The Desert's Luxury Capital Undergoes a Renaissance

By Jan Silver Maguire

Seen at right: IW Club at Indian Wells Golf Resort
Photo courtesy City of Indian Wells

Indian Wells may only be 15.04 square miles, but what it lacks in geographical size, this upscale desert city makes up for in affording a superb quality of life and world-class amenities to residents and visitors alike.

“Indian Wells has undergone significant changes in the last five years to ensure that it remains one of the finest residential and resort destinations in the nation, without sacrificing the overall sense of tranquility that has long defined our very special community,” says Indian Wells Mayor Mary T. Roche.

To achieve this goal, City Council and Staff conceived and are in the midst of executing a comprehensive, strategic plan — unique for a city of this size — that leverages the city’s key assets and embodies the community’s shrewd leadership and “we-can-do-anything” spirit.

The metamorphosis continues to be nothing short of amazing. In August, the City of Indian Wells opened the IW Club, the final phase of an $80 million project to transform the city-owned, 36-hole Indian Wells Golf Resort into a mecca for premier golf and dining, and memorable special events. Designed by top golf architects John Fought and Clive Clark, respectively, the new Players and Celebrity courses have already garnered top rankings from Golfweek and other industry experts and lured the popular LG Skins Game to the public-access Golf Resort for three years. In November 2007, the Celebrity Course hosted the silver anniversary of this televised Thanksgiving weekend golf tradition and will do so again Nov. 28-30.

This year, LG Skins Game players and fans will also have a chance to see the new IW Club, a phenomenal 53,000-square-foot clubhouse designed by Phoenix-based architects Douglas Fredrikson Associates. A stunning example of desert modern architecture, IW Club includes the casual IW Café, IW Club Restaurant & Bar with panoramic terrace dining, a temperature-controlled wine room, wireless capabilities, the Celebrity Ballroom plus multipurpose indoor/outdoor event space, and a spacious golf shop featuring the finest in golf equipment and apparel. Golf Resort patrons can also take advantage of the lighted, Nine-hole IW Putting Course (also designed by Fought) and Callaway Golf Performance Center, one of only seven in the nation.

In recent years, Indian Wells has also taken the lead to secure the city’s other premier sporting event, the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament (March 9-22, 2009 and formerly known as the Pacific Life Open) at the city’s state-of-the-art Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the second largest tennis stadium in the world.

This prestigious sporting event draws more than 330,000 tennis fans from near and afar to see the world’s top tennis players during two weeks of exciting competition. The Tennis Garden also serves as a premier concert and special event venue; upcoming attractions include a pre-season NBA exhibition game between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets (Oct. 11), Seventh Annual Indian Wells Arts Festival (April 3-5, 2009), and Sugarbush Music Festival with Melissa Etheridge (April 4, 2009).

Located in close proximity to the Golf Resort and Tennis Garden, Indian Wells’ four impressive hotel properties continue to attract leisure and business guests with their sweeping range of first-rate amenities; customer service; and lush, serene settings. Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas & Spa opened 24 additional luxury villas in Nov. 2007. The high-end villas feature personal butler service, villa-exclusive dining and spa packages, and more. The contemporary Lantana restaurant has received rave reviews from visitors and locals.

In February, the Tuscan-inspired, 215-room Miramonte Resort & Spa unveiled a $1.4 million remodel of its poolside experience. The new signature pool features direct connection to the resort’s acclaimed WELL Spa, five new private cabanas complete with individual sound systems, and a fully equipped outdoor bar with flat-screen televisions. Next summer, the resort will break ground for its newest culinary adventure: the Grove Artisan Kitchen.

The stately Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa underwent a $9 million transformation in 2007, adding the California wine- and cuisine-inspired Cava Restaurant; Glo, a new lobby bar; Stir Lounge; and a refurbished lower lobby and pool area.

Visitors seeking a nostalgic taste of Indian Wells will find it at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, overlooking the Santa Rosa Mountains and Indian Wells Country Club golf course. Hollywood icons Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz built the intimate resort, which has been updated with the most modern conveniences.

Indian Wells is very often the community of choice for those seeking to relocate to the Coachella Valley. The city enjoys the benefits of being one of California’s wealthiest and financially well-managed cities and offers an unrivaled resident benefit program that includes spa, golf, and restaurant discounts; community socials and art lectures; and access to exclusive cultural activities. The city is also a major contributor to several valleywide academic institutions and nonprofit organizations through its Community Assistance, Cultural & Promotional, and School Grant programs.

Health and public safety remain a top priority. Indian Wells contracts with Riverside County for fire and law enforcement services and enjoys one of the lowest crime rates and quickest response rates in the valley. The city has been in the vanguard of many public health and environmental ventures; largescale recycling programs that encompass residential areas and businesses are among them.

Indian Wells City Council has also wisely adopted progressive “smart-growth” principles for two mixed-use projects scheduled to break ground in 2009: Indian Wells Crossing and Indian Wells Towne Center. Within these two pedestrian-friendly developments, residents and guests will be able to take advantage of select leisure amenities like fabulous shops and restaurants and a state-of-the-art multiplex movie theater.

To paraphrase a quote from Shakespeare: The entire world may be a stage, but Indian Wells will remain in the spotlight, now and well into the future.

Mayor Mary T. Roche Mayor Pro Tem Larry Spicer	Council Members Ed Monarch Rob Bernheimer Patrick J. Mullany	Year Incorporated 1967 Population 5,025	Median Household Income $116,594
		IW Club at Indian Wells Golf Resort. Photo courtesy City of Indian Wells
		Indian Wells Golf Resort, Celebrity Course. Photo courtesy City of Indian Wells/ ©2008 Lonna Tucker
		Indian Wells Tennis Tournament. Photo courtesy Indian Wells Tennis Gardens
		Lobby of the IW Club. Photo courtesy City of Indian Wells