It is 19 miles west of Palm Desert, California Ribbonwood was founded by Wilson S. Howell, Jr., a pioneer who was born in 1888 in New Jersey.

He had originally moved to a ranch near Indio, California, but health issues led him to seek out a place with a milder climate.

He chose the site of Ribbonwood, because it was near to the desert that he had grown fond of, but higher in elevation and cooler in temperature.

He initially conceived of the site as being a retreat for artists, however he was unable to achieve this goal when he struggled to find partners to fund his enterprise.

The plan was for a road to go from Idyllwild Junction to the Indio/Palm Springs area, and it would pass through Howell's property in Ribbonwood.