One of the reasons buyers are drawn to Indio real estate properties is the town’s bucolic charm. Its small town feel draws visitors on their way to Palm Springs as well as residents who revel in its laidback vibe.
Part of Indio’s unique flair is its history with dates. While Indio began as a railroad town, it quickly shifted to agriculture. In 1907, the USDA’s Date Station was established in Indio, and leading extensive scientific research was performed to determine the health benefits of dates and to help farmers understand and best cultivate this fruit that originated in the Middle East. The presence of the Date Station and the ubiquitous crops led to the large role this fruit still plays in of the town’s culture and its ties to the Middle East. The one-of-a-kind Riverside County National Date Festival Fair Grounds is still held annually in Indio.
If you’re touring open houses and looking at Indio real estate, make sure to get a taste of this unique brand of culture by stopping at Shields Date Garden. A pioneer in the date industry, the owner, Floyd Shields, bred his own dates, including the famous “Blonde” and “Brunette” varieties that are grown exclusively there. He also invented the Date Crystal, a blend of dates turned into a dry product that can be used for cooking and in their renowned date shakes. Floyd and his wife, Bess, moved to Indio in 1924, when they started the date farm, and opened the Café at Shields in the 1950s. Sit in this adorable cafe and enjoy some date pancakes or a date shake while you watch the15-minute film, Romance and Sex Life of the Date.
image source: shieldsdategarden.com