Coachella Valley is now known for the famous music festival but for over 100 years it’s been known for dates. 95 percent of the US grown dates are from the Valley and about 2500 people there work in the date industry.
Date shakes are a signature drink of the area and the area farms have been attracting roadtrippers since the early 1900’s with dates and shakes. Oasis Date Gardens , has a history that goes back to 1912 and their date and date shakes shakes are really some of finest around. They are famous for their medjool dates but have other varieties too. They have a sample area and a really nice cafe.
The Valley has used the dates Middle East origins in marketing through the years and businesses took on Arabian themes.
I’ve always liked this area of California. A lot of people settled there because of cheap land and started these unique roadside farms to attract the daytrip and weekend travelers.
Seems like it’s always hot in this part of California, even in the winter. And those date shakes are really delicious and great at cooling a traveler down.
When I lived in Southern California, we’d usually head to the Palm Springs area for one long weekend a month, and a frequent stop was this very oasis. Thanks for the memories.
Dateland, along I-8 in western Arizona, has always been a required stop on the drive from San Diego to Tucson & beyond. Much the same sort of place, since the 1920s.
Shields Date Garden is another date farm that has quite the history. People going to Salton Sea resorts in the 40s, 50s and 60’s stopped along the route and the farms competing for business did some truly innovative marketing.
https://youtu.be/HSHPQWyxZds
I’ll have to check out Dateland! Palm Springs has had a resurgence in recent years. Hopefully the new crowds there and the music festival in Coachella will keep these iconic date farms open.