Composer Van Heusen bought a secret desert mountain that became a Rat Pack lair

Image(s): Left/Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn/American Songwriter/Right/Rattlesnake Ranch Some places become famous because of what they look like, and then there are places whose reputation comes almost entirely from the people who once gathered there. High above Yucca Valley in California’s high desert, Rattlesnake Ranch belongs firmly to the second category. Composer Jimmy Van Heusen bought the secluded mountaintop in 1963, seeking the privacy that increasingly eluded Hollywood stars in nearby Palm Springs. What followed was a remarkable chapter in Rat Pack history, as the retreat became associated with Van Heusen’s close friends Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, as well as visits from President John F. Kennedy. Today, after years of decline, the once-secret hideaway is being restored as a luxury rental, giving a new generation a glimpse into one of Hollywood’s most colourful desert escapes.Why Jimmy Van Heusen escaped Hollywood for Yucca ValleyVan Heusen was far more than a composer living in the shadow of the stars he wrote for. A four-time Oscar winner, he created enduring songs including Come Fly with Me, Call Me Irresponsible and All the Way. According to the data on the offi...