Home to verdant parks, scenic hiking trails, award-winning golf resorts, exhilarating art walks, eclectic retail, and the region’s only zoo and botanical gardens. Palm Desert offers nearly unlimited opportunities to discover and explore new wonders.
In the 1940, Palm Desert’s central location and beauty attracted magazine publisher Randall Henderson and his brother Cliff, who saw the potential for a thriving resort destination. They transformed a patch of desert into the Shadow Mountain Club, attracting Hollywood A-listers like Jimmy Stewart and Bing Crosby. Later they founded the iconic El Paseo Shopping District; frequently referred to as the ‘Rodeo Drive of the desert’. Country clubs were soon sprouting up across the fast growing community.
Now the backdrop for Fashion Week El Paseo, Palm Desert Food & Wine festival, a vibrant farmers market, and weekend street fair, and Greater Palm Springs colleges and universities, this sophisticated, family-friendly city reflects its founders dream.
Personality Profile
Palm Desert has evolved into the region’s cultural, educational, and retail center featuring the ‘Rodeo Drive of the desert’ – El Paseo Drive. The city also claims the renowned McCallum Theatre, The Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Gardens, excellent hiking trails, multiple golf resorts, and shopping for every taste
Fun Facts
The nation’s only citywide Golf Cart Parade is held in Palm Desert each October, drawing about 25,000 spectators who watch more than 100 creatively decorated golf carts travel down El Paseo
College of the Desert Street Fair, a collection of clothing, crafts, food, music and vendors, is held in Palm Desert each Saturday and Sunday morning of the year.