Known the world over as a premier golf destination, La Quinta is a gem of the Coachella Valley. Old Town La Quinta—a village at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains—offers an eclectic mix of quaint shops and charming restaurants. And surrounding the village are the posh golf resorts with cool green against the desert sands.
La Quinta Beginnings
Founder Walter Morgan established the La Quinta Golf Resort in 1926 as a secluded hideaway for Hollywood’s celebrities and socialites. Director Frank Capra wrote the screenplay for the classic film “Lost Horizon” while a guest at the resort in the 1930s.
La Quinta became more accessible with the building of California Highway 111 in the 1930s. Further expansion of Washington Street in the 1950s and 1960s connected La Quinta with US Highways 60 and 99, which became Interstate 10, in the 1970s.
Just as all the neighboring Coachella Valley cities grew, La Quinta’s population rose dramatically by the mid 1980s, leading to its incorporation as a city in 1982.
Capital of Golf Nation
The original La Quinta Resort was the site of the Coachella Valley’s first golf course, laying the ground for the community to blossom as the leading golf destination in America. Among the courses that added to La Quinta’s reputation is the Tom Fazio-designed golf circuit at The Quarry at La Quinta, which is ranked among the top 100 golf courses in the United States.
Some 10 years ago, the Arnold Palmer Classic Course at the city’s SilverRock Golf Resort became one of the four host golf courses for the annual Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. La Quinta’s other public courses include the PGA West Stadium Clubhouse, Palm Royale Country Club, and Golf Club at La Quinta. The city hosts annual high-profile events, such as the PGA Tour’s Humana Challenge.
Golf is naturally the feature attraction at La Quinta’s four upscale active adult communities, which offer the comforts of home, along with the resort amenities one would expect, as a complement to the golf lifestyle.
Attractions Beyond Golf
La Quinta is largely a resort town that caters to luxury tastes and venues. Outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and horseback riding are popular throughout the area. Shopping and dining are also well represented with a range of establishments, from casual eateries and chain stores to fine restaurants and specialty boutiques. Arts and culture are also covered with attractions like the La Quinta Museum and the annual La Quinta Arts Festival.
Outdoor enthusiasts can find recreational opportunities like hiking via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Tahquitz Canyon, or along the San Jacinto Mountains, which rise 10,000 feet above the valley floor. Adventure seekers can rock climb at Tahquitz Peak, or try the Chino Canyon 5.5-mile trail. Nearby National Parks, like Joshua Tree National Park, offer even more opportunities for outdoor fun.
For more relaxing pastimes, visitors can sample the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens to see native species and animals. The Moorten Botanical Garden, a popular historical landmark in Palm Springs, features desert plants, ancient fossils, crystals, and gold-mine relics as well as garden tours. More popular spots are the Palm Springs Art Museum, Cabazon Dinosaurs Museum, Palm Springs Air Museum, and Tramway Gas Station.
The climate in La Quinta is largely influenced by the surrounding mountains. Weather in the area typically features warm winters and very hot summers. Winter days are sunny and comfortable with average high temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Summer days are much hotter with average highs rising above 100 degrees.
Trilogy at La Quinta
Low $300s – High $700s
The Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta is an 18-hole championship course designed by Gary Panks. It has played host to the PGA Tour Skins Game. Both pros and weekend novices revere Trilogy as one of the most challenging and rewarding courses in the region.
The community of Trilogy at La Quinta brings luxurious active adult living to the heart of the Coachella Valley. This 1,238-home community is loved for its finely crafted homes and world-class amenities that include two amenity centers, a full-service spa, and continuing education classes.
