Located in the California desert about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, lies Indian Wells a modern oasis in the California desert.
As early as 1823, the name "Indian Wells" was documented in the expedition diaries of Captain Jose Romero, who had been sent to find a route through the San Gorgonio pass to Tucson.
What Captain Romero found in what is now modern day Indian Wells, was a sleepy little native American village.
When gold was discovered on the Colorado River about a decade later, all this would change.
Early desert pioneer, William D.
Bradshaw, built a trail from Los Angeles through the desert that was used to transport west coast prospectors to their potential fortune.
As a result of the discovery of gold, Indian Wells became an important stop along the trail to riches and fortune.
In order to accommodate the increasing traffic through the desert, the County of Riverside built what became known as the "County Well" to ensure that travelers through the desert had something to drink.
Not long thereafter the Army engineers began to study the feasibility of irrigating the Imperial Valley by diverting water from the Colorado River.
Despite the risks and extreme weather travelers passing began settling the area.
Dan's Market along with the first post office were opened and the city's residential future was cast.
By 1922 there was no section of the Coachella Valley that was not undergoing a more rapid and substantial improvement than Indian Wells.
Shortly after the first golf course was built in Palm Springs, the boom was on and by the mid-to-late 50's the Eldorado Country Club and Golf Course began development and the Indian Wells Country Club and Golf Course appeared.
One of the earliest Hollywood celebrities to make his home there were Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz who opened their Indian Wells Hotel.
Three short years later Arnold Palmer won the first Bob Hope Desert Classic a PGA tour event that is still one of the top annual desert events.
The early Bob Hope golf event was filled with friends of Mr.
Hope including such stars as Frankie Avalon, Ray Bolger, Kirk Douglas, James Garner, Harry James, Zeppo Marx, and President Eisenhower.
This signature event created a unique identity for Indian Wells as a golf capital.
In 1965, the city of Palm Desert attempted to annex Indian Wells and what is now known as Rancho Mirage.
But before the Palm Desert group could file its incorporation papers, Citizens for Incorporation for Indian Wells filed their own petition.
In 1967 an election was held and with a 93% vote in favor of incorporation, the city of Indian Wells came into being becoming California's 400th city and the 16th in Riverside County.
In 1978 as a result of the passage of California proposition 13 restricting state - wide property tax assessments, civic leaders were faced with a dismal future.
In searching for alternative ways to fund the city's operation, financial consultants suggested the city become a destination location featuring premium destination resorts.
What followed was a series of golf developments and resorts, including two 18-hole Ted Robinson-designed golf courses built at The Golf Resort at Indian Wells.
Along with the golf signature properties like the Hyatt Grand Champions, Miramonte and Renaissance Esmeralda sprung up catering to an upscale clientele.
In 1996, Palm Springs Life noted Indian Wells residents "are among the most affluent people in the nation.
Abhorring glitz or flamboyance, they have created a city government in their own image-one of quiet efficiency and responsible management.
" In addition to luxury resorts and state - of - the - art golf facilities, today the city is the site of the BNP Paribas Open one of the top five tennis events in the world featuring the top players of the day making it a true oasis in the desert.