Joseph Stuart is among the players preparing for 2016. (courtesy of David Lominska)
Coachella Valley Polo & HITS Updates: Time for another update on upcoming “happenings” at our Coachella Valley Polo Clubs, as well as our HITS Horse Show upcoming season. As I’ve mentioned, the Polo and Horse Show industries bring a tremendous amount of traffic..actual cars, along with people, to our Eastern Coachella Valley cities of La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, Thermal and Vista Santa Rosa. These annual pilgrimages are immediately followed by the insurgence of Coachella Valley Music Festival Attendees! The East Valley is preparing to Rock-n-Roll!! If you’re looking for Equestrian Property, Land or a home, give me a call at 760-285-3578.
Polo in the Coachella Valley; What’s the BIG deal? When I came to the desert over 30 years ago, I was agroom, hoping to one day be able to play polo professionally. I was overwhelmed by the scope of the Eldorado Polo Club at that time. It seemed to my eyes, that the fields went on and on, horses were everywhere, and Polo was the Valley’s Sport! What a dummy. In my small world of Polo and horses, EVERYONE knew about the club. In reality, when I meet with clients to show them property 30 years later, it is the rare individual that knows about our amazing East Valley horse Industry, and how it contributes to our Coachella Valley economy.
Black Rock Campground in Yucca Valley, Calif. What is so magical about this Campground? The first time I saw it, I just could not believe it. It’s like being out in the middle of the high desert, think Joshua Tree Park, yet there is a specific area to park your horse trailer and keep your horses! Sweet.
On your way up, you’ll pass the newly re-opened, (2015), Hawk’s Landing Golf Club. Designed for people who don’t have the time for an entire 18 hole game, it is designed with two 6-hole loops..meant to bring the fun back into the game! Side note here..there is an events co-ordinator at the club so if you have a special event coming up, you might consider this beautiful high desert setting. On to Black Rock…
Equestrian Update as we head into 2016 Season: Hard to believe, but the extreme Summer Desert heat is becoming just a memory. Though I have to admit that the last couple days have been pretty humid, and temps are still in the 90’s. My unheated swimming Pool is still at 80-81 degrees so I’m still swimming my daily laps. I’ve started riding the Horses in sets early in the mornings, in preparation for their move to Deer Creek on November 1. I’ve also seen an uptick in local traffic..both on the streets and in the stores and restaurants. Our Equestrian Residents are returning to town and I see rigs on a daily basis, taking their polo ponies out to pasture to rest. Have seen several large hauling vans with Hunter/jumpers arriving early as well. Horse people are preparing for the 2016 season already! It’s a great time to think about looking at Equestrian Farms and Land in our amazing East Valley.
Equestrian Living in the High Desert, California is alive and well! Land prices/acre have remained lower than the low desert cities of Palm Springs, Bermuda Dunes, and Indio. The high desert cities of Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree land and equestrian property prices, are about on a par with the Hemet and Garner Valley areas. Our rural Eastern Valley cities of Coachella, Thermal and Vista Santa Rosa are still leading the charge in recent Sales for Equestrian Properties. That uptick is expected to continue as we head into season and our Equestrian competitors return for their POLO and HITS horse show jumping events.
What drives interested buyers to our cooler high desert cities? The temperature number one as it is typically about 15 degrees cooler year round than the low desert floor. The serenity and star filled skies, wide open spaces, SPECTACULAR views, and “small town feel.” are all part of the High Desert Magic. People are always surprised at just how close it is to zip up the hill to do some antiquing in Morongo Valley, or stroll the quaint, artistic shops in Yucca Valley. It is a straight 20-25 minute drive up Hwy 62 from Palm Springs, through Yucca Valley to Joshua Tree National Park. Pappy & Harriets, will take you about 45 minutes from the Eastern lower valley city of La Quinta. Pioneertown Hotel is undergoing an enormous remodel, which is expected to pull even more visitors in from the L.A. area. The drive from L.A. to Yucca Valley takes approx. 2 to 2.5 hours, but when you get there..BOOM! You are in a different world. Slower, quieter, calmer..let your breathe out and your hair down.
Why buy in Thermal, California? Nobody used to even KNOW where the City of Thermal actually was..even Locals that live here in the Palm Springs Valley weren’t sure where it was. The City of Thermal began as a railroad camp in 1910 for employees of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Agricultural runoff from canal irrigation made the area thrive in the 1950’s. The Camp Young US Naval Air Station converted into Thermal Airport by 1965. Hwy 86, the main drag came about in the 1990’s, constructed over an earlier transportation route. The Population is around 4,000, and the average summer temperatures can be well into the triple digits. But…“What is there to DO in Thermal???”
The Jacqueline Cochran Airport is a thriving private and commercial airport. Helicoptor lessons and tours are offered here, as well as a flight school.
The Thermal Club is a private motor sports facility located on approx. 344 acres. Offering “Driving Packages” for guests, it will Rev your motor for sure!
HITS horseshow: Horseshows In The Sun runs from Jan. 19 to approx. April 15. Come watch the competitions!
There are beautiful Horse Farms scattered throughout the Eastern City of Thermal, as well as Coachella and Indio. The Polo Pony Training Facility of Deer Creek Equestrian Center is home to many year round trainers. Located just off of Avenue 62, the HOA, gated community offers 5 and 10 acre parcels for sale. Some have homes and barns..all have use of the Polo Fields and Track for exercising and training their horses.
This 20 acre working farm in Thermal, is offered at just $1,500,000.
Equestrian Property Sales in our Coachella Valley have continued to pick up steam. The past season and throughout the summer saw some steady Sales throughout our Eastern desert cities of Thermal, Coachella, Indio and Vista Santa Rosa. If you are looking to buy or sell your Land or Equestrian Property, NOW is the time to get going!
SOLD EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES (Past 8 months)
38+/- vacant acres zoned Equestrian, in Coachella: Approx. $3.4 million CASH
Polo season is about to kick in in the Coachella Valley
It’s time for our Equestrian roundup for both Polo and HITS enthusiasts. Let’s start with Polo Happenings:
At the San Diego Polo Club, the summer season is winding down. The final tournament, The Spreckles Cup, will be played on Sunday September 27 at 2 pm. Public is welcome! As we head up the coast to the beautiful and historic Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, the Polo tournaments are still being played, though the season there is winding down as well. The High Goal Tournament season saw the Finals of the Pacific Coast Open on Sunday, August 30. That weekend was followed by the 20 Goal Maserati Silver Cup.
This past Sunday saw the the Jewelry by Gauthier Womens’ Polo Tournament, and next Sunday, 10/4 will be the USPA Presidents’ Cup Finals. After the season tournaments wrap up, the Polo School, Lesson program and Arena Tournaments will begin through the winter months.
Here in the Coachella Valley, both the Empire and Eldorado Polo Clubs are preparing for another huge season of competitions. Empire will be hosting some December 4-goal and 1-goal tournaments, and their VIP Tents are SOLD OUT for the 2016 season already!! Eldorado Polo Club offices are just re-opening with Deb Morrison as games manager, James A’court as Social Events Manager, and Graham Bray as Club General Manager. Polo Season officially opens here in the Valley first weekend of January, 2016.
A romantic evening on a Full Moon Trail Ride in Morongo Valley
Equestrian activities in the Palm Springs Valley are plentiful, so if you happen to be a horse person, rest assured there is no lack of exciting things to experience here in the desert. Whether it’s watching world class horse events held in the east valley – Indio, Coachella, Thermal area… or trail riding in the Palm Springs, High Desert area, your options are many.
SADDLE UP FOR A TRAIL RIDE
Trail riding is such a wonderful way to get intimate with the desert landscape. It’s meditative. You’re surrounded by nature as you wind your way on horseback through the ruggedly beautiful canyons of the local mountains with the sun on your back. Palm Springs is fortunate to be home to historic Smoke Tree Stables, tucked away off of the busy thoroughfare of Highway 111. There you will find group packages available for trail riding adventures into nearby Indian Canyons, where the Cahuilla Indians used to roam and native palm oases and streams grace the landscape. Picnic lunches or western cookouts can be included, whatever your fancy.
You can also hightail it up to the High Desert area of Morongo Valley for trail riding… it’s just a short 20 minute drive up Hwy. 62 from Palm Springs. The High Desert offers it’s own brand of magic, as it’s typically at least 10 degrees cooler up there (which is nice in the summer) and the scenic views of snow-capped Mount San Jacinto and Mount San Gorgonio absolutely take your breath away. You’ll think you’re in the Swiss Alps.
Here in the Palm Springs Valley, equestrian properties are really starting to move. That’s good news for my Land and Equestrian Property Listings, but can a potential buyer obtain a Loan? Realtors that deal in Land, and Equestrian Properties, know that obtaining loans for vacant Land is pretty close to impossible. Why would a lender lend money on something that is difficult to appraise, and doesn’t have anything of tangible value on it?
Equestrian Properties, however, often have homes, barns, and a variety of other amenities. Loans ARE available here in the Local area. I just closed on a 5 acre equestrian property and the new Buyers obtained a Conventional Loan. They did, however, take my advice and got their loan with a LOCAL Lender! Listen to the video here, to get some ideas about “choosing Lenders.”
Though Loans are available, the Lenders will be sticky about the appraisal, and must understand area values. If you don’t go with a Local Lender, it may be much more difficult to get financing on your Equestrian property.
