Welcome to Indio - City of Festivals - Indio, CA
N 33° 43.753 W 116° 16.054
11S E 567853 N 3732373
This welcome sign is located on Fred Waring Drive and just east of Jefferson Street.
Waymark Code: WMGPGA
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 03/28/2013
Views: 5
Travelers along Fred Waring Drive going east will notice this welcome sign that lets visitors know they are entering the 'City of Festivals'. The following is taken from the City of Indio
website:
Indio is the largest city in the Coachella Valley with a growing population of 85,000 residents. Known as the “City of Festivals,” it is the home of 8 major annual festivals and a host of highly-acclaimed events that bring culture, music, sports, entertainment and a variety of cuisine to thousands of visitors each year. It is a playground for world-class polo enthusiasts and is a haven for golf and tennis players. Its rich heritage can be seen in bold, colorful murals that embellish buildings throughout the city and its diverse history is showcased at the Coachella Valley History Museum.
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The website can say what they want to but in my travels through this city, I was amazed to see many empty buildings and a whole street in the old downtown district that had boarded up buildings and vacated structures. There is even a whole mall complex that is empty and lots of graffiti can be found spray painted on many abandoned buildings throughout town. I was able to find a few brights spots in a few parks and sculptures here and there but overall, this city is very economically depressed and a far cry from neighboring townships like La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert.
One of the festivals I noticed in this city was the National Date Festival complex that must attract a large population because the parking lot area was expansive.