The Local History | Meet the Pioneer Women Who Created Palm Springs
Zaddie Bunker, Palm Springs Historical Society
Before Palm Springs was a mid-century modern oasis filled with Hollywood glitz, it was a rugged, isolated desert outpost. The oasis of palm trees and hot springs was a challenging place to live, yet in the early 20th century, a remarkable group of determined women settled this arid valley, laying the foundation for the glamorous resort town we know today. In the process, they broke free of the constraints of polite society and created a model for strong, independent women everywhere
These women weren't just settlers; they were entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders who built this town from the sand up. In short, they created a matriarchal society in what appeared to be a sleepy, dusty little cowboy town.
Nellie Coffman: The "Mother” of Palm Springs
Arriving in 1909 during a severe sandstorm, Nellie Coffman had a vision for a "wellness destination." She arrived with little more than a dream and a reputation as a gracious host.
The Desert Inn: Nellie founded The Desert Inn, a hotel and health sanatorium, in a small oasis, treating people with respiratory illnesses. Initially the resort consisted of canvas tents stationed on wooden platforms. Over time, Nellie grew the resort to a 120 room 35 acre resort, with a full complement of amenities. In the process, Nellie created the model for all of the other desert resort developments across the southwestern states. Nellie was the first.
New Kind of Resort: She turned our small village into a place of luxury, popularizing the Spanish Mediterranean-style resort with a central courtyard pool, an excellent dining room and first class service. She attracted notable guests from all over the world, including Hollywood stars, political leaders, corporate titans and artists.
Civic Leadership: Nellie was a trailblazer, leading efforts to bring natural gas to the area and signing the first petition to incorporate the city.
Nellie earned the nickname “Mother” for her many acts of kindness and generosity in the small village. In her “boarding house” (as she called it) and throughout the town she took care of people, including Pearl McCallum when she struggled in her early years.
Pearl McCallum McManus: The Shrewd Developer
As the daughter of the first permanent white settler, “Judge” John Guthrie McCallum, Pearl was as close to royalty as we got in early Palm Springs, but she was also an incredibly sharp businesswoman who survived significant adversity.
Rebuilding a Legacy: After her family suffered financial losses, Pearl recovered much of the land her father had once owned and set about fulfilling his vision for the creation of a community in Palm Springs, but wisely focused on tourism instead of agriculture.
Key Developer: She developed the first modern building in Palm Springs, the Oasis Hotel, designed by architect Lloyd Wright (Frank Lloyd Wright’s son). Pearl set strict standards to ensure the village would be developed in an attractive and orderly way.
The Tennis Club: She founded the Palm Springs Tennis Club in 1937, which quickly became a hub of social life.
Benefactor: As her success and wealth grew, Pearl became a major local benefactor, donating land and money. In appreciation, the community began to call her “Auntie” Pearl, a term of endearment similar to “Mother” Nellie Coffman’s nickname.
Harriet Cody: Reinventing Herself in the Desert
Harriet Cody came to Palm Springs in 1916 with her husband, seeking relief from his tuberculosis. Living initially in a tent, she and her husband struggled financially, often relying on neighbor “Mother” Nellie Coffman's charity.
Casa Cody: Harriet transformed her meager circumstances into a thriving business, starting with a livery stable and eventually building Casa Cody, which is now the oldest inn operating in Palm Springs. Casa Cody, is still one of our most charming small inns, in a peaceful setting and full of character and history.
The Adventurous White Sisters
Dr. Florilla White and her sister, Cornelia, arrived in 1913, having fled the Mexican Revolution by railway hand cart and boat. Instead of returning to the freezing climate of North Dakota, they bought the Palm Springs Hotel and made the desert their home.
Setting the Stage: Known for their adventurous spirit, the sisters were instrumental in creating the infrastructure of early Palm Springs, supporting the establishment of a library, cemetery, and museum.
Preserving History: The Cornelia White House is still a historical attraction located at the Village Green Heritage Center.
Zaddie Bunker: The "Flying Great Grandmother" of Palm Springs
Perhaps no pioneer was as colorful or inspiring as Zaddie Bunker. She arrived in 1914 and immediately proved she was not afraid of hard work.
Automotive Pioneer: Along with her husband, she opened Bunker's Garage, learning auto mechanics to serve the few cars arriving in town. Zaddie could take a car apart down to the last bolt and then reassemble it.
Breaking Records: She was the first woman in California to get a chauffeur's license, drove a flatbed truck to haul supplies and, at age 62, got her pilot's license and bought her own plane and named it “Zaddie’s Rockin’ Chair”! She went on to compete in airplane races and to fly jets (as an honorary member of the USAF). She became one of the first women to break the sound barrier (at age 72) and even applied to be an astronaut (it’s reported that she passed all the tests but NASA turned her down because she was already a great grandmother!).
Entrepreneur: Zaddie built the town’s first movie house and later, the iconic Chi Chi nightclub. Like Nellie and Pearl, she was an astute real estate investor who became wealthy as the fame and popularity of Palm Springs grew.
Zaddie travelled to Europe and met the Queen of England, visited Spain and later appeared on the television show “This is Your Life” with host Ralph Edwards. Everywhere Zaddie went, she served as a goodwill ambassador for Palm Springs.
She enjoyed a bit of fame in the 1950s due to her flying exploits. Her friends were in their rocking chairs and Zaddie was in hers!
The Legacy of the Pioneer Women
These women—and many others forged a path that made Palm Springs a destination for wellness, creativity, and luxury. They were resilient, innovative, and deeply committed to building a community in an environment that was physically challenging but welcoming to them personally; a place where they were not bound by the traditional rules and constraints placed on women.
It was the grit and vision of these incredible pioneer women that set us on our course; this remote little cowboy town, which, for a time, and against all odds, became a matriarchal society.
Join us on one of gourmet walking food tours to learn more about these remarkable pioneer women in Palm Springs!