By Adriana Chavira
The Desert Sun
April 26th, 2000
INDIO -- Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the desert for golf, hiking and tennis may soon be able to add waterskiing
to their list of things to do.
PGSI Development Co. of Palm Springs plans to build Indian Lakes Water Ski Resort, a 204-acre project that includes
three private water ski lakes surrounded by 71 upscale homes. A fourth lake will cater to guests at a 300-room
resort hotel and 150 timeshare casitas, or bungalows.
The Indio Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the Indian Lakes master plan during tonight’s meeting at
7 in the City Council Chamber, 100 Civic Center Drive.
"It would bring in 100,000 visitors (a year) doing things -- water sports -- that they don’t currently have
available," said Bob Roark, administrative coordinator of the Indian Lakes resort project. "In its first
year, it’s expected to produce a quarter of a million dollars in bed taxes to the city of Indio and $22 million
in additional purchases in the other cities."
Location:The development is planned at the northwest corner of Dillon Road and Avenue 46 along the All-American
Canal. Harrison Street will be improved to provide access to the hotel resort and casitas.
The 71 homes will be for sale on lots ranging in size from half an acre to 1 1/2 acres.
The Indian Lakes resort will be a year-round destination since tourists at the hotel and casitas will have swimming
pools and the recreational lake to cool off during the hot summer heat.
Eastern draw: "It would give us another resort destination," said Sherry Johnson, executive director
of the Indio Chamber of Commerce and Visitors and Information Center. "For many years Indio was overlooked
as a resort destination. ... It won’t be just the cities to the west."
There are other lake projects in the Coachella Valley.
In January, the water ski lake at ShadowLake Estates was christened. ShadowLake Estates is a 96-acre private housing
development to the north end of Jackson Street. It has 42 lakeside lots and six hillside homes overlooking the
46-acre man-made lake.
The Ponds, a windsurfing park in Palm Springs, is on hold for now until it gets a water supply from the Metropolitan
Water District.
The Palm Springs City Council has already approved the windsurfing park, which could open in spring 2001 or 2002,
depending on when the water supply is available.
Indian Lakes developers are negotiating with the Coachella Valley Water District for the water supply, Roark said.
Adriana Chavira covers Indio and La Quinta for The Desert Sun.
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