The greatest draw of Idyllwild for many is its location of largely untouched wilderness. The nearby Mount San Jacinto State Park features fourteen-thousand acres of nature to explore in addition to the nearly twelve thousand acres in the area which remain preserved by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. With such an impressive abundance of protected nature surrounding Idyllwild, it’s only fitting some homes are built cabin style to match the mountain location. 

One of the most well-known pieces of Idyllwild real estate is the David Cabin, designed by famous modernist Frank Gehry. This design is a fantastic model for how modernist architecture developed a large presence in Idyllwild. This style exhibit features you would expect from a home in the mountains like the exposed wood and hybrid indoor-outdoor living spaces. Many cabin styles focus on functional simplicity while a modernist cabin allows the residence to connect with the outdoors through large windows and clean, straightforward design. 

Modernist cabins are an ideal choice for their energy-conscious designs, especially in Idyllwild where conservation is highly valued. This type of architecture fits into its environment, celebrating nature instead of replacing it. In fact, Idyllwild has been able to maintain its charm and avoid commercialization in part because of Dennis McGuire, another famous architect known for creating dynamic modern homes in the area. Many Idyllwild luxury homes were designed by McGuire, and some are ready for new owners. 

Some of McGuire’s homes also have contemporary architectural elements, including sustainable and eco-friendly utilities. You may find some homes in Idyllwild have a contemporary styling on the exterior but feature an open, modernist floor plan indoors. Idyllwild’s unique landscape provides exciting challenges to architects as they strive to maintain the natural beauty of a home’s surroundings. Consequently, most of the architecture in Idyllwild is a fusion of different styles. For example, it’s not uncommon to find a home with steep roofs like a French Country-style home, but with Craftsman-style shingles or siding. Most people picture a structure constructed from logs when they think of a cabin, and Idyllwild certainly features many properties with this type of outdoor accent, but craftsman-style houses focus on using manufactured materials in their design instead. 

The modernist style of these homes coupled with the natural beauty of Idyllwild makes it a desirable place to live. In 2021, the median sold price of a home in Idyllwild was $500,000, with homes selling for 26.6% more than they did last year. Another added benefit to buying an Idyllwild luxury home is the possibility of renting it out to visitors every vacation season as this mountain escape is considered to be one of the best towns to visit in the state of California.