranch when it’s a housing community? Because when Norman, “Happy” Lundbeck homesteaded the land before 1900, it became known as Point Happy, the intersection of Washington and Hwy 111, because it was the intersection where Happy Lundbeck stabled horses and offered travelers provisions, a trading post! It actually became a “ranch” when it was sold in 1922 to Chauncey and Marie Clarke. They loved two things, Arabian horses and dates, and so the 135 acre parcel that Mr. Clarke named Point Happy Date Gardens, over time, just was referred to as Point Happy Ranch.
When Mr. Clarke’s health began to fail, he sold his loved Arabian horses to Kellogg Ranch in Pomona, died in 1926, and his wife, Marie continued to live at the ranch. The Point Happy Date Gardens were purchased in the mid 50’s by William Dupont Jr.. Mr. Dupont built a house on top of the mountain overlooking the ranch, then added in 1965 a Mediterranean style house and pool and tennis court. That home still stands in the housing community now called Highland Palms. Homes in the community range in price from approx. $650,000 to approx. $1.2 mil. If you are looking to buy or sell in the Coachella Valley, give local agent Kim Kelly a call at 760-285-3578.
