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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 occasion 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.

Call (760) 398-0206 for more information.