Rancho Mirage stretches from the hills and coves along Highway 111 to Interstate 10. The Whitewater Channel divides the city in two. Rancho Mirage’s story starts with gold miners heading from the north to La Paz, Ariz. to chase news of a gold strike there in the late 1870’s. As more people discovered the beautiful desert location and rich soil, settlers came and planted citrus and date groves, some of which survive today.

Hollywood Legends and the Thunderbird Club

The spot has long attracted celebrities—Greta Garbo used to visit her friends, the Clancy’s (Clancy Lane is now a major street in the city.) One of the first and most prestigious country clubs and golf courses in the Valley, Thunderbird Country Club, is in Rancho Mirage. Hollywood greats like Phil Harris, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez all built homes in the Club. The Ford Thunderbird car borrowed its name to capitalize on the club’s reputation for opulence, luxury and celebrity.

Playground of Presidents

Rancho Mirage is known as Country Club City because of the Tamarisk Country Club—where Frank Sinatra had a home—and several other magnificent clubs such as the Mission Hills and Desert Isle. Presidents from Truman and Eisenhower to Gerald Ford lived at times in Rancho Mirage, earning it the nickname the Playground of Presidents. Walter Annenberg’s 240 acre estate, Sunnylands is in Rancho Mirage and was declared an “Historic Site” by the city of Rancho Mirage in 1990.

Bob Hope and Eisenhower Hospital

Rancho Mirage is home to Eisenhower Memorial Hospital, the Valley’s only non-profit hospital. The 313 bed hospital was founded and supported thanks to benefactors such as Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament. Bob and Dolores Hope donated the original 80 acres of land for construction of the hospital, named after their good friend and ex-president who loved to play golf in Rancho Mirage. The world famous golf tournament still bears Bob Hope’s name and still uses several golf courses in Rancho Mirage, including the Mission Hills and the Tamarisk.The hospital has expanded to 130 acres thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters whose names appear on the world class facilities that occupy the hospital’s campus such as the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, and the Betty Ford Center.

Restaurant Row

Rancho Mirage is famed today for its Restaurant Row, which starts on Highway 111 at the border with Cathedral City. Two valley restaurant icons–Las Casuelas Nuevas and Lord Fletchers– are in this area. There are restaurants and boutiques up and down both sides of Highway 111 throughout the Rancho Mirage city limits.

A River Runs Through It

Further down and bordering the city of Palm Desert is The River at Rancho Mirage, a beautiful open air shopping center with restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, Yard House and P.F. Changs and a movie theater. The River really has a river running through it—human-made, but a good size stream with ponds and pool for visitors to stroll along or sit by while dining nearby. There are numerous boutiques and specialty shops including a wine tasting room at the Tulip Hill Winery.

More Shopping and Entertainment Fun

The Rancho Mirage city center is nestled up against the coves along Highway 111, but with the building of bridges across the Whitewater Channel, the city now is home to more shops and entertainment at the other end of town next to Interstate 10 along Dinah Shore. It boasts a Costco, the Regal Rancho Mirage Movie Theater and numerous restaurants such as Red Robin and the International House of Pancakes.