Sunnylands is a historic midcentury estate, center and garden in Rancho Mirage with a dual identity: it is a visitor destination and an active place for high-level meetings. Walter and Leonore Annenberg hosted presidents, diplomats and cultural figures here, and the estate continues to hold convenings. That ongoing role explains why access is structured and why even a ticketed tour can occasionally be affected by an official meeting.
Sunnylands at a glance
- Location: 37-977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage
- Typical open season: Fall through spring, with an annual summer hiatus
- Typical open days: Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. when in season
- Best for: Midcentury design, gardens, history, diplomacy, birding and quiet outdoor time
- Estate tours: Advance online tickets are limited and released monthly
- Minimum tour age: 10 years for the ticketed estate tours
The Center and Gardens are not the estate tour
Visitors can experience the Center and Gardens separately from the Annenberg residence and private estate. The center includes exhibitions, a film, café and shop, while the gardens provide a designed landscape around the visitor center. Access to those areas does not mean you can walk independently through the historic house or across the 200-acre estate.
Choose the right tour
Historic House Tour
The 90-minute Historic House Tour uses a shuttle to reach the 25,000-square-foot Annenberg residence and continues inside with a guide. Groups are very small, so tickets are scarce. Choose this when the house interior, art, entertaining history and A. Quincy Jones architecture are the main reasons for visiting.
Open-Air Experience
The 45-minute Open-Air Experience is an outdoor-only guided shuttle visit through the estate landscape, with a stop at the doorstep of the house. It provides estate access without entering the residence.
Historic Walk and birding
The one-mile Historic Walk and the guided birding experience are generally offered during the cooler months. These have different durations, physical demands and seasonal availability. Select them for landscape, architecture or birdlife rather than as substitutes for an interior house tour.
How ticket release works
Sunnylands releases tickets at 9 a.m. Pacific on the 15th of each month for the following month’s tours. Advance sales are online only, and there is no waitlist for a sold-out tour. Same-day tickets may occasionally be available on site, but should not be the plan for a trip built around estate access.
A high-level convening can cause an estate tour to be cancelled even after ticketing; Sunnylands states that affected visitors are refunded. Treat this as part of the institution’s continuing diplomatic purpose, not simply as an ordinary attraction cancellation.
Architecture and historical context
Architect A. Quincy Jones and interior designer William Haines created the Annenbergs’ midcentury estate in the 1960s. The residence is known for its pink statement roof and its history of private hospitality. The site later became a venue for retreats intended to address major public challenges.
Seasonal planning
Sunnylands closes for a recurring summer hiatus. Its gardens, outdoor walks and open-air tours are best aligned with the Valley’s cooler season. Birding and the Historic Walk are generally offered from late fall through spring. Annual reopening dates and blackout dates should be checked rather than assumed.
Accessibility
Sunnylands states that its tours are wheelchair accessible and provides additional accommodation information. Because tour vehicles, garden routes and the historic house create different needs, review the specific accessibility page before buying the chosen tour.
Use the official Sunnylands tours page for ticket releases, current operating dates and tour details. For local orientation, see our Rancho Mirage guide.
Information checked September 13, 2026. Seasonal opening, tours, prices and convening-related access can change.