Quick History
La Quinta is surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountains and located on the floor of the Coachella Valley. When the Colorado River changed its course five hundred years ago, the east Coachella Valley flooded creating the freshwater Lake Cahuilla. You can still see the lake’s water line today along the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
The Cahuilla Indians were the first ancestors of the La Quinta area. In 1876 the first scheduled trains began operating between Los Angeles and Indio, as the area had a plentiful water supply from wells dug by the Cahuilla. La Quinta’s climate was ideal for growing exotic dates, sweet corn, Bermuda onions and seedless grapes. Farmers were able to transport their vegetables, melon, citrus and date crops to metropolitan areas. As travel to the desert became easier, Los Angeles residents began making trips to the area. When La Quinta incorporated on May 1, 1982, it was named for the La Quinta Resort, established in 1926.
Today
The city of La Quinta is booming with a growing population, as well as a large seasonal population of “snow birds” from other states and Canada. La Quinta is home to numerous private country club communities. There are retail stores along Highway 111 and Washington Street. Old Town Village showcases boutique shops and restaurants,and a variety of recreational and cultural activities. The city is also home to SilverRock Golf Resort, which sets against the backdrop and natural beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains. This Arnold Palmer Classic design, former home course to the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Classic from 2008-2011, sprawls over 200 acres of natural beauty with massive native bunkers and stunning water features.
