Palm Springs has long been known worldwide as a tourist destination with warm weather year-round, but it is so much more than that. In addition to all of these amazing activities and sunshine that draw people from all over the globe here, is a community of amazing local residents.

The city of Palm Springs is located in the Colorado Desert in Coachella Valley located in Riverside County California. Palm Springs encompasses 94 square miles of the desert and is the largest city in the county.

The History of Palm Springs

The area of Palm Springs was first inhabited by the Cahuilla natives thousands of years ago. Today many remnants of native living can be found around the valley. Eventually, Spanish explorers made their way into the area, they called the area La Palma de la Mano de Dios which translates to The Palm of God.

In 1876 the American government established the Agua Caliente Reservation encompassing 31,128 acres in a checkerboard format of alternating sections of 640 acres. The non-reservation sections were first a part of the Southern Pacific Railroad. This land includes downtown Palm Springs making the Agua Caliente one of the wealthiest native tribes in the U.S.

Fun Fact: It comes as a surprise to many new real estate buyers in the area that many homes in Palm Springs are built on reservation lands that are under lease.

John Guthrie McCallum was considered the first non-native settler in the area in 1884. It remains a prominent family name in the area today for which the McCallum Theater is named and the McCallum home stands as a museum to this day on Palm Canyon Drive.

Palm Springs did not begin to develop as a resort town until the early 1900s. It was first settled by people seeking the benefits of the dry hot climate for their health. Specifically, people who were infected with tuberculosis. This is why McCallum came to the area.

In the 1930s Palm Springs really took off as a premier destination. It was the #1 desert getaway for stars from Hollywood until the late 1940s. It was a place movie and television stars used to get away from the constant eye of gossiping reporters ready to share a star’s less than reputable mistakes. Palm Springs was located just outside the travel expense reimbursement miles for reporters at the time. Many big stars began buying property in the area and two began the Palm Springs Racquet Club a hub for celebrities to hang out. The walk of stars holds many of the visiting stars’ names to this day.

Popular Activities and Attractions in Palm Springs

Golf

There are countless amazing places to enjoy a game of golf in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley. Palm Springs is the Golf Capital of the World and home to renowned PGA courses like PGA West.

Festivals

Palm Springs is part of the Coachella Valley which is home to two of the largest music festivals in the country, the famous Coachella Festival and the Stagecoach Festival.

Tennis

Tennis was the first main attraction in Palm Springs, long before golf. Palm Springs and the surrounding area have the finest tennis facilities in the country. There are several great tennis clubs and even a few prominent tournaments held in the area every year.

Casinos

There are various casinos located throughout the desert. Two of the largest include the Agua Caliente Casino and the Fantasy Springs Casino. You could get lost in just hanging out at the casinos as they not only offer gaming, but live entertainment, spas, and more.

Shopping

El Paseo Shopping District is known as the Rodeo Drive of the Desert. There are over 300 stores in the shopping district with nearly anything you could want or need for sale.

Get Outside in Nature

Whether exploring the Joshua Tree National Park which continues to grow in popularity or taking a tour through the Indian Canyons, there is always something new and beautiful to explore in the desert terrain surrounding Palm Springs. Then there are the animals in the Living Desert.

Downtown

The downtown area is located along Palm Canyon Drive. It is a collection of local businesses and restaurants. And is home to the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. It is a fun place to take a stroll for a few hours. It is also the sight of local activities like VillageFest.

Real Estate in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is iconic as a mecca of mid-century modern homes like no other. There is definitely an old-world Hollywood glamour that was brought to the area by the stars that first took interest in building a hideaway from the public eye.

These iconic homes often come with upscale outdoor living space, large outdoor pools, tennis courts, and large open floor plans inside.

Beyond the iconic mid-century modern homes are even more great propreties including condos and townhomes as well as more newly constructed single family homes. There are homes near downtown and homes in quieter natural settings. Homes that make amazing investment properties and others that are perfect for someone that wants to settle in and become a local.

No matter the type of Palm Springs real estate you are looking for, we are here to help you find it. For more information on available Palm Springs properties please contact us any time.