If you’ve found yourself in the Coachella Valley after Dolly Parton’s Aug. 25 death and are feeling a desire to connect with the ever-fabulous spirit of the iconic country star then, well, you're in luck.
Sure, this ain’t Tennessee. But our corner of California turns out to have quite a few Dolly-centric spots ranging from a cozy residence that once belonged to the Queen of Country herself (yes, really) to several vacation accommodations where one can enjoy a decidedly Dolly getaway.
So, whether you’re a lifelong fan, want a little 9 to 5 inspiration or are just stricken with the Homesick Tennessee Blues, here’s our list of the Dolly-est locations in and around the Coachella Valley (mostly the latter).
California legacy after death
But first, a word of caution: we don't recommend you go looking for a dose of Dolly vibes at the Empire Polo Club. Parton sadly never performed at the Stagecoach or Coachella music festivals, and is not known to have ever attended either. She did, however, perform in the Coachella Valley at least once: when she kicked off her 2014 Blue Smoke Tour at the Agua Caliente at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage.
25-300 Pine Crest Ave. in Idyllwild
Parton may have famously sang of “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” But what’s much less known is she also kept a cabin in the mountains of Southern California, just over an hour's drive from downtown Palm Springs.
SFGate wrote in 2024 that the cozy 1,800 square foot residence’s “peaked roof and stone chimney feel right at home with the rest of the neighborhood,” while The San Francisco Chronicle reported it was nestled “along a seasonal creek, surrounded by towering pines and is just a short walk to town.”
Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, owned the house together from 2000 until they sold it to the Ronald McDonald House in 2024 for $585,000.
The Chronicle reported that Parton and Dean purchased the home for $235,000 in 2000. When the home was placed on the market again in 2025, a listing referred to “a spacious loft that sleeps five — and it was Dolly’s favorite spot to write and play her music.”
The house was also reported to contain several items that would surely intrigue Dolly fans, including a tea set accompanied by a note addressed to Parton instructing her how to make the perfect cup, a signed photo of Parton in her youth and a guitar-shaped toilet seat. However, accounts seem to vary about whether those items were at the house during Parton’s time there or were added later.
But while details about Parton’s use of the property seem few and far between, the marketing of the property to prospective buyers in 2024 and 2025 focused heavy on its connection to the star, with the 2025 listing explaining “if walls could sing, this charming three-story mountain retreat would be humming a country tune. Recently owned by the one and only Dolly Parton, this home is as full of character as the Queen of Country herself.
Meanwhile, Tiffany Raridon, the real estate agent who sold the property in 2025, said in the Chronicle that “Dolly was a beloved part of the Idyllwild community, known for her warmth, generosity, and deep love for the mountains.”
Please note, this is a privately owned residence, so The Desert Sun definitely wouldn't recommend knocking on the door. But we couldn't resist pointing out that Backwoods Barbie herself once laid her head nearby.
'The Dolly' room at Hicksville Pines Bud & Breakfast in Idyllwild
Fittingly located just a few miles down the road from Parton’s cabin, The Dolly is one of the several themed rooms that make up this cannabis friendly, 10-room hotel property. The décor includes a life-sized Dolly Parton cutout, a neon “Tennessee” sign, a pink rocking chair and a Dolly-themed pinball machine. There’s also a record player and a collection of Parton records and a wooden bathtub.
Wonder Years Cabin in Wonder Valley
The Airbnb listing for this homestead cabin near Twentynine Palms advertises its “Dolly Parton-themed room.” A few photos included with the listing show bright blue walls (yes, it’s a little surprising they aren’t pink) adorned with posters from Parton’s movies and concert tours, a shelf with Dolly-esque wigs and even a boxed Dolly doll.
The centerpiece, however, is the bedding, which consists of a pillow adorned with Parton’s face and a multicolored quilt that seems to be a reference to the famous Dolly tune “Coat of Many Colors.” Specify that you want The Dolly room at booking, although there appears to be limited availability in the near future.
Another high-desert vacation property — the Hey House in Yucca Valley — is advertised to have a tiny Dolly Parton-themed saloon, although upon further investigation, that saloon is not open to either the general public or even those staying at the property.
Various Palm Springs vacation rental properties
While there doesn’t seem to be much of a public record of Parton having spent significant time in Palm Springs, her flamboyant image and status as an icon beloved by the LGBTQ community feel spiritually akin with the city. So it shouldn't be surprising that the owners of several vacation properties have tried to cash in on the public’s obsession with all things Dolly.
Pink is everywhere in the Dolly Parton room in the Airbnb-listed Old Hollywood Oasis home on the north side of Palm Springs, which is decorated with a mini guitar, a wall of cowboy hats and various Dolly-related frame photos (the pink-dominated pool area also feels decidedly Dolly).
Several Dolly photos and pieces of art (including one displaying the “What Would Dolly Do?” Slogan) fill the walls of the Dolly Parton-inspired room at the Desert Chic Escape listing in the central part of the city.
But the most audacious effort to tie a property to Parton would have to be this Airbnb listing for a property near the intersection of Racquet Club Road and Avenida Caballeros, which is referred to as the "House of Forever" in said listing.
“Legend has it that this house was once owned by Dolly Parton, and rumor has it that the gardener fell out of a tree after witnessing Dolly swimming in the buff,” the listing states. “The last owner of record was her wardrobe person and she was seen at the house many times.”
The listing doesn’t offer any evidence for these claims and we couldn’t find any online either (to be fair, we also couldn't find anything outright disputing them). What we could establish is that noted costume designer (and Palm Springs resident) Bob Mackie designed outfits for Parton.
Ironically, the house’s aesthetic is dominated by white and does not feel particularly Dolly. However, the listing does note that the house “has a magical feel and once possessed a very large tiki fountain" which, OK, does sound rather Dollyish now that we think about it.
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Dolly Parton's shiny spirit lives on at 6 Palm Springs area locales
