Palm Springs is best known for its sunshine and incredible resort living. It is a world famous travel destination and has been the playground to Hollywood stars for many decades. This oasis in the desert is truly a very special place with a unique and interesting history.
Palm Springs is located about two hours north east of San Diego in the Coachella Valley, which was home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for thousands of years. During the winter months, they established their villages around the natural hot mineral springs, which is now the site of a popular spa resort casino. In the summer months, to escape the extreme heat they would retreat to the canyons where there was a higher elevation and cooler temperatures.
In 1884 Judge John Guthrie McCallum of San Francisco and his family became the first non-Indians to settle in Palm Springs. McCallum, with the help of local Indians, built a 19 mile stone lined ditch from the Whitewater River into Palm Springs bringing pure water for irrigation.
In 1877, the Southern Pacific Railroad completed its line from the desert to the Pacific Ocean. This allowed a connection from Palm Springs to the rest of the world and a way for travelers to get into Palm Springs. With a means of transportation and water Palm Springs was well on its way to a bright future.
Throughout the 19th century, various explorers, colonizers and soldiers came through the desert, but it was not until 1853 that the United States Topographical Engineers mentioned the oasis of palm trees and springs, which they called Palm Springs. Eventually that name stuck and became the official name for the city. In 1938 Palm Springs was incorporated and the postwar era brought rapid growth to Palm Springs with many new housing developments and businesses.
Hollywood discovered Palm Springs around the 1920s and it became a choice filming spot for many films. Shortly after that, Palm Springs became known as “The Playground of the Stars.” It was and still is today a place where the rich and famous come to play and retreat. It is not uncommon to see celebrities out and about on the town in shops or at restaurants. Many big stars had and still have homes in Palm Springs, such as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Kirk Douglas, Dinah Shore, Elvis Presley, Liberace, Bing Crosby, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dakota Fanning, Halle Berry, Gwen Stefani and Cher, just to name a few. It was the celebrities that largely gave Palm Springs its attraction and made it blossom over the years into the magical city it is today. But it also had its challenges and by the 1980s, it was in need of a facelift and a boost in its economy.
In 1988 Sonny Bono became mayor of the city and started to bring Palm Springs back to its glory of yesterday. He was mayor for only four years, but during that time he was very successful in helping to clean up and revitalize Palm Springs. While he was mayor, he made Palm Springs “gay friendly” for residents and business owners. This proved to be a very smart decision on Sonny’s part. This was the beginning of returning Palm Springs back to the vibrant city it is today. In fact, it is estimated that the population of Palm Springs is almost 50 percent gay today. In addition, the gay community is given most of the credit for contributing to the Palm Springs revitalization effort.
But it is not just Palm Springs that has become an oasis in the desert. Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and other adjacent communities are equally as beautiful and vibrant. The desert has become a year round place to live, vacation and play. It still has the charm of a small community, with extensive recreation, entertainment and dining. It is truly one of the most unique and charming places in the world. In fact, with the downturn in the economy and real estate market it is a fantastic time to buy a property in Palm Springs and its surrounding communities. Many people are buying properties there for retirement or to have a second home or just as an investment.
The history of Palm Springs is as varied as those who live there and come to visit. From the original population of the native Indians to the movie stars who flock to Palm Springs to retreat and get away from the prying eyes of the tabloids, Palm Springs remains a magical place and is an historical and ecological wonder. If you have not been to Palm Springs and its surrounding communities, you owe it to yourself to make the trip and experience it. Who knows, you may get to rub elbows with one of your favorite celebrities!
Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. He can be reached at trent@tns.net or at his office in Hillcrest, The Metropolitan Group. DRE#01273643.
