The Coachella Valley and its desert resort cities occupy an area of 640 square miles in Southern California, 119 miles east of Los Angeles and 125 miles northeast of San Diego. The climate of the Coachella Valley is influenced by the surrounding geography. High mountain ranges on three sides and a south sloping valley floor all contribute to its unique and year-round warm climate, with the warmest winters in the western United States. Part of the Sonoran Desert, the valley is completely surrounded by mountain ranges: on the southwest by the Santa Rosa Mountains, by the San Jacinto Mountains to the west, the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east and San Gorgonio Mountains to the north, offering gorgeous mountain views from every vantage point on the desert floor.
From its beginning more than 2,000 years ago as the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indian Tribe with their ancient healing mineral waters, the desert geography was quite different than that of today. Oral legend suggests that when the Cahuilla Indians first occupied the Coachella Valley a large body of water, which geographers call Lake Cahuilla, was in existence. Fed by the Colorado River, it dried up sometime before 1700 following a shift in the river’s course. In 1905 a break in a levee allowed water from the Colorado River to flow once again into the desert and created what is presently the Salton Sea.
Over time the Coachella Valley transformed into to a sleepy village which offered a safe haven and relaxing escape for the Hollywood stars and presidents alike. The sun drenched desert offered tranquility with its sparkling turquoise swimming pools and warm breezes, enchanting all who visited, paving the way for its aura as the “playground to the stars”. The valley eventually became home to many of these stars who fell in love with the laid back desert lifestyle. Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Dina Shore, Elvis Presley, President Gerald Ford, Betty Ford, President Eisenhower, Liberace, Sonny Bono, Barry Manilow and Walter Annenberg to name a few, called the Coachella Valley home. Not only have these famous stars been residents of the Coachella Valley, they have made lasting extraordinary contributions to both the cultural and economic environment.
The Coachella Valley’s claim to fame is its reputation as an international destination resort. Known worldwide as a golfing paradise, there are over 125 courses ranging from lush championship courses to tricky par 3’s. World-class golf and tennis events bring scores of visitors, as do The Living Desert, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs International Film Festival, National Date Festival, McCallum Theater, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Stagecoach Music Festival and the historic Indian Canyons. The valley has also become the western polo capital of the United States with the Eldorado and Empire Polo Clubs in the eastern part of the valley.
Three airports service the Coachella Valley for both private and commercial service. Palm Springs International Airport in the west valley, Bermuda Dunes Airport in the mid valley region and Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in the east valley provide services for private and general aviation aircraft. Palm Springs International Airport provides regular commercial service.
The warm, dry climate of the desert attracts many vacationers and business conventions to its more than 300 hotels. The state-of-the-art Palm Springs Convention Center provides unparalleled corporate and group meeting services. Whether drawn to this sand-spangled paradise for a business meeting or a holiday, visitors to the Coachella Valley are treated to a unique experience that brings them back again and again, many times for good.
Today, the Coachella Valley is paving the way for green technologies and remains inspired to declare energy independence and reduce its carbon footprint. To create a strong solar community out of Coachella Valley, solar farms in the east valley have been implemented along with an increase in solar generated power in personal residences, commercial and city buildings. Wind driven technology and wind farms can be seen in the expansion of the famous windmills seen upon entering the valley. The SunBus system which runs valley-wide implements hydrogen driven buses and is an example of the amazing technology that will hopefully one day become the norm. Over time these systems have been upgraded and expanded putting the Coachella Valley at the forefront of green technologies throughout the United States.
No longer a sleepy retirement community, the Coachella Valley has transformed into a mecca for golf, tennis, spas, art, music, festivals, food and wine, photography and more. The desert is brimming with history and culture and although it will always remain a trendy hotspot for weekend getaways and sun worshipers, it has become a full time residence for many who fall in love with the lifestyle. The Coachella Valley offers an unrivaled ambiance and lasting allure to all who visit.