La Quinta

Gem of the Desert

Erin Gilhuly Attractions

Blessed with the natural beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains, La Quinta is the “Gem of the Desert” — where extraordinary majesty meets exceptional progress. Incorporated in 1982, La Quinta is the youngest city in the Coachella valley, but is pacing itself to become the unparalleled center of the Valley’s tourist, shopping, and residential economies. La Quinta is a superior place to live and offers the finest in amenities and services to both its residents and impressive tourist base. Now approaching its 25th anniversary, La Quinta has a lot to smile about.

La Quinta’s crown jewel continues to be SilverRock Resort, which garnered national recognition in December 2005 when Golf Magazine named the Arnold Palmer Classic Course at SilverRock one of the “Top 10 New Courses That You Can Play.” It was the only golf course in California to make the Top 10 list. But SilverRock isn’t only for the golfer. Open for breakfast, lunch, and cocktails, nongolfers can enjoy the breathtaking views and enjoy savory signature dishes from the Grill Room, as well.

Remarkably, SilverRock Resort is more than a golf course. The 525-acre site is the largest economic development project in the city’s history and will be further developed to strengthen the city’s revenue base. The site is slated for a second golf course, shopping, dining, retail, a spa, and much more, including two hotels. A four-star hotel and boutique hotel may be completed on the property as early as 2009.

Thriving on its growth in hospitality, La Quinta truly boasts the best of two worlds. In a variety of delightful venues, visitors can enjoy the intimacy of a stunning, mountainous backdrop while experiencing world-class innovation found in most metropolitan communities. All the while, the nature of the town itself — its friendly, caring atmosphere — is never compromised. La Quinta residents embrace a rare lifestyle and share glimpses of its glory with the thousands of visitors who come and enjoy it every year.

Joining La Quinta’s list of fine accommodations, which already includes the glorious La Quinta Resort & Club and the quaint Lake La Quinta Inn, 2007 will welcome two new options for area visitors: Homewood Suites by Hilton and Embassy Suites. Homewood Suites, at the desirable Miles and Washington location named Centre Pointe, is slated for completion late in the fall. Plans for the site include two restaurants, a medical plaza, single family-homes, privately owned casitas, and a three-acre community park.

Also in the process of opening is Embassy Suites Hotel. The luxurious and award-winning chain is bringing a 146-unit property to La Quinta, as well as a spa, restaurant, and lounge. The hotel measures up as a four-star property; and with Hilton at the helm of operations, high expectations will most certainly be met. This hotel is located in the city’s Village area — a charming district nestled in the heart of La Quinta’s stunning mountain cove. The Village offers an exceptional variety of dining options, quaint shopping, and an entertainment landscape that is growing rapidly in response to the city’s needs. Even the parking capacity has been expanded to the tune of more than 100 new spaces.

Coming off of its first full season in Old Town La Quinta, the La Quinta Playhouse is erecting a tent next to
El Ranchito Restaurant on Calle Estado in the Village, which will host its second full season in the community. As
one of the most popular live theater companies in the desert, the La Quinta Playhouse has exciting new performances planned for a dynamic season at its new location.

As Phase Two of Old Town La Quinta nears completion, expect to see new shopping and dining choices, including Peppertree Bookstore, Logan Gallery, Just Boni at Home, and Lily of the Valley Floral and Gift Gallery, just to name a few. Experts in the planning industry are hailing La Quinta’s Village for its mixed-use and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.

For residents and visitors alike, La Quinta has added to its already-impressive community services programs. New events such as the Open Air Cinema are a big hit with attendees. The open-air film experience kicked off its first season with blockbuster movies that drew hundreds to view their favorite films. Guests of the popular series can look forward to one more great movie this fall and, best of all, it’s free!

A new interactive water feature made a splash in the spring when it opened at La Quinta Park at the corner of Adams Street and Westward Ho Drive. Kids of all ages can enjoy a 16-foot palm tree with water-dumping coconuts, foam geysers, water cannons, and water jets. And to ensure the continuous enhancement of its wonderful facilities, the city is updating its entire parks and recreation master plan this year, focusing on major city park upgrades and the development of new parks. Residents will get a chance to have a voice in this process. The city will be researching the best locations and collecting input from the public via a survey and focus groups in order to make the best decisions possible.

Another community amenity that sets La Quinta apart is the Civic Center Campus. The location offers a beautifully organic environment and an ideal location for weddings, parties, and other special events. Guests enjoy glorious natural surroundings, including a lake, geyser, gazebo, and walking paths with breathtaking views.
Also located on the Civic Center Campus is the new La Quinta Public Library, which recently extended its hours and added services for its patrons. Open since the summer of 2005, the La Quinta Public Library is a recent addition to the city and a flourishing component of the town’s infrastructure. Children and parents across the city, as well as from neighboring communities, have remarked on the ease and comfort available at the new library. And they love the special events, including book clubs, reading programs for kids, and special presenters.

s La Quinta continues to boom, retail establishments are rising as quickly as its population. The much-anticipated Pavilion shopping center, located on Highway 111 between Adams Street and Dune Palms, welcomed the openings of Bed, Bath & Beyond and Best Buy this summer, with Henry’s Farmers Market and a variety of other stores coming soon.

Just down the road on Highway 111 near Jefferson Street, residents and visitors will soon find a Costco and a Sam’s Club complementing the superior shopping experience along the city’s largest thoroughfare. Rooms Express is now part of the exciting mix as the first major furniture store that opened in La Quinta, while Trader Joe’s, one of the most popular new shopping venues this year, is already enjoying phenomenal success. Other operations such as Famous Footwear and Devane’s Italian Kitchen are slated to join La Quinta’s list of “projects in progress” this coming year. So, whether large or small, boutique or big box — all retailers agree La Quinta is the place to do business.

As La Quinta’s population and development increase, so does the need for augmented services for area residents. La Quinta is keeping pace with its continued expansion by increasing public safety programs. The city’s COPS volunteer program, for example, is equipped to assist the local police force in emergencies or potential disasters and even has its own special patrol vehicle.

The La Quinta Police Department continues to add enhancements to its safety programs, including the addition of a third community service officer, the training of bicycle and motorcycle officers, and assignment of six officers to its Traffic Enforcement Team. The Fire Department has new resources as well, such as the availability of a brand new aerial ladder truck as part of a joint agreement with neighboring cities.

Growth in hospitality and retail have certainly taken center stage this year in La Quinta. This exceptional community is a masterpiece with treasures for families, business owners, and visitors alike. As the city embarks on its 25th anniversary in 2007, stay tuned for ways you can help celebrate, and be sure to check out www.la-quinta.org for more information.