History: A Colorful Heritage
A
rich cultural heritage awaits in Indio, woven from a colorful tapestry
of Native American Cahuillas, Spanish influence, the Wild West, early
agriculture, famous personalities, sporting events, and the spirit of a
balanced community.
The ancient footsteps of the Cahuilla culture still echo today in the tribe's cultural center and annual gathering.
Although Indio's history is as old as the desert's shifting sands,
two elements have played an important part in the city's beginning and
development: the Southern Pacific Railroad established the "Indian
Wells" distribution point, and Algerian date shoots were imported. Both
events occurred in the late 1800s.
The largest city in the Coachella Valley, Indio was originally known
as Indian Wells, but the name was changed in 1879. Indio was a
construction camp during the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad,
and afterward it was the site of railway yards, repair shops, and a
roundhouse. In 1894 a businessman, A.G. Tingman, laid out a township
and began selling lots. The town became an agricultural center when
homesteaders settled and cultivated the land. By 1920, the city had
become the Date Capital of the United States and the center of valley
commerce.
The original commercial area of Indio (commonly referred to as "Old
Town") was the retail and commercial center for the entire valley.
During the Second World War, General George S. Patton headquartered in
the Hotel Indio, which was destroyed by fire in the spring of 2005.
With the close proximity of the troops, business boomed. After the war,
more and more people came to the Coachella Valley and settled in Indio.
By the 1950s and 1960s, Indio was considered the "Hub of the Valley."
Several major events further assured Indio's progress. Already an
industry to celebrate, dates took center stage with the building of the
first permanent Date Festival building. Built in 1946 and opened in
1947 as the Commercial Arts Building, it was torn down in 1989 and
replaced with the Fullenwider Building in 1990.
In 1947, approval was granted for an underground canal system to
deliver water to ranches, ensuing agricultural growth. By 1948, the
All-American Canal began delivering Colorado River water to the valley.
Road transportation was improved as well. In 1951, Highway 99 was
improved to four lanes in the populous areas, and the I-10 freeway was
extended from the Palm Springs junction to points east in the valley.
Lake Cahuilla (a terminal reservoir for the Coachella branch of the
All-American Canal) was completed in 1970 and promptly developed into a
recreation area.
Residents of note include Dr. June McCarroll, who invented the first
white line in the middle of the road in Indio, and Jackie Cochran,
America's leading female pilot, who was the first to break the sound
barrier in 1953. The 50-year tradition of world-class Polo players
includes England's Prince Charles and numerous Hollywood stars.
Indio...then and now
2000 BC - Cascadian from Northeast Asia discovered the mountain valley.
1080 AD - The Cahuilla Indians' ancestors arrived with the Shoshone Indians.
1540 - Spaniards explored the Coachella Valley.
1815 - Indians mined salt from the Salton Sink (now the Salton Sea).
1821 - Cocomaricopa Indians began carrying messages and mail from
the Pass area across the Coachella Valley to Spanish forts in Tucson,
Arizona, and Sonora, Mexico.
1876 - The Southern Pacific Railroad established "Indian Wells" (now Indio) as a distribution point.
1879 - The first train began its scheduled run from Los Angeles.
1885 - The federal government restricted the Cahuilla Indians to
reservations 30 miles long but opened non-Indian land in the Valley to
homesteading under the Desert Entry Act.
1886 - C.P. Huntington, president of Southern Pacific railroad,
brought back date shoots from an Algerian vacation and gave them to Pat
Gale, the first agriculturist in Indio.
1893 - The State Legislature created Riverside County, removing 590
square miles from San Bernardino and 6,410 square miles from San Diego,
placing the entire Coachella Valley in a new jurisdiction.
1894 - Albert G. Tingman bought 160 acres and laid out the original
Indio townsite and opened a general store, a stable, and a corral.
1896 - The first grammar school opened in a tent near the Indio railroad depot.
1910 - The predecessor of today's National Date Festival was held in nearby Coachella.
1912 - The Date Palm, a weekly newspaper and forerunner of the Indio Daily News, began publication.
1918 - The California Date Association built the first packing plant
at Highway 111 and Broadway. The same year, the Coachella Valley Water
District was formed.
1919 - The Indio Lighting District illuminated the first street lights.
1920 - The city had become the Date Capital of the United States and the center of Valley commerce.
1921 - The first National Date Festival was held in Indio, an event that now occurs annually in February.
1930 - Indio became the first city incorporated in the Valley n May 30.
1943-45 - General George Patton took up residence and trained his troops in the area.
949 - Regional water was delivered via the Coachella Branch of the All-American Canal.
1950-today - Though its agricultural/industrial economy is still
strong, Indio has become a retail and services center and major
distribution point for the Valley. Civic and business leaders work
hand-in-hand to preserve historical tradition and plan for a future to
benefit the growing population of approximately 75,000 full-time
residents.
Indio is a well-balanced, year-round community that is as firmly committed to its future as it is proud of its heritage.
Location & Transportation:
The Place to Be
Central Location Indio began as an Indian Village, with Native
Americans finding palm oases along the San Andreas Fault zone in the
Indio Hills. The Whitewater River, flowing through the Valley to
ancient lakes, provided attractive settlement locations.
Indio is the geographic mid-point of both Riverside Country and of
the Coachella Valley. The Valley is 50 miles long and runs from Palm
Springs to the Salton Sea. It is known as both a desert resort and a
major agricultural area. Indio is about 75 miles north of the
California-Baja California Mexican border, 125 miles east of the center
of the Los Angeles metropolis, and 25 miles east of Palm Springs. It is
the halfway point for all the weekly Southern Californians who make the
weekend and holiday trips to the Colorado River and the Glamis Off Road
recreational facilities.
The area is characterized by clean, dry air; blue skies; pleasant
winters; infrequent rainfall; moderate afternoon breezes with
occasional storms; hot summers and sunshine 350 days a year. The
average summer temperature is from 75 degrees to slightly over 100
degrees. The average winter temperatures range from 40 degrees to 70
degrees. The average yearly rainfall in Indio is 3.20 inches, with some
years producing no measurable rainfall. Visibility is usually 10 miles.
Air Palm Springs International Airport (20 miles northwestof Indio)
serves the area with eight major airlines. The Bermuda Dunes Airport (a
private general aviation facility) is located in nearby Bermuda Dunes.
County-owned Jackie Cochran Regional Airport is seven miles southeast
in Thermal, and Ontario International Airport (90 miles west on I-10)
offers service to major U.S.cities and international destinations.
Ontario is also an air freight center.
Rail and Bus Service Rail service includes a Union Pacific ain line
and Amtrak passenger rail service in Indio and Palm Springs. Local bus
service is provided by the SunLine Transit Agency throughout the
Coachella Valley, and Indio is also served with a large Greyhound Bus
Lines Depot on Oasis Street in Old Town.
Approximate Distances:
Colorado River — 100 miles
Las Vegas — 289 miles
Mexicali — 80 miles
Phoenix — 258 miles
Riverside — 84 miles
San Diego — 160 miles
City of Festivals: Indio California
Renowned as the City of Festivals, Indio's major events attract
nearly one million visitors annually. Each year, Indio is playing a
larger role in the huge tourism industry for which the Coachella Valley
is so famous.
Where else can you float among the clouds, thrill to the Sport of
Kings, meet a famous artist or golf where the greats played for a
million? Only in Indio, the desert resorts' vibrant City of Festivals.
Every year, nearly one million visitors journey to Indio, beckoned by
the awesome desert beauty, where every member of the family can
discover a personal pleasure at one of Indio's many festivals.
Feel the excitement and pageantry of the Riverside County Fair &
National Date Festival — 10 days and nights filled with entertainment,
lots of fun for the kids, and the best dates in the world! The Indian
Powwow is a colorful kaleidoscope of dancing, singing, drums, plus arts
and crafts, and traditional foods. Sample gourmet tamales at the Indio
International Tamale Festival, the largest one in the world, alive with
food, fun, music, dance, and nonstop multi-cultural entertainment.
Encounter the work of world-renowned artists at the Southwest Arts
Festival — Native American flute music, soft Spanish serenades, cowboy
tunes, and a variety of culinary delights add to the festivities. The
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival draws an international
audience for cutting edge musical performances.
Thrill to the speed, power, and grace of the polo matches at Empire
and Eldorado Polo Clubs in Indio — the polo capital of the west.
Discover something for everyone year-round in Indio —the City of Festivals!
The Southwest Arts Festival, produced and operated by the Indio
Chamber of Commerce, is one of North America's premier art shows.
Sunshine Artist, America's Premier Show and Festival Magazine, has
listed the Indio Chamber of Commerce's Southwest Arts Festival in their
Top 100 "Best Predominately Fine Art & Design Shows." Only four
California shows were ranked.
Fans of the Festival annually look forward to enjoying the desert's
warm winter weather, a scrumptious variety of Mexican and American
foods, full-service cocktail areas, and sounds of Native American
flutes, romantic New Age music and soft Spanish ballads.
The Southwest Arts Festival
The Southwest Arts
Festival, produced by the Indio Chamber of Commerce, is showcased on
the spacious grounds of the Empire Polo Club; entrances are located on
Monroe Street at Avenue 51 in Indio, California. Through the Southwest
Arts Festival's 20-year history, it has earned a well-deserved
reputation as the largest outdoor marketplace in the Coachella Valley
area for fine arts, fine crafts, and collectables including
Southwestern art, traditional and contemporary art, paper collage,
bronze sculpture, glass, jewelry, basketry, pottery, and wearable art
created by 250-plus artists.
With the primary goal of attracting cultural tourism to Indio, the
Southwest Arts Festival has proven its success. Attendance increases
annually, and sales have surpassed the $1 million mark for the past
four years. The festival's reputation continues to grow due to the
caliber of acclaimed artists, such as Jane Seymour, actress and
philanthropist, and Santa Fe, New Mexico artist Amado M. Pena, Jr.
(internationally renowned for his angular profile images of people of
Spanish and Indian heritage).
Mr. Pena has participated since 1995, and he actively encourages his
contemporaries to join him. Mr. Pena created the festival's poster in
1996 and 2001. The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, along with the
Chamber, have sponsored the posters since 1995.
For more information, call the Indio Chamber of Commerce at 760-347-0676 or visit www.SouthwestArtsFest.com.
Indian Powwow
(Thanksgiving weekend)
The
annual Indio Powwow, held during Thanksgiving weekend each November
inside the climate-controlled Fantasy Springs Resort Special Events
Center, is a gathering in which Native Americans from many tribes come
together to dance, sing, and visit friends and family. Today, the Indio
Powwow on the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians' Reservation is far more
than a salute to the past. The event provides an opportunity for the
young to learn from their elders and preserve Native American
traditions of sharing, hospitality and generosity. Visitors are
welcomed to the Indio Powwow for an insightful glimpse into both the
past and present of Native American culture.
See the beauty, pageantry and tradition in a colorful kaleidoscope
of Native American dances. Hundreds of dancers and singers representing
tribes from throughout the United States and Canada perform in front of
thousands of spectators. Browse the many Native American arts and
crafts booths and enjoy Native foods.
The Indio Powwow is an event that should be experienced through all the senses — so come and immerse yourself in the experience.
For more information, call (760) 238-5770 or visit www.cabazonindians-nsn.gov.
Indio International Tamale Festival
'Tis the season for tamales……
The
annual Indio International Tamale Festival will be held the first
weekend of December. The Festival, which continues to grow in size each
year and generate national media attention, is held on the streets in
Downtown Indio. The Indio International Tamale Festival has grown from
a half-day event that drew 2,500 people to an event that now attracts
over 175,000. The event that began as an "Old Town" hometown festival
draws afficionados from all over. Many of the vendors are local
non-profit organizations that represent churches and school groups as
well as restaurants and renowned chefs.
The Tamale Festival is now the largest event anywhere in the Inland
Empire during the holiday season. In addition to all of the locals from
the Coachella Valley, the festival attracts crowds from Los Angeles,
Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and many more cities beyond the
Southern California region. For example, last year 41 tour buses
arrived from as far away as San Francisco and Phoenix.
Approximately 70 tamale vendors selling all types of tamales
(traditional, gourmet, dessert such as strawberry, chocolate, date and
raisin) will collectively sell over 250,000 tamales during the festival
making Indio the Tamale Capital of the Nation!
Some individual vendors have sold as many as 11,000 tamales during
the two-day event. There are another 150 vendors selling a variety of
arts, crafts, and other holiday merchandise.
Activities and entertainment include a carnival, rides, games,
petting zoo, inflatable bouncers, rock climbing, a best tamales
competition with trophies in several categories, and a tamale-eating
contest with awards for those who eat the most. There is continuous
music and dance throughout the festival on four different stages. A
variety of acts are featured that include local and professional
dancers, singers, and musicians.
The festival holds two Guinness World Records. In 1999, Chef John
Sedlar prepared the World's Largest Tamale. The tamale measured one
foot in diameter and 40 feet in length. In 2000, a second record was
set when Guinness recognized the Festival as the World's Largest Tamale
Festival with over 120,000 in attendance at the event.
The Food Network TV show "All American Food Festivals" selected the
Tamale Festival as one of the top 10 food festivals in the nation! The
Food Network sent a camera crew to the 2002 Tamale Festival to record
all the fun and activities and has aired its coverage several times on
the national cable TV show.
The Festival provides free parking, admission and entertainment for
everyone. Parking is available on the streets around the downtown area,
various lots in the area and also at the Larson Justice Center, where a
free shuttle is available.
Come and spend some time with us during the first weekend in
December in our warm winter sunshine. There is plenty of excitement and
tamales, tamales, tamales!
For more information, call the City of Indio Events Office at 760-391-4175.
National Date Festival & Riverside County Fair The National Date
Festival and Riverside County Fair is one of the oldest and most unique
fairs in the West. The event was held in 1947 to celebrate the
successful date crop. The Coachella Valley still ranks as one of the
largest producers of dates in the world.
The 10-day event always opens on the Friday before Presidents' Day
and features more than 7,000 fair exhibits and exotic date festivities.
A colorful parade is held on Presidents' Day, which is always a Monday.
The fair attracts more than 270,000 visitors of all ages and interests.
Come and enjoy Southern California's most exotic winter event with a
thousand-and-one sights, a magical experience for the entire family!
• Nightly Arabian Nights Pageant (started in 1948, the first pageant
was held on the outdoor Pageant Stage, which is still the centerpiece
of the fairgrounds today)
• Ostrich and camel races
• Presidents' Day Parade
• 7,000 exhibits
• Blessing of the Dates Ceremony
• Contests
• Tasty date treats
• Top name entertainment
• Carnival
For more information call the Fair Office at (760) 863-8247.
HSIS (Horse Shows in the Sun) - Thermal Thermal
will be the new west coast home for Horse Shows In The Sun (HITS),
which presented the Indio Desert Circuit from late January through the
middle of March. The new Thermal Desert Circuit Horse Show offers 12
Grand Prix classes, with purses ranging from $30,000 to $150,000.
Spectators witness the world's most famous equestrian riders and
magnificent horses jump the highest jumps at the fastest speeds.
As many as 3,000 horses and their auxiliary staff descend upon Indio
for six to seven weeks for the duration of this famous hunter-jumper
event, and the Indio economy feels the impact, with bustling hotel
rooms and restaurants in the east end of the valley and booming retail
business.
Calendar of Festivals
Southwest Arts Festival
(January)
A
premier judged and juried North American art show in a vast outdoor
marketplace that has captivated the creative hearts of renowned artists
as well as the attentive eye of serious collectors. Held at the Empire
Polo Forum, Avenue 51 and Monroe Street. (760) 347-0676 - www.southwestartsfest.com
Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival
(February)
The
"City of Festivals" has been home to the National Date Festival &
County Fair for more than 50 years. It's a week of crazy fun with live
entertainment, including camel and ostrich races and nightly Arabian
Nights musical pageant. There's also a carnival, food of all varieties,
and lots of shopping. Riverside County Fairgrounds, Highway 111 and
Arabia Street. (760) 863-8247 - www.datefest.org
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
(May)
This
alternative rock, European-style festival, a two-day event, draws more
than 120,000 fans and Rolling Stone magazine's endorsement as "the best
American rock festival" and England's NME's enthusiastic nod as
"probably the best festival in the world!" Fans from around the world
come for the music, art, and short films. Empire Polo Club, Monroe
Street and Avenue 51. www.coachella.com
Country Fest
(May)
This Country
Festival, a two-day event, hopes to draw more than 110,000 fans.
Organizers of this first-time event are excited to bring this event to
Indio. (323) 930-7100
Salsa Festival
(April)
Do you love
the fresh aroma of tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro? You'll love the
Salsa Festival. Surround yourself with salsa dancing, salsa tasting,
and salsa fun! Riverside County Fairgrounds, Highway 111 and Arabia
Street. (760) 831-0231 - www.salsafest.org
Fourth of July Festival
(July)
An
old-fashioned patriotic Fourth of July celebration with food, fun, and
fireworks. Riverside County Fairgrounds, Highway 111 and Arabia Street.
(760) 391-4175 - www.indio.org/festivals.htm
Indio Powwow
(November - call for dates)
Hosted
by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians in the tribe's Fantasy Springs
Resort Special Events Center, the Indio Powwow features Native American
drums, dancing and singing, plus arts and crafts and traditional Native
American foods. Located north of Interstate 10 at the Golf Center
Parkway exit. All ages are welcome. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Special Events Center, Indio Springs Parkway. (760) 238-5770 - www.cabazonindians-nsn.gov
Indio International Tamale Festival Each year, the Indio
International Tamale Festival draws over 175,000 hungry visitors and is
still growing. Held the first weekend in December, what began as a
hometown festival has become the largest event in the Inland Empire
during the holiday season. With approximately 70 tamale vendors, it is
estimated that over 250,000 tamales will be sold, earning Indio the
nickname as the Tamale Capital of the World. Held in the streets of Old
Town. 760-342-6532 - www.TamaleFestival.net
Palm Springs Kennel Club Dog Show
(January)
Second largest confirmation show in the country. Four-day event held at the Empire Polo Club. (323) 727-0136
Family Motor Coach Association Western Area Rally
January)
The
Family Motor Coach Association's annual Western Region Rally is held in
January at the Riverside County Fairgrounds with 2,000 motor coaches
converging on Indio for a four-day event.
Horse Shows in the Sun
(January - March)
International
competition between world-class hunters and jumpers for more that $1
million in prize money in the six-week event popular among celebrities.
It is one of America's largest horse shows. Thermal, California. (760)
775-7731 - www.hitsshows.com
Outdoor Fun and Recreation:
Polo Capital of the World
The sky's the limit for local recreational opportunities. Whether
it's indoor, outdoor or outback, there's a wealth of activities for all
ages.
Located within the golf capital of the world, Indio offers both
private and public championship courses. The world-renowned Landmark
Golf Club hosted The Skins Game for several years.
Explore the spectacle of nature's desert beauty on guided jeep
tours. You can follow a more personal route cycling and walking along
ancient trails. Or simply float above it all on a hot air balloon
adventure and gaze down on the emerald courses, topaz pools, and terra
cotta rooftops.
The equestrian lifestyle abounds in the private ranches and polo
fields. Whatever your pleasure, you're sure to find it under the
eternal sunshine or soft moonlit nights in Indio.
Top Eight Attractions in Indio
1. Festivals and events
2. Casinos
3. Authentic Mexican restaurants
4. Golf clubs and resorts
5. Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center
6. Polo and other equestrian events
7. Agricultural and other educational and scenic tours
8. Historic murals
Golf
The natural beauty of the desert oasis
community and ever-changing tints and shadows of the surrounding
mountains create a perfect setting for golf.
Lush golf courses, lined with swaying palms and an extravaganza of
colorful flowers, appeal to golfers of all skill levels. Indio boasts
five professionally designed courses, including the beautiful new
Indian Springs Golf Club.
Heritage Palms Golf Club
Discover a world of
brilliant green Bermuda grass fairways with gentle containment mounding
leading to modest tiff dwarf greens that call for precise shot-making
skills. Heritage Palms is known throughout the valley for its greens,
and the course allows golfers to use all the clubs in their bags. The
course offers plenty of variety (with water coming into play on four
holes) yet is player-friendly and inviting to beginners as well as
seasoned golfers.
The mood of this Arthur Hill-designed course changes through the
long shadows of sunrise and the ever-changing crimson hues of the
desert sunset. The vistas from every vantage point at Heritage Palms
are an incomparable panorama of mountains rising majestically from the
tranquility of the pristine desert. This is the Coachella Valley.
Designer: Arthur Hill Holes: 18 Yardage: 6,727 Championship, 6,293
Men's regular, 5,575 Women's Address: 44-291 Heritage Palms Drive South
Indio, CA Telephone: (760) 772-7334 Open to the Public
Indian Palms Country Club & Resort
The
centerpiece of the Indian Palms Country Club & Resort is the
27-hole, par 72 USGA golf course, named by the Desert Sun as one of the
two "best courses in the Coachella valley."
While the course itself has been significantly upgraded over the
years, its magnificent beauty and mature landscaping date back to its
earlier days as one of the valley's two original golf courses. The
course is open to the public year-round.
Indian Palms has hosted several presidents, including President
Dwight Eisenhower, who retired to Indian Palms and lived in what is
known as the Eisenhower House for a number of years. The new Indian
Palms Resort Hotel (only steps from the first tee) offers all the
comforts of home and is adjacent to the community's recreational club,
swimming, tennis and fitness facilities.
Designer: Jackie Cochran Holes: 27
Address: 48-630 Monroe Street, Indio, CA 92201
Telephone: (760) 775-4444
Indian Springs Golf & Country Club
Indian
Springs Golf & Country Club was rebuilt in 2000 in conjunction with
the development of 700 elegant homes overlooking the 6,741-yard
championship layout created by course architect David Ginkel.
The course features carpet-like playing conditions and unprecedented
customer service amidst a landscape of beautiful lakes, waterfalls and
streams. Every hole offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Santa Rosa
and Chocolate Mountain ranges. Though providing a challenging test for
the low handicappers, the user-friendly design is loved by golfers at
all levels. The recently completed clubhouse is now open to the public
and is available for special occasions, dinners and events.
Designer: David Ginkel Holes: 18-championship holes plus
9-hole, par 3 course
Address: 79-940 Westward Ho Drive, Indio, CA 92201
Telephone: (760) 200-8988
Indio Municipal Golf Course
The course, first
opened in 1964, was lengthened to its current 3,004 yards in 1998 and
was rated by the Southern California Golf Association as an "Executive
Course." The course has an extensive youth program and supports a
number of high school golf teams.
The course appeals to all levels of golfers and provides both a fun
and challenging round of golf. It is also the only night-lighted course
in the valley.
Holes: 18 Yardage: 3,004 Address:
Jackson and Avenue 42, Indio, CA 92203
Telephone: (760) 347-9156 Open to the Public
Golf Club at Terra Lago
Recently the home of
the made-for-TV Skins Game, the Landmark Golf Club, now called the Golf
Club at Terra Lago, is a 36-hole desert oasis of two challenging and
picturesque championship golf courses set amidst hundreds of acres of
natural terrain. Designed for professional golf events by PGA tour
professionals, it is situated in the foothills of the Indio Hills and
Little San Bernardino Mountains. The design of the course melds the
traditions of golf with the power of the land. As at many famous
championship courses, the holes at Terra Lago have been given
descriptive names. Try on Moonscape, No Way Out, Bad Lands or Rocky
Peak for size.
Terra Lago's two courses zigzag back and forth across the banks of
Southern California's All American Canal for over a mile before
climbing to the heights of the earthen berm at the northern boundary.
The breathtaking panoramic views of the Terra Lago's courses span from
San Gorgonio Mountain to the west, to the Chocolate Mountains in the
southeast. With the entire Coachella Valley as a backdrop and
magnificent sunrises and sunsets shining through orange and purple
hues, the alluring magic of golf rises from the whispering hills of
Indio and the Golf Club at Terra Lago.
Designer Team: Landmark, Schmidt-Curley Holes: 36 Yardage: South
Course-7,044 North Course-7,123 Address: 84-000 Terra Lago Parkway,
Indio, CA 92203 Telephone: For reservations (760) 775-2000 Internet: www.terralago.com Open to the Public
Kah We aH Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort
The
Kah We aH Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio brings a
whole new meaning to the term "Masters" in golf. Ka We aH is the
phonetic spelling of Cahuilla, the name of the indigenous ancestors of
the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and translates to "Masters" or
"Powerful Ones."
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the $13 million facility, tribal
chairman John A. James said the tribe was given harsh desert land for
its reservation generations ago, so it is fitting that this "dirt with
a hedge" is now being shaped after 10 years of "hard thinking, hard
work and hard engineering."
The 18-hole championship course, designed by renowned architect
Clive Clark, includes a driving range, putting green, more than 1,000
trees and extensive water features. Clark, a former Ryder Cup player,
won five European Tour events and has designed 25 courses in Europe and
the United States, including the "Clive" Course at The Hideaway Golf
Club in La Quinta and the new West Course at The Golf Resort at Indian
Wells.
The Par 72, 6,900-yard course covers 150 acres east of the hotel and
casino to suit both tournament play and individual recreation. The 18th
hole will incorporate an innovative tumbling water feature with a
30-foot drop that takes golfers through a cave, behind the waterfall,
emerging with a spectacular back view of the massive waterfall.
Name of Golf Course: Kah We aH Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort (I-10 at Golf Center Parkway)
Designer: Clive Clark Holes: 18 Yardage: 6,900 Championship, 6,700
Men's regular, 6,400 Women's Address: 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway,
Indio, CA 92203 (I-10 at Golf Center Parkway) Telephone: (760) 342-5000
Open to the Public
Shadow Hills Golf Club
The championship golf
course at Shadow Hills Golf Club is a thing of beauty. A
Schmidt-Curley, Inc. design, it spreads itself across the desert floor
as seamlessly and elegantly as if it flowed into the valley from the
surrounding mountains. Shadow Hills is laid out in harmony with the
natural hues of the vast desert, creating an explosion of color that
takes your breath away. As the shadows move across the Valley, and the
purples and browns of the desertscape mix with the deep greens of
Shadow Hills, you'll understand where the name comes from. Play Shadow
Hills Golf Club and experience some of the most beautiful landscape the
California desert has to offer.
Designer: Schmidt-Curley, Inc. Address: 80-875 Avenue 40, Indio, CA 92203 Telephone: (760) 200-3375.
Public Tennis Courts
Indio High School
775-3550. Six lighted courts.
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
200-8200. 20 hard courts, six lighted, two clay courts. $10 June 1-Sept. 30. $20 Oct. 1-May 31. $10 after 2pm.
The Polo Capital of the West
Horse lovers are thrilled by the speed, power and grace of the
magnificent horses at the Empire Polo Club and Eldorado Polo Club, two
of the finest polo clubs in the country. From November through April,
world-class polo draws top riders and horses from all over the globe
for a winter season of championship events amid a spectacular backdrop
of desert and mountain beauty.
Because it is home to two of America's finest polo facilities, Indio
is known as the Polo Capital of the West. The Empire Polo Club, located
at Avenue 50 and Monroe Street, secured a spot in polo history when it
hosted the first 40-goal tournament played in the United States.
Eldorado Polo Club, located at Avenue 50 and Madison Street, dates back
more than 50 years and has hosted virtually every major U.S. tournament.
After playing separately for several years, the two facilities have
now combined to form the Pacific Coast Polo Center, the world's largest
club, with 12 tournament polo fields and stabling for more than 1,000
horses.
Today, although both facilities remain separately owned, polo is
played under the Eldorado name. High-goal polo dominates the winter
season, but the sharing of fields also enables an expanded schedule to
accommodate both professional and amateur players. The public is
invited to enjoy polo matches every Sunday.
In addition to polo, the fields of both facilities are used for
other major events, ranging from elaborate corporate entertainment
extravaganzas to musical concerts that draw crowds of more than 50,000,
and since 2001, it has been he home of the Southwest Arts Festival.
Eldorado Polo Club
50-950 Madison St. (760)
342-2223. Local/international amateur/professional players compete in
matches November-April. 14 fields.
Empire Polo Club
81-800 Ave. 51. (760) 342-2762. Top-level polo, rodeos, balloon festivals, concerts, and more. On-site catering and restaurant.
Attractions and Entertainment
Indio's Historical Murals
The Indio Chamber of
Commerce Historic Mural project began as a means to bring economic
development to the "Old Town" area of Indio by creating a tourist
destination. It also served as a new market niche for Indio to attract
new businesses into the Old Town/Historic Route 99 corridor.
Mural #1 - "History of Transportation" is located
on the west wall of Clark's Travel Center on Historic Route 99 (Indio
Blvd.) and was entirely funded by the Chamber through sales of signed
and numbered reproductions of the mural in frameable prints.
Mural #2 - "Maryann's Bakery," also on Route 99, is located on the north wall of Clark's Travel Center.
Mural #3 - "Life in an Indian Village Circa 1700"
was sponsored by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and depicted "Life
in an Indian Village 300 Years Ago" at the present site of the City of
Indio. The north wall of the old Yellow Mart store was chosen as the
mural site, facing historic Route 99 (Indio Boulevard) just to the west
of the original site of the ancient Indian Village.
Mural #4 - "The History of the Date Industry in the
Coachella Valley" is located in "Old Town" at the intersection of Miles
Avenue and Oasis Street. Sponsored in part by several date farmers and
numbered reproductions.
Mural #5 - "History of Electric Power in Indio and
the East Coachella Valley" was sponsored by Imperial Irrigation
District - the local power company. It is situated on the north wall of
what was the former I.I.D. office in Indio.
Mural #6 - "Agriculture in the Coachella Valley"
can be found on the wall of Yellow Mart, on Towne Street at Miles
Avenue. Sponsored by the sales of Agricultural Box Label Plaques.
Mural #7 - "The History of Water in the Coachella
Valley" was commissioned by the Indio Historic Mural Committee and is
located on the Twisters Building at Fargo Street and Indio Boulevard.
It depicts the all important "harvesting" of water in this hot desert
area. This mural was sponsored by the Lowell Weeks family.
With a goal of 30 wall-size murals, the Historic Mural Committee is
helping to draw commerce and tourism to the "Old Town" area, as well as
honoring the cultural history and defining events in the valley.
Contact the Chamber office at (760) 347-0676 for a map showing locations of each mural.
Indio Open - Air Market
New and used,
brand-name merchandise. 4-10 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday (except during
Date Festival). Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival
Fairgrounds, 46-350 Arabia St. 800-222-7467.
Shields Date Gardens
80-225 Hwy. 111. 347-0996.
This local landmark, whose large sign out front can't be missed, has
attracted visitors for more than 75 years. Not only can you buy
assorted dates and date treats (including date shakes) here, but you
also can find out how dates are grown and harvested by viewing the
time-honored documentary "Romance and Sex Life of the Date."
Museums
Coachella Valley Museum & Cultural Center
Opened
in October 1984, the museum brings history forward in an adobe built in
1926 as the home and clinic of one of Indio's first doctors. It
features Native American basketry and artifacts, memorabilia from
valley pioneer families, a blacksmith shop, a sawmill, an exhibit about
the railroad years in Indio, and water and agricultural displays.
The museum's purpose is to collect, preserve, display, and interpret
the material culture of the Coachella Valley. Exhibits are constantly
changing to reflect local activities and to cover a wide spectrum in
both time and subject matter, from local Native Americans to our valley
pioneers. The museum gift shop is open to purchase gifts and souvenirs.
Address: Located at 82-616 Miles, Indio, CA
Telephone: (760) 342-6651
General George S. Patton Memorial Museum
This
museum, dedicated in 1988, honors the memory of the gallant and
aggressive general who established the Desert Training Center and later
successfully led his soldiers into the African and European battles of
World War II. The Desert Training Center prepared over a million
soldiers, from 20 separate divisions, for action in North Africa,
Europe and Asia. The museum is a California Registered Landmark and a
celebrated memorial to all veterans of the U.S. military. Open daily.
Address: 30 miles east of Indio at Chiriaco Summit, CA
Telephone: (760) 227-3483
Cabazon Band of Mission Indians Cultural Museum
The
museum features displays of artifacts, hands-on exhibits, and
interpretive scenes of the Native Americans who inhabited the Coachella
Valley for centuries. Free admission. Call for hours of operation.
Address: 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, CA (across from the
Fantasy Springs Resort Hotel, north of Interstate 10 at Golf Center
Parkway).
Telephone: (760) 268-5770 or visit www.cabazonindians-nsn.gov.
Palm Springs Air Museum
History flies through
the skies, and your tour guides are the people who made that history.
World War II planes to current war planes are on display, and there is
a comprehensive calendar of special programs and events.
Address: 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA Telephone: (760) 778-6262
Palm Springs Desert Museum
The Palm Springs
Desert Museum promotes a greater understanding of art, natural science
and the performing arts through collections, exhibitions and programs.
In addition, the Annenberg Theater keeps an eclectic calendar of dance,
music and drama.
Address: 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
Telephone: (760) 325-7186
The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
This
museum inspires and promotes intellectual curiosity and self-expression
through inventive and interactive exhibits and programs. It encourages
children to learn about themselves and the world around them. The
museum serves children of all ages, with particular emphasis on the
primary age school children of the Coachella Valley.
Address: 71-701 Gerald Ford Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA
Telephone: (760) 321-0602
Bowling
Fantasy Lanes Family Bowling Center
The 24-lane
center for all ages includes league and open bowling, late-night laser
bowling on weekends, a video arcade, snack bar, cocktail lounge, and
the perfect location for birthday parties for young and old.
Address: 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, CA (connected to
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino). Telephone: (760) 238-5700 or visit www.fantasyspringsresort.com
Theaters
Metro 8 Movie Theater
The theater offers eight movie screens, lots of parking and first-run movies.
Address: 81-725 Hwy 111, Indio, CA
Telephone: (760) 342-3571
McCallum Theater
Located in nearby Palm Desert,
the McCallum Theater hosts name entertainers, concerts, operas,
theatre, ballet and other entertainment.
Address: 73-000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA
Telephone: (760) 346-6505
Indio Perfoming Arts Center
Address: 45175 Fargo St., Indio, CA
Telephone: (760) 775-5200
Tours
Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center
Rehabilitation
of ill, injured and orphaned native wild birds with the goal of
returning as many as possible to the wild. Birds on display. Bird walks.
Address: 46-500 Van Buren, Indio, CA
Telephone: (760) 347-2647
The Living Desert Wildlife & Botanical Preserve
Discover
playful giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, and over 450 animals in naturalized
habitats. Enjoy 1,200 acres of scenic hiking trails, beautiful
botanical gardens, African Village WaTuTu, interactive Wildlife
Hospital and LGB model trains. Petting kraal and kids playland delights
all.
Enjoy year-long, daily programs and activities, including: -
Howl-O-Ween - WildLights - Living Desert University - Wildlife Wonders
Animal Shows
Parking: Plenty of free parking. Hours: Open daily Sept.1 to June
15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission 4 p.m. Closed Dec. 25.
Address: 47-000 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, CA Telephone: (760) 346-5694 or visit www.livingdesert.org
Desert Adventures
Provides wonderful, exciting and educational jeep tours of the desert, palm oasis and the mountains.
Address: 67-555 East Palm Canyon, Cathedral City, CA Telephone: (760) 324-5337
Oasis Date Gardens
This 175-acre working date
garden is the home of the superb Medjool date and many other
interesting and delicious date varieties. Founded in 1912, Oasis Date
Gardens has grown to include a large packinghouse, retail store, and
year-round mail order services. Oasis Date Gardens has developed a
universal reputation for excellence and quality resulting in a
wholesale distribution network to customers ranging from Europe to the
Far East. Don't miss the opportunity to sample this delicious fruit
known to be the oldest cultivated by man. Open 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily.
Address: 59-111 Hwy. 111, Thermal, CA Telephone: (760) 399-5665; (800) 827-8017
Parks
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National
Park is a mountainous region that encompasses part of the Colorado and
Mojave deserts. There is a fascinating variety of plants and animals, a
rich history of mining and homesteading, and surreal geologic features
at the park. Camping, picnicking, hiking and rock climbing are
available.
Address: Entrances at Joshua Tree, Twenty-Nine Palms and North of
the I-10 at the Highway 195 exit, which is the Cottonwood Entrance.
Telephone: (760) 367-5500
Salton Sea State Recreation Area
The recreation
area has camping, picnicking, boating, fishing and birding. The Salton
Sea (actually a lake) is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the
state. The lake is 35 miles long and 15 miles wide, and it was formed
in 1905 when the Colorado River's raging floodwaters broke through the
headgate of an irrigation canal and roared into the Imperial Valley.
Address: Highway 111 southeast of Indio
Telephone: (760) 393-3059
Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area
Camping, RV
sites, fishing, picnicking, swimming, hiking, equestrian camp and
trails. Lake Cahuilla, formed by the terminus of the Coachella branch
of the All American Canal, is a favorite recreation spot for locals and
tourists.
Address: End of Ave. 58, La Quinta, CA
Telephone: (760) 564-4712 for information
or 1-800-234-PARK (7275)
Indio Performing Arts Center: the Place for Entertainment
In October 2005, the Indio Redevelopment Agency purchased the
Twisters building with the idea that it would eventually serve as an
entertainment center attracting people to downtown Indio. The Twisters
building is about 60 years old and, after serving as two different
department stores, was converted into a movie and entertainment center
in 1998. The facility later served as a Charter School for about a year
and a half. As it is currently configured, the building includes a
large lobby area, a full restaurant kitchen, reception/bar area, and
three stadium-style theatres that each seat about 140 people.
Four individuals, three of whom are Indio residents, have led the
effort to form the Indio Performing Arts Center, a non-profit
organization. In February 2006, Norma Leith, Barry Zinner, Arnie
Kleban, and Irwin Rubinsky met with City Manager Glenn Southard and
presented a proposal for bringing the performing arts to the Twisters
building. All four of these individuals have extensive theater
experience, on and off stage. Their combined disciplines include
acting, singing, dancing, directing, producing, set design, lighting
design, and sound design in both live theater and television.
The IPAC Board of Directors approved By-Laws at its June 1, 2006
meeting. At the same meeting, the Board also approved the proposed
Lease Agreement as well as a Request for Proposal for Architectural
Services to assist in identifying and designing needed renovations.
The Indio Performing Arts Center was granted 501 C 3 status by the
Internal Revenue Service on June 7, 2006. Being a recognized non-profit
corporation is important because funds will need to be raised for both
the renovations and operations of the IPAC.
At its June 21, 2006 meeting, the Indio City Council, acting as the
Redevelopment Agency Board, voted unanimously to approve a Lease
Agreement with the Indio Performing Arts Center (IPAC) Board of
Directors and to provide $300,000 in funding to assist in the initial
renovations of the building.
The IPAC Board of Directors has developed a list of potential donors
including 240 individuals, 100 foundations, 95 corporations, and eight
grant opportunities. Fundraising ideas include "selling" each of the
three theaters and naming the theater after the purchaser; "selling"
seats and placing the purchaser's name on each seat he or she buys;
seeking donation of building supplies; and, once renovated, renting the
facility to other interests, such as corporate events.
Some of the envisioned improvements include:
• "Green Rooms" (dressing rooms with electricity and plumbing for the actors)
• Stages with curtains
• Sound and lighting
• ADA accessibility
• Removal of concession stands to open up the lobby area
• Signage, entrance improvements, and landscaping
For information, contact the Indio Performing Arts Center at (760) 775-5200.
Special Event Venues
There are lots of ways that Indio makes memorable impressions, and
one of the best is the exceptional party and catering facilities at the
Empire Polo Club.
Empire Polo Club
Empire opens its 200 acres for
special events of all kinds. The club enjoys a well-deserved reputation
for exciting one-of-a-kind events. An unexpected added excitement
oftentimes will include a Polo Match or Golf Cart Polo — sometimes
both. Empire has been the focal point for some of the most spectacular
events in the valley, including the Annual Palm Springs Kennel Club Dog
Show, Indio Chamber of Commerce Southwest Arts Festival, and The
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Empire's party venues include beautiful Medjihool Lake, lined with
date palms and reflecting the splendor of the nearby Santa Rosa
Mountains in the tranquil water. Three stylish modular tents overlook
30 acres of plush polo fields. A different outlook can be found in the
Rose Garden, boasting a 5,000-square-foot pavilion located in the
center of a two-acre walled garden overlooking the polo club. Hacienda
del Toro is the newest venue at Empire Polo Club and another wonderful
location for a corporate party or special event. The focal point is a
life-sized bronze statue of the Hacienda's namesake "El Toro." It
features a wooden trestle entrance with oversized beams and a rustic
chandelier, opening into three acres of lush, tropical landscape
complete with bird aviary and waterfalls. There is a 16,000-square-foot
permanent tent featuring three grass covered terraces, special
lighting, circular drive and abundant parking.
Each of these areas is available for weddings, private events and corporate events. Call (760) 342-2762 for details of events.
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino & Special Events Centers
The
desert's premier resort destination with 12-story, 250-room hotel,
100,000-square-foot Special Events Center, 2,000 slots, four
restaurants, rooftop Sunset View Lounge, spa, 18-hole championship golf
course, Fantasy Lanes Family Bowling Center, Cabazon Tribal Cultural
Museum, and more!
Eldorado Polo Club
The Eldorado Polo Club is
completely equipped to provide pavilion party tents and fieldside
tables for any special ccasion as well.
Call (760) 342-2223 for further information.
The Corona Yacht Club
The Corona Yacht Club is
a unique facility located in a grove of palms and citrus trees just
east of Indio. It boasts a beautiful lake and lovely lakeside
facilities for corporate events and private parties.
Casinos: Bet on Having a Great Time!
Indian Casinos
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino & Special Events Center
84-245
Indio Springs Parkway Indio, CA 92203 (I-10 at Golf Center Parkway)
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
and features a 12-story, 250-room four-star hotel with the rooftop
Sunset View Lounge for beautiful views of the valley. The adjacent
100,000-square-foot Special Events Center is a perfect multi-purpose
facility for concerts, sporting events, conventions, trade shows,
anniversary celebrations, charity events and more. The Resort's new
concourse includes The Bistro (serving everything from pizza to sushi),
The Fresh Grill Buffet (featuring international cuisine), a Starbucks
Coffee Outlet, Avalon Bay resort-wear clothing, the resort's gift shop
and a recently opened spa.
The newly renovated casino encompasses nearly 100,000 square feet of
Las Vegas-style gaming with non-smoking areas and features 2,000 of the
hottest slot machines, 40 table games, including live poker, a 750-seat
Bingo Palace and an off-track satellite horse wagering facility. Open
to all ages is the adjacent 24-lane Fantasy Lanes Family Bowling Center
and the Cabazon Cultural Museum across from the hotel.
For more information, call (760) 342-5000, (800) 827-2946 or visit www.fantasyspringsresort.com
Spotlight 29 Casino
Enjoy blackjack, pai gow or
poker, and hundreds of video games. The casino, run by the 29 Palms
Band of Mission Indians, has undergone a complete renovation and
addition to its first-class facility. Big name entertainers are
featured in a large indoor amphitheater.
The JEM is certainly one of the finest dining establishments in the
desert. The casino also features a coffee shop and several fast food
locations. There is also a large banquet/ballroom and several smaller
meeting rooms available.
Located at 46-200 Harrison Street in Coachella. Telephone: (760) 775-5566
Augustine Casino
The newest casino in the area,
Augustine Casino was opened in 2002 by the Augustine Tribe of Cahuilla
Indians, and it features slot machines, table games, a 24-hour
restaurant and full-service bar. Offering great food and great fun,
Augustine is known as the place where locals bring friends.
ucked away among the equestrian ranches and polo fields, just east
of PGA West, Augustine Casino offers a unique gaming, dining, and
entertainment experience. The neighbors refer to it as the locals'
casino that features "Fun & Friendship."
Augustine is located at 84001 Avenue 54 in nearby Coachella. Telephone: 888-PLAY2WIN
Shop and Browse:
Finding What You Need
Currently Indio has three distinct shopping areas: the Indio Fashion
Mall on Highway 111 at Monroe, the Old Town area, and the Town and
Country Kmart Center. Those areas are described below. In the near
future, Indio, with its rapidly growing population, will see more areas
added, from strategically located neighborhood centers to more regional
mixed-use centers near the I-10 corridor, to service the thousands of
new homes in the north Indio area as well as freeway travelers. This
huge new shopping area will be located both to the west and east of
Monroe to Jackson Street just north of the I-10. With Indio's
burgeoning population expected to reach 130,000 by 2010, these new
shopping areas cannot come soon enough.
Indio Fashion Mall
Located on the Highway 111
corridor of the new downtown, the 250,000-square-foot Indio Fashion
Mall includes large anchor and national chain stores as well as a
number of family-fashion oriented stores that offer the best values,
highest quality merchandise and lowest prices. Recently purchased by a
new developer, the mall is expected to soon undergo extensive
renovations and expansion.
The plans for redevelopment of the Indio Fashion Mall include a
mixed-use "lifestyle" type development which will include retail,
grocery, living units, hotel and entertainment components. The
developer has stated that he hopes to have a large retailer move into
the old Sears building, with the exterior remodeled to show the planned
décor of the redeveloped mall at completion.
Town and Country Center
Anchored by Kmart, the
Town and Country Center also includes dozens of other fine shops such
as Munson Jewelers, the Indio Shoe Store, The Flower Patch, and many
other fine shops. Metro 8 Theater complex is nearby. With the merger of
Sears and Kmart, it will be interesting to see how the Kmart store in
Indio will be affected and how that in turn will grow and change the
existing center.
Address: Highway 111 at Dr. Carreon Blvd.
Old Town Indio
Over 170 businesses in the Old
Town area provide a wide array of goods and services. They include a
sporting goods store, bakery, furniture, books, charity resale and
thrift stores, restaurants, camera and photo shop, magic shop, beauty
salon, and other businesses such as insurance, computer, print shop,
grocery stores, auto services, veterinary services and more.
ld Town is home for the Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center
and the historic murals, and it is now the new home of the Indio
Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Information Center. The Chamber
relocated to the Old Town in the spring of 2005 and moved into a
completely remodeled and redecorated building at the corner of Smurr
Street and Indio Boulevard. The Chamber relocation brings many
visitors, tourists, residents and chamber members into the Old Town
area.
Dining: The Taste of Indio
Ciro's Ristorante and Pizzeria is an Indio landmark of fine
family-style Italian dining, coupled with an ultra-relaxed atmosphere,
friendly service and a large helping of show-off culinary entertainment.
Indio's popular pizza pasta show has been going on for 40 years,
seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner, except on Sunday when the
hours are 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
There is dining inside and out, with a large patio available plus a
separate dining room where family and friends can have large groups to
celebrate anniversaries, birthdays or business meetings.
La Piñata Restaurante, owned by Marcos, Maria and Damien Lopez, has
been an Indio institution since 1967. La Piñata prides itself on an
atmosphere with the feeling of Old Mexico. Popular items like huevos
rancheros are served all day and combination platters come with
generous helpings of rice and beans. There are also hamburgers, soups,
salads, and a kids' menu. For dessert, add fried ice cream or tasty
flan. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The restaurante is at the corner of
81-921 Highway 111, across from RaboBank and Bank of America. You can
reach La Piñata at 342-1183.
