Rancho Mirage, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rancho Mirage
City
City of Rancho Mirage
California State Route 111 in Rancho Mirage
Flag
Location in Riverside County and the state of California
Rancho Mirage Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Riverside
Native American Reservation (partial)	Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Incorporated	August 3, 1973
Government
• Type	Council–Manager
Area
• Total	25.74 sq mi (66.67 km2)
• Land	25.35 sq mi (65.66 km2)
• Water	0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2)  1.57%
Elevation	272 ft (83 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,999
• Estimate  (2022)	17,633
• Density	730.80/sq mi (282.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	92270
Area codes	442/760
FIPS code	06-59500
GNIS feature IDs	1661281, 2411515

Rancho Mirage is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. It is a desert community known for its resorts, golf courses, and country clubs. The city is located in the Colorado Desert, which is part of the larger Sonoran Desert. It sits near the Santa Rosa Mountains and is close to Palm Springs.

Rancho Mirage is next to Cathedral City, Palm Desert, and Thousand Palms. In 2020, about 17,000 people lived here, but during busy seasons, the population can go over 20,000. The city was officially formed in 1973 and is one of nine cities in the Coachella Valley.

Many famous people, both from the past and present, have lived in Rancho Mirage. These include Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, and former U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and Betty Ford. Because of its connection to presidents, the city is sometimes called "Playground of the Presidents." It's also known as the "Golf Capital of the World" because it hosts many golf and tennis tournaments, like the Ryder Cup and the LPGA Tour's Chevron Championship.

Discovering Rancho Mirage's Past

Early Native American Life

Native Americans first arrived in this area about 2,000 years ago. The local tribe in Rancho Mirage is the Agua Caliente Indian tribe of Cahuilla Indians. They faced tough times, but survived and now run a resort and casino in the city.

An old Native American trade route, called the Halchidhoma trade route, followed water sources along the Santa Rosa Mountains. Part of this ancient trail is now California State Route 111 in Rancho Mirage. This route was used for hundreds of years to trade goods, find food, and for religious events. About 1,000 years ago, the Cahuilla tribes learned about pottery from other Native American groups near the Colorado River.

How Rancho Mirage Grew

In the 1920s, the area was mostly open desert with some date and grape farms. In 1928, a company bought 160 acres here. They planned roads with North African names like Tunis Road. However, the 1929 Depression stopped these plans.

Later, a realtor from Los Angeles, Lawrence Macomber, bought hundreds of acres. He and Don Cameron advertised properties as "fifteen minutes from Palm Springs." They attracted people like actor Frank Morgan. But World War II again paused development. In 1944, Major A. Ronald Button bought more land, calling it "the most wind free area" he could find. In 1946, Henry L. Gogerty built an airstrip and opened the Desert Air Hotel and Airpark.

The Annenberg Estate: A Presidential Retreat

Sunnylands historic house

The Annenberg Estate, also known as 'Sunnylands', was owned by Walter and Leonore Annenberg. It was a popular spot for famous and powerful people, including Frank Sinatra and several U.S. Presidents. Presidents like Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and Barack Obama vacationed there. President Ford later bought a house in Rancho Mirage and lived there until he passed away in 2006. The Betty Ford Center, a famous rehabilitation center, is also located in Rancho Mirage at the Eisenhower Medical Center. President Obama even held meetings with world leaders at Sunnylands.

Early Resorts and Golf Clubs

Some of the first places to stay were the White Sun Guest Ranch and Wonder Palms Ranch in the 1940s. Later, the Desert Air Hotel and Thunderbird Ranch opened. The Desert Air Hotel was bought by the Rancho Las Palmas Country Club in the 1970s. This resort has a Spanish style and is the city's third-largest employer. It has a 27-hole golf course.

Thunderbird Ranch opened in 1946. Johnny Dawson bought it and created the Coachella Valley's first 18-hole golf course. The Thunderbird Country Club started in 1950. It's even rumored that the golf cart was invented there! Many other country clubs followed, making Rancho Mirage a golf haven. In 1973, Rancho Mirage officially became a city, combining five smaller communities.

Modern Growth and New Ideas

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa is the only skyscraper in the Coachella Valley.

In 2001, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians opened the Agua Caliente Casino. It quickly became a popular spot for visitors and locals. In 2008, the casino expanded to include a 16-story hotel and spa. The city worked with the tribe to include the casino property within city limits, so it could receive police and fire services.

Rancho Mirage's economy has grown beyond just resorts and golf. It now includes light industry and shopping centers like The River. A new community for senior citizens, Del Webb Rancho Mirage, is set to open in 2020. In 2021, it was announced that Rancho Mirage would be home to the first U.S. neighborhood built entirely with 3D-printed, energy-efficient homes. In 2022, The Walt Disney Company announced its first "Storyliving by Disney" community, named Cotino, would be built here.

What's in a Name?

The name "Rancho Mirage" combines Spanish ("Rancho") and French ("Mirage") words. One story says a woman named Ruth Wheeler saw a ranch in the distance from Magnesia Falls Canyon and called it a "mirage." The area adopted the name Rancho Mirage in 1934 and became a city with that name on August 3, 1973.

Rancho Mirage: Home to Presidents

President George W. Bush greeting the media in Rancho Mirage with President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford

President Barack Obama at the 2016 US-ASEAN Summit in Rancho Mirage

President Reagan meeting with Secretary of State George Shultz at the Annenberg Estate

Rancho Mirage is known as the "Playground of the Presidents" because many U.S. presidents have lived or visited here. President Harry Truman often visited the Tamarisk Country Club. President Dwight D. Eisenhower lived nearby. President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford lived in Rancho Mirage for 30 years after leaving office.

The Annenberg estate, Sunnylands, was even called the "western White House" during Richard Nixon's time as president. Many presidents, including Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, have visited Sunnylands. President George H. W. Bush held a summit with the Japanese Prime Minister here in 1990. Even Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1980! President Barack Obama visited Sunnylands in 2013, becoming the eighth U.S. president to do so. He also hosted important world summits here, including the first-ever U.S. summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2016.

President Gerald Ford passed away at his home in Rancho Mirage in 2006. His first funeral service was held in the city. First Lady Betty Ford also passed away in Rancho Mirage in 2011.

Rancho Mirage's Landscape

Santa Rosa Mountains from Bighorn Overlook

San Jacinto Mountains from Sunnylands

Rancho Mirage covers about 24.8 square miles (64.2 square kilometers). Most of this is land, but about 0.4 square miles (1.0 square kilometer) is water. This includes a 25-acre artificial lake with a 10-story hotel built on an island in the middle!

The Whitewater River flows through the city. Another creek, Magnesia Spring Creek, has a 40-foot waterfall called Magnesia Falls. The city has built concrete channels to prevent floods after a big one in 1979. Earthquakes happen sometimes; one in 1986 damaged many buildings and roads.

Many streets in Rancho Mirage are named after famous people who lived there. You'll find Gerald Ford Drive, Ginger Rogers Road, Frank Sinatra Drive, and Bob Hope Drive.

A part of California State Route 111 in Rancho Mirage is known as "Restaurant Row." It has over 30 places to eat, many of them at The River at Rancho Mirage, an outdoor shopping center. This area is also called Downtown Rancho Mirage. The city has more restaurants per person than any other city in the Coachella Valley.

Plants and Animals of Rancho Mirage

Desert Plants

The plants here are mostly cacti and shrubs. You'll see Creosote bush, Bur sage, Palo verde, and Brittle bush. The California fan palm is the only palm tree native to this area. It grows near water sources like Magnesia Spring Creek and the Whitewater River.

The Coachella Valley has over 1,000 types of wild plants. Many can survive long periods without much rain. Some local cacti, like the California barrel cactus, have edible fruits. Fruits and flowers from Yucca plants are also edible. However, some plants like Jimsonweed are poisonous.

Desert Animals

Rancho Mirage is home to over 20 types of mammals. You might see Gray foxes, Coyotes, Bobcats, and Desert Kit Foxes. Other animals include the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, and many types of rattlesnakes. The Sonoran Desert has more rattlesnake species than anywhere else. You might also spot Gila monsters, Chuckwallas, and Desert tortoises.

The city has chosen the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep as its official symbol. This sheep is an endangered species. In 2002, the city spent $1.2 million to build a 3.5-mile fence to protect the sheep from people and roads.

The Coachella Valley has recorded 450 types of vertebrates (animals with backbones). This includes 347 bird species, 58 mammal species, and 40 reptile species. The largest native mammal is the Bighorn sheep, which can weigh up to 200 pounds.

Rancho Mirage's Climate

Rancho Mirage has a hot desert climate. Summers are very hot and dry, often reaching 120 °F (49 °C). Winters are short and mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below 40 °F (4 °C). The city gets only about 3.5–5.5 inches (89–140 mm) of rain each year, mostly from winter storms.

The surrounding mountains influence the climate, making winters in Rancho Mirage some of the warmest in the western United States. The city gets over 350 days of sunshine a year.

People of Rancho Mirage

In 2010, Rancho Mirage had 17,218 people. Most residents were White (88.7%), with smaller percentages of African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 11.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The city had 8,829 households. About 11.7% of these had children under 18. Many households (34.6%) had only one person living in them, and 22.2% of those were people aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.94 people.

In 2010, 44% of the population was 65 or older, showing that Rancho Mirage has been a popular retirement spot since the 1950s.

Rancho Mirage's Economy

The River at Rancho Mirage

California State Route 111 in Rancho Mirage

The city council of Rancho Mirage approved a budget of $28.8 million for 2021–22. The city gets most of its money from sales and hotel taxes, which make up 51% of its yearly income. Hotel taxes alone provide 31% of the revenue. The biggest expense for the city is public safety, which takes up about 43% of the budget. This money mainly goes to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The River at Rancho Mirage is a popular outdoor place for fun, food, and shopping. It has many stores, restaurants, a movie theater, and an amphitheater. This area is known as Downtown Rancho Mirage.

Major Employers

Rancho Mirage has about 10,000 people working for 1,700 different businesses. Here are some of the top employers in the city:

Some notable hotels and resorts include The Ritz-Carlton, The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa, and the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa. The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage is a five-star resort with 244 rooms, a large spa, and three swimming pools.

The Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa has over 1,000 slot machines, gaming tables, and live entertainment. It also has bars, pools, and six restaurants. This $205 million resort has 340 rooms and is 16 stories tall.

The Desert Island Golf & Country Club has an 18-hole golf course designed by Desmond Muirhead. It has 226 condo units and a seven-story building on an island in the club's 25-acre artificial lake.

Fun Things to Do in Rancho Mirage

The Latsos Piano Duo performing at the Rancho Mirage Library

Arts and Culture Events

The annual Rancho Mirage Art Affaire is a two-day fine art and jazz festival. It happens every November in Rancho Mirage Community Park. This event features about 100 art and craft exhibits, food, jazz music, and wine tasting. It's the city's biggest community event, attracting 10,000 visitors each year.

The Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, built in 2016, offers free concerts throughout the year. It hosts the "Music in the Park" series and can seat up to 1,000 people.

The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert has interactive exhibits and programs about the local natural environment. Kids can explore exhibits, picnic areas, a rock-climbing area, and even an archaeological dig to search for Cahuilla artifacts.

The Rancho Mirage Library has 62,000 books and often hosts musical events, exhibits, and programs. It's known as one of the best libraries in California.

The botanical gardens at Sunnylands Center and Gardens have over 53,000 plants in 9 acres of desert gardens. These gardens opened in 2012 and have a 1.25-mile walking path with 70 types of desert plants. The gardens were inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s "Olive Trees" artwork.

Cool Buildings and History

The Kenaston House is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Casa Chiquita (Ranchito Chiquito) is the oldest house in Rancho Mirage.

The 1957 Kenaston House is a famous building known for its mid-century modern design. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Many celebrities have had photoshoots here.

Rancho Mirage has 72 buildings listed on its Register of Historic Places. These include homes once owned by celebrities like Kaye Ballard. The city's oldest house, the 1934 Casa Chiquita, was moved to Rancho Mirage Community Park in 2004. It's built with local rock from the Whitewater River.

Places to Visit

• Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory: A cultural center with five telescopes, including a 360-degree dome telescope. You can even borrow telescopes for home use!
• Sunnylands Center & Gardens: A historic estate offering tours and beautiful desert gardens.
• Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa: A large casino resort with live entertainment.
• Mission Hills Country Club: A famous golf club that hosts major tournaments.
• Thunderbird Country Club: The first golf resort built in a desert area.
• The River at Rancho Mirage: An outdoor shopping and dining center in Downtown Rancho Mirage.
• Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert: A museum with hands-on exhibits about the local environment.
• Tamarisk Country Club: Once a favorite spot for the famous "Rat Pack" group of entertainers.
• Kenaston House: A historic building with unique architecture.
• Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument: A large protected wilderness area perfect for exploring nature.

Sports in Rancho Mirage

Rancho Mirage is a big golf destination. The Tamarisk Country Club has hosted the Bob Hope Classic 19 times. The Thunderbird Country Club has hosted the Ryder Cup and the Desert Classic golf tournaments. The Mission Hills Country Club hosted the Davis Cup finals in 1978. It also hosts the Chevron Championship, a major women's professional golf tournament.

The Dinah Shore Golf Classic is held every March and attracts many visitors. It's part of the Kraft Nabisco Championship tournament at the Mission Hills Country Club.

Rancho Mirage has 12 or 13 golf courses and resorts. Some of the first were Thunderbird Guest Ranch and The S at Rancho Mirage.

Outdoor Fun and Nature

San Jacinto Mountains as seen near Wolfson Park

Rancho Mirage has some of the most popular hiking trails in the Coachella Valley. You can find trails like the Jack Rabbit Trail, Road Runner Trail, and Big Horn Overlook Trail near Rancho Mirage City Hall.

The Mirage Trail, also called the 'Bump and Grind', climbs the Santa Rosa Mountains. It offers amazing views of the Coachella Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, and the Salton Sea. This trail connects to other mountain trails like the Art Smith Trail.

The city works with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to improve desert trails. Rancho Mirage also has nature and wildlife reserves to protect animals like the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep.

There are six Cahuilla cultural sites within the city, including Bradley Canyon and Magnesia Spring. Parts of the city are also within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, a large wilderness area.

City Parks

Rancho Mirage has five public parks:

• Blixseth Mountain Park: A 7-acre desert park with trails and views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. It has displays about Bighorn sheep.
• Rancho Mirage Community Park: An 8.8-acre park with a fitness trail, picnic areas, a playground, and sports courts. The city's oldest house was moved here in 2004.
• Rancho Mirage Dog Park: A 4-acre park for dogs that opened in 2016.
• Richard & Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park: A park dedicated to cancer survivors, with sculptures, walkways, and a waterfall.
• Michael S. Wolfson Park: A 1.7-acre park with native plants, walking paths, and fountains. You can even hear a recorded message from Frank Sinatra here!

There's also Magnesia Falls Neighborhood Park, which is next to Rancho Mirage Elementary School. It has a playground, picnic areas, and ball fields.

Nature Reserves: Protecting Wildlife

Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve

The Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve is a 3,800-acre area set aside to protect nature. It's home to animals like the Peninsular bighorn sheep, Coyote, Bobcat, and Prairie falcon. This reserve helps protect the sheep's habitat and access to fresh water. Magnesia Spring Canyon is the only desert palm oasis in the city.

Hiking is allowed in parts of the reserve during certain times of the year. Trails like the Mirage Trail lead to waterfalls and oases. However, some trails are closed from January to September to protect the native Peninsular bighorn sheep.

Rancho Mirage Mountain Reserve

Rancho Mirage was the first city in the Coachella Valley to create a mountain reserve within its limits. The Rancho Mirage Mountain Reserve is about two square miles (5,182 acres). It was created to provide a safe home for the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. It has rocky terrain, canyons, and creeks in the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Education in Rancho Mirage

Rancho Mirage has one elementary school, Rancho Mirage Elementary, and one high school, Rancho Mirage High School. Both are part of the Palm Springs Unified School District. Nellie Coffman Middle School is also nearby, on the city line with Cathedral City.

Palm Valley School is the only private school in the city, serving students from preschool through 12th grade. Rancho Mirage also has a campus of Santa Barbara Business College, which offers college degrees and career training.

See also

In Spanish: Rancho Mirage para niños