Writer Elizabeth Rose visited the Coachella Valley and found herself in a sweet agritourism scene with lots and lots of dates! Not the human kind but the fruit kind that grows on the date palm tree. Turns out, the whole area is crazy about dates, celebrating them and finding unique ways to consume them. Find out where to go in Indio, California to enjoy them.

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Indio, California: Diving into Dates in the Coachella Valley

I spent some time in the Greater Palm Springs area of California and was taken by the beauty of the mountains, the brilliance of the bougainvillea, and the towering palm trees. But it wasn’t until I stopped in Indio, that I discovered the beauty of the agricultural side of the valley. Indio is easy to pass by but recently the town has become known as a city of festivals hosting the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and an annual National Date Festival, among other celebrations. And, there are surprises to be discovered that will make you want to return.

Dates, Sex, and Shakes in Indio

Dates are huge in Riverside County, California. It’s one of the region’s most popular crops. As you speed down I-10, you may see a billboard advertising Shields Date Garden (and famous date shakes). Take an exit and drive down Hwy 111 and you’ll come upon a giant armored knight sign bearing the name of Shields Dates beckoning you to stop. And you should. It’s a great place to wander through the date groves, shop for dates, and get a historical perspective on the importance of dates in the valley. If you don’t have room in your suitcase to take some dates back home, Shields ships throughout the world.

Shields dates from their gourmet food shop make a great souvenir or gift. Photo courtesy Shields Date Garden Facebook.

This quirky attraction has been open since 1923. This family-established date farm has been dreaming up ways to attract visitors since then. In the 1950s the owner put together a slide show about date growing and named it “The Romance and Sex Life of the Date.” Now, it’s a short flick showing daily at the complex.

But best of all is the chance to get off the fast-paced highway, and wander the shaded date groves. Look up and you will see ladders high in the palms. Why? Date palms must be pollinated by hand and harvested by palmeros, expert date farmers who have to climb almost to the top of the tree.

Work at the tops of these swaying palm trees must be a dizzying job. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose.

Visible from the café patio, is a beautiful pond with fountain. You’ll pass by this oasis as you wander their trail. A fairly new addition is a collection of life-sized biblical figures illustrating the life of Jesus. The statues were donated by a Canadian couple who regularly visited Shields’ and needed a home for their unusual collection. And why not? Dates were grown for food in the Middle East as far back as 4000 BC. So, they fit in among the citrus trees and date palms.

The date garden provides a scenic backdrop for these biblical scenes. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose.

Hungry for more? Dates would make a perfect picnic food for any of these U.S. hikes.

Time for a great date (shake) in Indio, California

When you finish your tour, stop by the shop for all types of date products, gourmet goodies, and a Shields’ Date Shake. The famous shake is made with a date paste using their proprietary date crystals mixed with water, rich vanilla ice cream, and very cold milk. This is blended and served ice-cold in their café and at the shake counter in the shop. The refreshing, creamy Shields’ Date Shake is one reason travelers plan a stop in Indio when traveling between California and Arizona. It’s filling, but it’s a tradition for many who travel through the Coachella Valley. Consider taking home a box of Floyd Shields’ two hybrid date varieties—the blonde and brunette varieties. A fun way to serve them is to cut them lengthwise, place a piece of walnut inside, close the date and roll it in powdered sugar. Easy, but delicious.

Stop for a creamy date shake at Shields. Photo courtesy Greater Palm Springs Visitors Bureau.

Floyd Shields not only created a tourist attraction, he created date products. One well-known product that is usually in customers’ shopping carts is Shields’ Date Crystals which you can use in recipes in lieu of chopped dates. Both the crystals and yummy date sugar are sold in the same reusable metal tins that Mr. Shields originally used.

Save the date for more dates in Indio CA

Since the Coachella Valley grows almost 95 percent of the dates grown in the U.S., it’s only natural that the town of Indio hosts an annual county fair and National Date Festival. The next event takes place in 2022 at the Riverside County Fairgrounds with Middle-Eastern-inspired buildings, carnival rides, concerts, and, of course, dates and date cooking demos. 2022 will be their 75th festival. Watch for a middle-eastern themed pageant, camel races, and more traditional date festival events that will surprise you.

You may even run into a camel during the National Date Festival. Photo courtesy National Date Festival Facebook.

Also in Indio, you’ll find the Coachella Valley History Museum surrounded by scenic grounds featuring the 1926 adobe Smiley-Tyler House, the historic 1909 Indio Schoolhouse, and the world’s only Date Museum. The museum hosts special events like their Day of the Dead celebration and often has special exhibits.

The Coachella Valley History Museum includes local history, a date museum, and special exhibits like train cars, seasonal displays, and more. Photo by Elizabeth R. Rose.

Hungry for more? Elizabeth tells us about a region known for its cheese.

When You Go 

The Greater Palm Springs Visitors Center provides information on places to visit, stay, and dine in Indio. While you are there, take a tour of their historical murals and learn more about life in this agricultural railroad town.

The murals in downtown Indio illustrated the history of the agricultural boom in the valley. Photo by Elizabeth R. Rose.

— Story by Elizabeth Rose and photos where mentioned.