Palm Desert Home Built For Late ‘Striking Viking’ Listed At $5.5 Million

PALM DESERT, CA — A hillside modern estate in Palm Desert’s Cahuilla Hills has hit the market with a $5.5 million price tag with a history of its own.

The 4,297-square-foot home sits on a 2-acre lot and features three bedrooms, five bathrooms and an open-concept layout. The property is known as the “Striking Viking,” named tied for its late owner, Glen Heggstad, according to Le Figaro Properties.

Property records show Heggstad purchased the vacant lot in March 2009 for $700,000 and later built the custom residence, The Press-Enterprise reported. The home was designed by award-winning architect Narendra Patel of Patel Architecture.

The home "is a striking architectural masterpiece perched high on the hillside," Le Figaro Properties wrote. "Its elevated position offers what are arguably the finest panoramic views in Palm Desert, encompassing downtown Palm Desert and the sweeping Santa Rosa Mountain range.

The privately gated estate features exposed steel, natural stone, wood flooring and expansive glass walls offering views of the surrounding desert and the Santa Rosa Mountains. A slate stone fireplace anchors the main living area, which opens to the kitchen, according to The Press-Enterprise.

The primary suite includes spa-style amenities, while a dedicated office can also serve as a guest room. One of the guest bedrooms includes a private entrance and its own kitchen.

Outdoor features include an infinity pool and spa, along with a graded pad intended for a future garage or accessory dwelling unit, according to the listing.

The property is listed by Dave Kibbey of Desert Sotheby’s International Realty and is located about a five-minute drive from El Paseo, known for its upscale restaurants, designer shops, art galleries and interior design showrooms, the newspaper reported.

Heggstad, who died in November 2025 at age 73, founded Coachella Valley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo in 1987. According to the organization’s website, he later turned the school over to two longtime students before embarking on a five-year motorcycle journey around the world.

He was also known as a writer and motivational speaker, who spoke 10 languages.