Commercial Property Management in Indio, CA

Indio, CA (April 18, 2025) – Emergency responders from Indio were dispatched early Friday morning following a serious crash involving a semi-truck that overturned and caught fire on westbound Interstate 10, just west of Washington St near mile marker 49.

According to California Highway Patrol reports, the collision occurred around 2:53 a.m. when a blue semi-truck overturned across the #2 and #3 lanes of the freeway. Witnesses reported that the truck briefly caught fire after the crash, prompting an urgent response from CAL FIRE and other emergency services. Two of the westbound lanes were immediately blocked due to the wreckage and fire hazard.

Emergency medical services, including AMR, responded to the scene. At least one individual was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment following the crash. Initial injury details were not specified, but the incident was classified as serious and involved medical response (1141).

Tow crews from Mohica Towing and Plaza Towing were called to assist with the recovery operation. The overturned semi-truck required significant cleanup efforts, leading to a SigAlert for lanes #2 and #3 for over two hours. Traffic was heavily backed up past the Monroe St exit, and Caltrans crews were dispatched to manage detours and signage.

Crews also reported damage to approximately 30 feet of guardrail in the center divide, and traffic continued using the shoulder to navigate around the scene until lane restrictions were lifted. Recovery efforts were ongoing well into the morning, with full clearance reported shortly after 8:00 a.m.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, and further updates on the condition of the involved driver have not been released.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this frightening incident as recovery and investigations continue.

Truck Accidents in California

Commercial truck accidents pose a serious safety risk on California’s highways, particularly in high-traffic corridors such as Interstate 10 near Indio. These collisions often result in significant disruption and can lead to injuries that range from mild to life-threatening, especially when a vehicle overturns or catches fire, as seen in today’s crash.

Semi-trucks are among the largest vehicles on the road, and when involved in a collision, the size and weight make control and containment extremely difficult. In this case, the blockage of two lanes during early commute hours created a hazardous situation for other drivers and responders alike. The fire hazard further complicated the scene, requiring a coordinated effort from CAL FIRE and traffic engineers to safely manage the area.

Truck drivers face long hours, heavy cargo, and tight schedules, all of which contribute to fatigue and mechanical strain, common risk factors in accidents involving large rigs. Interstate 10 through Riverside County is a known freight corridor, and incidents like this reinforce the need for heightened safety awareness and infrastructure readiness.

Recovery and cleanup from truck crashes are also more resource-intensive, requiring specialized towing equipment and extensive lane closures. Drivers who encounter such scenes are advised to remain alert and follow detour instructions to ensure responder safety.

For those injured in semi-truck crashes, navigating medical recovery, insurance claims, and potential legal action can be overwhelming. It's crucial to have access to professionals who can offer guidance and support.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident on a California highway, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. Local Accident Reports is here to connect you with the right resources—whether it’s legal guidance, medical care, or recovery planning. Contact Local Accident Reports today and let us help you move forward with confidence.

Those heading to Coachella this weekend won’t have to wait until Lady Gaga hits the stage to see some serious heat.

What's the Indio weather forecast?

A National Weather Service meteorologist said the high temperature is expected to be just over 100 degrees on Friday, when the first weekend of the three-day long festival kicks off.

However, conditions will then start to improve from there with the high dropping into the mid-90s on Saturday and then likely into the low 90s on Sunday.

Still, even Sunday’s comparatively cooler temperatures will still be well above the average high for April, which meteorologist Paul Steward said is 88 degrees.

In fact, it’s possible that festivalgoers could even see some local temperature records set during the festival. The record highs for April 11, 12 and 13 are 101, 103 and 101 degrees respectively, according to Weather Underground historical data. That means that the April 11 record appears to be in play.

The good news for attendees, however, is that temperatures will cool down significantly at night, with the low expected to be in the upper 60s on Friday and the low to mid 60s on Sunday.

Stay hydrated while on the Empire Polo Club grounds

Still, Steward said it will be important for people to be prepared to stay hydrated and find ways to cool off, particularly if they are arriving in time to see the early acts or camping at the festival.

The gates for Coachella now open at 1 p.m. with the earliest performers taking the stage around that time. The popularity and name recognition of the performers generally gets bigger as the day goes on with this year’s headliners all taking the stage between 9 p.m. and midnight over the course of the three days.

Crowds at Coachella are typically thin for the first few hours before a rush of people arrives at around 4 or 5 p.m. meaning that many festgoers will likely miss the hottest parts of each day. However, the last-minute addition of a set by big name rock band Weezer at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday could bring more people to the festival earlier that day.

Steward said the heat will be the result of a strong area of high pressure that will be in place over the desert and fueling the hot temperatures.

Of course, Coachella veterans likely know that wind can often be just as big of a threat to good times as heat at the famous desert festival. Thankfully, winds are expected to be light Friday and calm further throughout the weekend, suggesting that wind and resulting dust should not be a major issue during weekend one.

While it is too early for the National Weather Service to issue a forecast for weekend 2 of the festival, the agency’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a 60 to 70% chance of above average temperatures in the Coachella Valley and much of Southern California over the next 8 to 14 days.

Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.

The desert city of Indio features festivals, museums, and a lively downtown.

Located in the Coachella Valley about 125 miles east of Los Angeles, Indio has been nicknamed the “City of Festivals” for the many events held there. The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts and Stagecoach Festivals are perhaps the best known, but a number of other celebrations fill Indio’s annual calendar. "Indio is a vibrant City where culture, community, art, and music come together, offering something new to discover year-round," Indio’s Mayor, Glenn A. Miller, told Travel + Leisure.

Indio is surrounded by the San Bernardino, Santa Rosa, and San Jacinto Mountain ranges, offering gorgeous views, hiking trails, and outdoor recreation. The area’s desert climate means warm winters, hot summers, and nearly 350 days of sunshine a year. As a major agricultural center as well as a tourist destination, Indio’s farms and orchards produce cotton, grapes, onions, citrus, and dates.

We’ve rounded up some of the best reasons to plan a trip to Indio or to add a few days to your festival visit to get to know this thriving city.

Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

Each April brings at least 250,000 visitors from around the world to the Empire Polo Club for the two-weekend festival. Top names and upcoming musical performers, an array of visual arts, dance competitions, games, craft activities, shops, food, and drink make Indio the place to be in April.

Stagecoach Festival

This three-day country music event at Empire Polo Club follows the Coachella Festival each April, celebrating music and culture with the best of country, bluegrass, folk, alternative country performances. Line dancing lessons, honky tonk music, barbeque, craft beer, and ferris wheel rides add to the entertainment.

The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival

This two-week festival is held each year starting in mid-February at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio. Events include rodeo performances, carnival rides, concerts, circus acts, monster truck shows, a Presidents’ Day Parade, livestock exhibitions, petting zoo, displays of dates from local growers, and more.

The County Fair began in 1921, and the event includes the National Date Festival highlighting the area’s agricultural significance, especially date cultivation and the celebration of the region’s Middle Eastern cultural influences. More than 15 types of dates are grown in the area.

The Indio International Tamale Festival

This annual festival is held each December in downtown Indio’s Miles Avenue Park. Open to the public, the free event is popular with families who enjoy delicious food, entertainment by local musicians, traditional Mexican dancers, luchadores (wrestlers), magicians, games, a tamale eating contest, and an ice skating rink.

Tamales, especially popular during the Christmas holidays, are bundles of corn masa stuffed with savory or sweet fillings and wrapped in a corn husk. A traditional Mexican comfort food, they are available to eat at the festival or to purchase and take home to enjoy during the season.

Shields Date Garden

Known for its high quality dates, charming café, mail order business, and delicious date shakes, Shields Date Garden opened in 1924. The Indio store offers a variety of dates, many developed by Shields experts, as well as date products like cakes, cookies, and candies. These date shakes are deliciously creamy concoctions made of milk or ice cream and blended with date crystals invented by Shield’s Date Garden.

Their film, “The Romance and Sex Life of the Date,” not as titillating as the title suggests, but quite educational, describes the labor-intensive process of date cultivation on tall palm trees. Begun as a lecture for visitors, the film evolved into a slideshow and now to a film presented in a small theater at Shields Date Garden.

Southwest Arts Festival

This acclaimed art festival is held each January at Indio’s Empire Polo Club. Featuring contemporary, traditional, and abstract art, as well as quality crafts, the event attracts more than 10,000 visitors durings its four-day run. Artists from around the world showcase their paintings, sculptures, photographs, glasswork, ceramics, and digital art.

In the Polo Club’s beautiful setting among mountains and desert, more than 200 artists participate. Food and beverage stands, places to relax in the shade and listen to music, and opportunities to watch the artists at work attract visitors who enjoy the atmosphere along with the art.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino

More than a resort, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino offers a wide range of entertainment, from the best cover bands playing all-time favorites in the Rock Yard to big name entertainers in the Special Events Center. Professional boxing, iconic Mexican Lucha Libre, Latin dance music, the Price is Right Stage show, and Thursday night rock shows attract guests year-round.

There’s also bowling, casino gaming, golf at Indio’s Eagle Falls Golf Course, four bars, and restaurants from fine dining to casual. Resort guests have the hotel pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center, and concierge service.

Cabazon Indio Powwow

This annual celebration is hosted by the Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians to honor their culture and traditions. Held at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the free event offers visitors an immersive experience. Dance competitions for all ages showcase diverse styles and colorful regalia, and drumming groups compete, demonstrating the rhythms central to traditional ceremonies.

Bird songs of the Cahuilla culture are performed, and traditional foods such as fry bread are available. Artisans offer jewelry, weaving, dream catchers, and other crafts, and visitors are invited to join dancers during non-competitive dances for an opportunity to engage with the cultural heritage of the Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians and other tribes.

Empire Polo Club

This 1,000-acre events venue was founded in 1987 for international polo tournaments. The polo season typically begins in December and ends in late March, with a variety of leagues, events, and tournaments, including women, juniors, and international players. Polo is an exciting game to watch, and tailgating, clubhouse seating, and private cabanas make it enjoyable for spectators. A time-honored tradition is the “divot stomp” where spectators may walk on the field during halftime to repair the divots made during play.

Coachella Valley History Museum

Historic buildings, annual events, a permanent collection, and special exhibitions offer a wide variety of educational and entertaining opportunities at Indio’s Coachella Valley History Museum. Its mission to preserve, interpret, and share artifacts about the history of the Coachella Valley is supported by a rich variety of exhibits and experiences. Free monthly admission days and Sunday storytimes encourage locals to take advantage of all the museum offers.

In the Smiley-Tyler House, once a personal residence, visitors can see a 1930s and 1940s kitchen, an eclectic collection of Mexican folk art, costumes, and textiles, and other exhibits. In the California Date History Museum, the exhibit covers the history of the date palm, the world’s oldest cultivated crop, from its origins in the Middle East to its introduction to the Coachella Valley. There’s a 1909 schoolhouse, a Japanese memorial garden, and a display of vintage farm tools.

Indio Performing Arts Center

Located in the heart of downtown, the Indio Performing Arts Center (IPAC) promotes arts and entertainment for the community, with theater, music, motion pictures, and other artistic mediums. Since Desert Theatreworks began performances at IPAAC in 2017, they have staged 45 productions, 25 special events, and have received numerous accolades and awards, attracting nearly 1,000 subscribers.

Desert Theatreworks also runs KidsWorks to inspire love of the performing arts for youth with summer, spring break, and after school programs, focusing on teamwork, creativity, and self-expression as well as performance skills. ArtsWorks is a specialized program for senior performers, inspiring creative expression, social connection, and personal growth through a variety of activities.

The Lights at Indio Golf Course

You can play golf until 10 p.m. among mountain views and balmy summer evenings at the only night-lighted golf course in the Coachella Valley. Indio Golf Course is one of the longest par-three golf courses in the country, with holes from 100 to 240 yards. With their full length driving range and short game practice area, you can tune up your game, and the fully stocked golf shop has whatever you need for a fun day or night of golf.

Indio Golf Course also features FootGolf, an 18-hole combination of soccer and golf, using soccer balls with similar rules to traditional golf. The course is designed to allow both traditional golf and FootGolf to be played simultaneously, and players of both games can either walk the course or use a golf cart. Snacks, beverages, beer, and wine are available.

Explore Downtown Indio

“There’s always something happening in Downtown Indio with new restaurants, bars, retail, and the brand-new Center Stage,” Miller told T+L.

Locals and visitors gather at the Saturday Farmers Market (Saturdays from October to May), join the crowd on Food Truck Fridays (5 to 10 p.m. weekly), and enjoy free live concerts at Center State on Second Saturdays. There’s free popcorn on monthly movie nights for outdoor family fun, and the first event included a classic car show. Touring Indio to see the public art, from murals on walls and in alleys to sculptures in parks, is a great way to get to know the city.

In 2021, Indio native Ejay Gomez had a dream that he was walking through a bustling town full of thriving businesses. Kids were playing, dogs were barking and all the storefronts were full.

“I thought it was like downtown Pasadena or something,” said Gomez, who had opened Indio’s first cafe, Everbloom Coffee, with his business partner, Matthew Ortega, just a few months before. “It was a communal space where people were hanging out in a ‘live, eat, work’ kind of place.”

Planning your weekend?

Stay up to date on the best things to do, see and eat in L.A.

In the dream, Gomez asked God where he was. God told him, he said, that this was the future of what was then a largely deserted stretch of downtown Indio, just a block away from where Gomez grew up.

“He said, ‘If you steward this well, I will make this place prosperous,’” Gomez said. “It was such a real dream that it became a core conviction.”

Gomez’s vision may not have come fully to fruition just yet, but with a host of new businesses opening in the past year and several more on the way, it no longer feels so far-fetched.

“It’s like Silver Lake before it became Silver Lake,” Gomez said, sitting outside his bright coffee shop — a favorite with visiting celebrities, influencers and local moms — on a recent afternoon. “We’re just on the precipice of something great.”

Hundreds of thousands of people descend on Indio each year for Goldenvoice’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach, but few venture beyond the festival grounds. In the past, there wasn’t much to do in the desert city besides grab chips and a decadent Tamale Boat from Arriola’s Tortilleria or shop at Yellow Mart for western wear or a crossbow. Now, that’s all changing. Thanks in part to a business-friendly city government that is investing in art and infrastructure, downtown Indio is growing at an unprecedented pace.

New restaurants like Marcel Ramirez’s Gabino’s Creperie East, Roman Whittaker and Skip Paige’s popular gastropub Indio Taphouse and elevated Italian speakeasy Italica are drawing more people to and around the single-street strip than have been there in decades. Thrifters can shop for vintage goods at Daniel Mata’s Urban Donkey, and those looking for an alternative nightlife scene can check out Adrian Romero’s Rosemary HiFi to sip beer and natural wines while listening to records on high-end stereo equipment. Visitors and locals attending free outdoor concerts and films at the city-sponsored Center Stage — a recently built outdoor theater — line up for smashburgers and loaded fries from local vendor Papa Headz, who gives out free burgers to kids on family movie nights.

And there’s more on the way. On a recent tour of the classic downtown area dotted with freshly painted murals, Indio Economic Development Director Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo pointed out the locations where new businesses soon will be arriving. They include an art gallery, a music studio, a beer and pizza place, an ice cream parlor that also will serve grilled cheese, a restaurant from the Michelin-starred chef behind Palm Springs’ Bar Cecil and the second location of Gomez’s Everbloom Coffee, which will serve as the company’s flagship.

“We’re just at the beginning stages,” Ramirez-Cornejo said. “We’ve got so much to do. So much to grow.”

About This Guide

Our journalists independently visited every spot recommended in this guide. We do not accept free meals or experiences. What should we check out next? Send ideas to guides@latimes.com.

Gomez has been doing his part. Determined to realize the bustling downtown Indio of his dream, he seeks out local business owners, offers whatever help they may need, ensures they are connected to other businesses for support and recruits friends and entrepreneurs to the area.

“The friendships are very unique here,” he said. “We’re each other’s council. It’s a whole ecosystem and it’s very beautiful.”

Indio may still be in the early stages of its transformation, but a visit here is already well worth your time. If you’re going to be in town for the festival or you happen to live nearby, here’s a list of seven cool businesses to check out now.

Two Desert Sands Unified School District middle schools were recently named to the 2025 California Schools to Watch List for demonstrating academic excellence and equipping teachers with the necessary tools to support student success.

Also in this week's education roundup: Rancho Mirage High School dedicated a bust and plaque to honor Jerry Argovitz; College of the Desert's Roadrunner Radio won three national broadcasting awards in New York City; and COD's College Corps paid fellowship program is now accepting applications for 59 students to reduce their debt through public service.

Did we miss a noteworthy education story? Raise your hand and send it my way: jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.

Two Indio middle schools from Desert Sands Unified School District are among 2025 Schools to Watch in California

Indio Middle and John Glenn Middle schools at Desert Sands Unified School District have re-earned a spot on the 2025 California Schools to Watch list by demonstrating academic excellence, advancing social equity, meeting young adolescents' needs and cultivating a collaborative leadership.

California Schools to Watch is a statewide program by the California League of Middle Schools, California Department of Education, California Middle Grades Alliance, National Forum and the California Schools to Watch model schools.

Statewide, 46 middle schools received recognition from the program and 44 others re-applied, showing continued progress, for a total of 90 California Schools to Watch. Schools must complete an extensive application and host a site visit by a middle grades expert to become a School to Watch. To retain this designation, each school undergoes reevaluation every three years.

IMS first earned a spot on the list in 2018 and received re-designation in 2025. JGMS originally received designation in 2004 and has been re-designated seven times from 2007 to 2025.

In a statement to The Desert Sun, IMS' principal, who took the helm this school year, said that the recognition showcases the commitment of the staff, students and community to the school's success.

"Through our 'Every Tiger, Every Day' mantra, we ensure that each student is supported, challenged, and inspired to succeed. Our teachers and staff create engaging learning experiences, our students demonstrate resilience and leadership, and our families and community provide unwavering support," Robert Cullinan, who goes by Cully, said. "This honor is a testament to our collective commitment to academic growth, innovation, and student well-being."

At the March 18 board meeting, board members Beto Alvarez and Kailee Watson took a moment to recognize IMS for its recognition.

"I want to thank Indio Middle School because you, this year, are a completely different school. This is a 180-degree difference," Watson, the board president, said, attributing the change to Cullinan and Assistant Principal James Adkins.

Most recently, Palm Desert Charter, James Workman and Nellie Coffman middle schools received their first California Schools to Watch designation in 2023.

Jerry Argovitz’s legacy celebrated at Rancho Mirage High School with bust and plaque unveiling

Rancho Mirage High School recently honored the late Jerry Argovitz, founder of the Jerry Argovitz Sports Institute, with a dedication ceremony for a bust and plaque.

Argovitz, a former NFL agent and team owner, established JASI in 2015 with a $1 million endowment. The institute guides student-athletes by offering a curriculum that emphasizes balancing academics and athletics — fostering leadership and exploring career opportunities in sports. He personally mentored students until his death in May 2024, instilling values like integrity, responsibility and teamwork.

The program, which meets weekly at RMHS, has expanded to Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs high schools, continuing to impact the local community.

In 2016, RMHS hosted a small gathering to dedicate its football stadium to Argovitz, who gave $1 million to the school. His wife, Loni, also donated $250,000 to fund the Coachella Valley's first video scoreboard.

College of the Desert's Roadrunner Radio wins three national broadcasting awards in New York City

College of the Desert's award-winning online radio station, Roadrunner Radio, earned three Gold Mic Awards, continuing its streak of excellence for another year. The prestigious honors were announced on March 8 at the 2025 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference in New York City.

“I am not surprised. These students come to us eager and ready to learn, dedicating hours to perfecting their skills and creating relevant content for the station," said COD Roadrunner Radio Manager Scott Colwell, in a press release. "Their hard work has been rewarded; they truly deserve this honor.”

The categories for which COD Roadrunner Radio was nominated include, with asterisks indicating first place:

Since 2013, COD's media students have consistently excelled at the IBS Awards, winning multiple Golden Mic Awards and earning numerous nominations for Best Community College Radio Station over the past decade. The station serves as a training ground, offering hands-on experience in broadcasting and production.

Program Spotlight: College of the Desert is recruiting for its fourth College Corps cohort fellowship

College of the Desert is accepting applications for the 2025-26 College Corps fellowship, offering 59 students an opportunity to reduce college debt through public service.

Launched in the 2022-23 school year, the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps is a statewide, paid service program that provides meaningful work to college students in exchange for serving their community through partnerships with select community colleges and four-year public and private universities.

The fellows tackle one of the state's biggest issues — food insecurity — through a yearlong service in partnership with FIND Food Bank.

For their 450 hours of work and training, the College Corps Fellows will receive up to $10,000, a combination of a monthly living stipend and scholarship. Students who are offered a seat will start as early as Aug. 1.

For more information: Visit collegeofthedesert.edu.

Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.