Cathedral City

 

It was named after "Cathedral Canyon" located at the southern part of the town. The name was given by Colonel Henry Washington in 1850 as a result of its rock formations which were suggestive of a cathedral. In 1925, the city began as a housing subdivision but was not integrated until 1981. In just 20 years, the city has tremendously expanded.

Cathedral City is popularly referred to as "Cat City" by its residents. Historians in fact claim that Cathedral City got its reputation as a slinger gaming gulch in the late 19th century and a safe haven for bars or saloons during prohibition of the 1920s. Popular actress, Suzanne Somers had her teenage years here. Today, she has made Palm Desert very close by her second home. Cathedral City is also a winter residence for actors Robert Duvall and Martin Landau in the 1960s, and TV show host Monty Hall in the 1990s. The city has indeed birthed many stars. One of such is Timothy Bradley, the former WBO welterweight champion who hails from Cathedral City and in fact graduated from Cathedral City High School. It is also home to Frank Sinatra's grave as well as other notable individuals like actor William Powell and singer-songwriter Sonny Bono, former mayor of Palm Springs.Their graves are all located Desert Memorial Park cemetery in Cathedral City. Chicano folk musician Lalo Guerrero in fact spent his final years in Cathedral City.

 

Cathedral city has a date Palm Country Club and golf course which was designed in 1967 by Ted Robinson, ASCCA. The facility was designed to suit an 18-hole "executive style". It in fact span across 3,100 yards (2,800 m) of golf from the longest tees for a par of 58. The course rating is 54.9/57.2 with a slope rating of 90/93. It enjoys the beautiful landscape of Bermuda Greens as well as lakes and sand traps. The 175 yard 8th hole is the most significant tee with a precise tee shot over a lake.

 

For many years, it was the venue of the Phil Harris Golf Classic. This was particularly from 1940s to his death in 1994. Cathedral city was initially built as part of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, today it has become a special retirement community manufactured homes lines the greens.

 

Cathedral City is also home to the Big League Dreams Sports Park softball complex which is on the corner of Date Palm and Dinah Shore drives. The complex has four softball fields designed to look exactly like four major league ballparks. Since 1998, the Pepsi All-Star Softball Game has been held there. One of its latest sports facility is the Cathedral City Soccer Park.

 

There are 9 major parks in Cathedral City namely:

 

Local golf resorts are of course not left out of its notable sites. The golf resorts in Cathedral City include Lawrence Welk's Desert Oasis Hotel/resort located in the Cathedral Canyon Country Club, the Date Palm Country Club, Outdoor Resort – Palm Springs, Cimarron Golf Resort, and the Doral Desert Princess Resort and Golf Club.