Wow - this place is cool! We came to meet local friends for breakfast - which was excellent. After breakfast, we walked the gardens. They're amazing. It was still late winter (March), so things were very lush yet, though still worth touring. The gardens are part trees, plants, shrubs flowers and Christian religious artifacts and settings. We took about 20 to 30 minutes to walk through the gardens but one could take up to an hour, taking in everything, reading all the plaques and taking pictures of it all. We loved the gardens and recommend it to anyone. read more

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Had a really nice experience at Shield Date Garden. Such a unique and relaxing spot feels like a hidden gem in the desert. The grounds are beautiful, full of palm trees and that classic date garden vibe. The dates were incredibly fresh and flavorful, and you can really taste the quality. Definitely a must-try if you've never had fresh dates before. Staff was welcoming and happy to answer questions, which made the visit even better. It's a great place to stop by, walk around, and pick up something special. Overall, a peaceful, authentic experience highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

If you're into dates, they have it all over here at Shields Date Garden. The Shields Date Garden felt like a shop and museum in one; providing insightful info on all sorts of dates that I didn't know existed, as well as serving up their infamous Date shakes, and selling assorted gift boxes like they are chocolates! My impression of the date shake was it felt like I was drinking a vanilla milkshake with 150% sugar level. It was excruciatingly sweet, but I do love the taste of dates. I wish there was a way to adjust the levels of sweetness, but at least it was a natural sweetener. I did spend a good amount of time in the store browsing and reading all the info cards about dates. They sell other food items too and not just dates, although I've never heard of anything else being outstanding. It was too hot to enjoy the smoothie on the patio so it was a takeout situation, but this place is a great stop in Indio to take some natural goodies home. read more

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Wait a minute, don't you hear me, baby? (Don't you hear) It's gonna be alright, we don't have to fight (we don't have to fight)... 5/5 Service Quick service, picked up an assorted date clamshell and a shake. The shake was poured and ready to go, I was very surprised when they handed it as soon as I mentioned date shake. 4/5 Parking Parking was full up front. They have overflow parking under the palm trees off to the left of Shields.so as long as your ride isn't shiny you'll be alright. 4/5 Shake Very tasty shake, inspired me to make my own at home. It was very thick and had to wait a minute for it to melt. I used a spoon at first but can't do that while driving. Made with ice cream and date crystals (I use full dates in mine) FYI, Tourist trap beware. Didn't know until I saw the receipt for almost $20 for my date shake. Wait a minute what?? Yes I had to do a double take on my receipt. They have a place to sit and eat outside but didn't have time to check it out. I hear there are other date shake options but wanted to at least check this place out. Psalm 25:6, God bless read more

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Definitely a wild place - really great breakfast spot with some interesting gift shop options and gardens. The date shake didn't quite do it for us, but wasn't bad by any means. The date pancakes, however, were amazing. Really wonderful, will be thinking about those for a while. The gardens were hot with little shade, but very pretty. Would come back for sure! read more

Shields Date Garden - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

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This is a must stop when you're in the Palm Springs area! They have the best date shakes and there's a lot of to do here. They have a store, restaurant, theater and Gardens behind the store. Today it was just a quick stop for a shake only. The theatre is cute and features a movie all about dates. I have never eaten at the restaurant however, its always packed. The gardens are relaxing and a nice walk while sipping on that delicious shake. read more

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Service, entertainment, atmosphere, shopping, and the beautiful garden with Jesus Christ life. Food is good tasty not anything spectacular but it's decent and well priced.. I ordered the fish tacos which are fried and unfortunately no option for grilled, but they were good.. my mom had the Machaca, no option for chicken though. It was Easter Sunday and the perfect day to go to shields their garden the life of . Jesus Christ is beautiful. It was packed and the service team did an outstanding job. The weight was for an hour, but it didn't seem like that because we did some shopping in their cute little store., walked around the garden and sat under a tree overlooking the water. read more

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SHORT ANSWER: Yes, this review is just for the Ice Cream and gift shop portion of Shields... Yes, there is a restaurant which is great. LOCATION: Easy to find of the 111 just past Jefferson Street. Lots of parking but also lots of visitors in season so plan on a parking lot rodeo if you arrive at a busy time. FACILITY: Very nice, a little dated but that is the idea, patina is always good thing. You may end up standing in line so set your expectations correctly, this is a popular place. MENU: Pretty much famous for date shakes but I enjoy the root beer float on warm days when I am skinny. FOOD PREP: Just about everything that comes out of there is top notch. I have never seen anyone upset or dissatisfied with their order. FOOD QUALITY: Excellent, shakes and floats are consistent. For sure they have other stuff but when we bring guests it is usually for a shake. WAITSTAFF: Counter people are always, and I mean always happy and hard working cranking out ice cream. OVERALL VALUE: For the experience it is a bargain, enjoy. TIP: If you eating a late breakfast or lunch leave some room for dessert. Have someone go order shakes to go for the ride home. You can order from your table but where is the fun in that? read more

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Cute little shop and the staff is very helpful. They have a cafe and garden, but we didn't check those out. We went to grab some dates and they have a wide selection. The price is pretty high but it's understandable considering it's a speciality store and they are known for that specific product. Overall a good place to stop by. There's not much else to do though, but it is a great place to check out. They also have a date shake counter where you can try the Coachella Valleys local speciality drink. read more

A nostalgic experience to the 50's -- Shields won me over. * A shop-til-you-drop store with a million thing, not just dates, but with all kinds of jar items, spices, and gifts. * A shake and ice cream bar * A restaurant with a lovely setting * Huge grounds with walking trails (free) * A small old-time theatre showing on a loop, "romance & sex life of the date" Cheesy, maybe. Touristy, yes. Free date tasting, no, not since the pandemic. Randy, yes, got two date gift boxes. read more

Breeze through the gift shop before heading to the Café at Shields. So many things to choose from you're bound to walk out with a new treasure. Then at the Café you'll find a selection of flavorful items from a California cuisine menu ~ gluten free, vegetarian, and date incorporated menu dishes. Remember, it's all about the date! The café is only open until two, so don't hesitate to stop by for brunch! Top it off with a date shake! Trust me, you won't regret your visit. read more

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Beautiful location! Lots of parking with so many palm trees. Went in the morning and there were so many people here. Got the date shake not my favorite shake but kind of too sweet for me but you should try it. It was a nice walk outside in the back by the lake. Service was friendly and I appreciate how clean it was. Restroom is in the back by the lake read more

Shields Date Garden - Outside sign - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

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Definitely worth a visit. I just learned that many of the dates I've been enjoying actually come from the Indio area--I had no idea there were so many date farms here! We arrived at Shields Date Garden close to closing time but were still able to walk through the garden. It was fascinating--not only because of the beautiful nature, but also the biblical scenes throughout the grounds. Seeing the Golgotha crosses, the rolling stone tomb, and other displays added a meaningful and unique touch to the visit. There's also a charming shop with a very vintage feel. We sampled several types of dates, and there were so many varieties to choose from. My favorite was the Black Beauty--sweet, slightly chocolatey, and firm without being too soft. A lovely, unexpected stop that blends history, faith, and great local flavors. read more

A fun place to visit! There is an interesting movie to watch that gives you the history of Shields dates and the different types of dates. Who knew there were so many varieties! The date shake is soooooo good...tastes like a vanilla caramel shake. A walk thru the gardens is a must, so beautiful with all the statues and fruit trees! Will be back on our next visit to PD! read more

First time here! I loved looking at the salt water taffies very much because they looked super delicious, and there were lots of different flavors to choose from such as Eggnog, blue raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and etc. read more

Shields Date Garden - Shields Date Gardens. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

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Our church group had a reservation for breakfast but when we all arrived they said they weren't aware of the reservation. Our pastor had come in person the day prior to confirm our reservation but apparently it got lost somehow. This was disappointing, but they said if we wanted to walk the garden for a bit they would set up some tables for us and we should have a spot in 30 min. We had planned on walking the garden after we ate, so we just changed the plan. The garden path/walk is beautiful. There is a lot of shade, and the path has ramps so it's handicap and stroller accessible. There are statues depicting the life of Jesus with coordinating bible verses carved on placards at each stop. Our group visited each site together and discussed what each one meant to us personally. It was a special time and I highly recommend this activity. There are lots of benches for resting and relaxing and a pond. It's a little noisy in a few parts because of the highway but other parts are very serene. I had to leave before we could eat, so I didn't experience the famous date shakes or the tasty looking menu, and I also heard there was a cool gift shop and little film to watch. We will definitely come back for a second visit and get the whole experience! read more

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Came to the date garden for a date shake and the restaurant after reading some reviews on Yelp. It was about 120 degrees the morning we visited and didn't have an opportunity to wander the garden much, but we really enjoyed the food in the restaurant and the shop in front! This is a must-see for visitors to the area. The dining room is a little hokey, but the service and the food were excellent. Also, my first date shake was delicious!! We will definitely be back!! read more

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Guess i was hoping for a date shake like 20 years ago. Now they use a powdered date-which totally changes the consistency of the shake. I didn't care for it at all. The store is great......but pricey. Lots to select from for gifts. Restaurant available too w exceptional staff read more

100% worth stopping at for a date shake!! This was my first time having a date shake and idk how I've lived my whole life without one. I bought a variety date pack and was surprised all the dates had such a different, distinct flavor and texture. My favorite was the Barhi - super creamy and sweet; it literally melted in my mouth. All the dates were superior to the grocery store bought Medjool dates. Don't forget to take a stroll in the giant garden too! read more

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What a fun experience to get brunch here and walk around the garden and see the life of Jesus in statues. I love when foods include special ingredients so I got the date omelet and date shake. So yummy!! I love the textures and flavors of all the omelet add ons and the shake was sweet and had a strong date flavor. read more

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Love this place. In the winter we bring our dogs. Outside seating area that's dog friendly and a nice grounds to walk around and see biblical statues and there's lots of shade. I just had lunch here, and got the dates stuffed with blue cheese. Jalapeños. Prosciutto. Wrapped in bacon. Demi glaze. They were amazing. 4 was a meal. You can even go in their theater and learn about the romance and sex life of dates. And of course I had to get some dates and a date shake on the way out. I don't have shakes very often but can't resist the best date shake ever! They have an old fashioned soda fountain counter and a nice gift shop with dates and other things. read more

Shields Date Garden - Dates stuffed with blue cheese. Jalapeños. Prosciutto. Wrapped in bacon. Demi glaze. 4 are a meal. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

One of the best reasons to visit the California desert... a touristy place, well stocked with date-derived items, and friendly, helpful staff. A must-stop! read more

Amazing shake!!! Super sweet, as it should be!!!! Delicious!!!!!' So many other fruits and veggies to choose from !!!' read more

Shields Date Garden - Date Shake - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

We come every time we're in Palm Springs (most every year) it's a fully comprehensive Date Garden, Gift Shop, and pretty nice restaurant. You can stroll through the gardens too, and view statuary, as well as date palms. They're famous for the date shakes here, husband always gets one, and I always buy their Royal Medjool dates, which though slightly more expensive than dates from anywhere else, the quality is reflected by the increased pricing. They're huge, plump, moist (sorry to use that word) sweet, and addictive. The Gift Shop has many curious items, ranging from jams and jellies, sauces, items created from dates of course, games, ornaments, jewelry, key chains, candles, bath items, citrus fruits, the iconic date shake, and a huge variety of dates, in many different sizes to suit all budgets. There is a restroom that's pretty nice, and a cinema which shows the reproductive life of dates. But the highlight for me is brunch, or lunch at the cafe, preferably outside, under a sun parasol, as it can get very hot under the California sunshine. The menu is quite extensive and some items do feature dates, I can't specifically remember what I last had, as it was months ago since we were there, but the food is good, the service is excellent, and it makes my heart sing to come here. We'll usually stop by a couple of times, but only come for lunch or brunch once. My second visit is always to stock up on dates to take home as gifts, but for me too. Parking can be difficult, it's usually busy - there's a main parking lot, but also some unpaved dirt track parking to the rear to serve as overflow. The cafe can be accessed via a pathway off to the side, as well as through the Gift Shop. But I strongly recommend a visit to the Gift Shop, as there are likely to be some curious items you never even thought you needed. read more

What a great spot. Who knew there were so many types of dates. And the keen staff knows them all. A local institution. Be sure to try the Date Shake. read more

Shields Date Garden - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

So, we decided to stop here for lunch and to do "the walk". Super disappointed in the quality - and taste - of the food but even more upset over the condition of the gardens. Food- we ordered the special of the day, French Dip with fries, and the fish tacos. French dip had ZERO taste and was on a non toasted bun which made it soggy immediately and the overly salted limp fries didn't help the situation. The fish tacos were deep fried and tasteless. Oh- let's not forget the surprise when we got the itemized bill, a surcharge for "non cash fee" ???- we weren't even asked if we would be paying cash or card and no warning of any kind! Garden- looked like it was mid construction?? Pipes sticking out everywhere, hoses laid across rocks, no greenery besides the trees- a "dirt and sand garden" for sure. We won't be back. read more

The date shake is just amazing! This is a cool store with souvenirs and old timey treats!

Classic desert Americana. Delicious shakes, cute little walk, kind staff. Didn't get the chance to eat at the cafe but it looked like such a nice place to get lunch on the patio. read more

An absolute must visit! The gardens are lovely, the film playing in the theatre is fun and informative, the famous date shake is delicious, and the staff is wonderful! So many unique and yummy finds in their store. I had not been a date person until I tried the dates from Shields. The dates here are without a doubt the BEST I have ever had. I certainly recommend their Madjool dates and their Blonde dates (which are a special concoction only found at Shields). The Blonde dates are sweet, rich, and have a slight buttery flavor. A real must try! read more

We were driving by and I had never had a date shake before, my friend immediately said we had to go! We spent longer here then I thought we would! The date shake ($10) was really refreshing and tasty. There's a gift shop you can walk through quickly, but then the really star of the show is the life of Jesus garden walk. It was a nice walk, good to sip on with the date shake! Overall, I would reccomend the date shake and would go back here for one, but no need to see the garden a second time. read more

Shields Date Garden - Date Shake! - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Indio, California

Well this visit took an unexpected turn when we went out to the garden to see a bunch of date trees and instead walked into a Jesus-themed wonderland. Like, you're in the gift shop, everything is all about dates, and then you watch the movie, which is also all about dates, and then you go outside and bam: JESUS. Like, everywhere. I did not know that I would have to be explaining stigmata to my 8-year old (non-Christian) daughter at 1:00 pm on a weekday, but there we were. I mean, it was just so...unexpected. We did get two date shakes, and they were delicious, but the consistency was like sludge and we were suctioning our cheeks into our faces to get the stuff up the straw. We love the sweet-salty balance in them, but reading another review, they apparently used to be made from scratch, which you need to specifically ask for now (which we didn't know because we stupidly did not read any reviews before we arrived). So, all in all, could have been better, but the shakes were good and we bought a ton of dates to bring back home, and the garden was quite the experience that we will remember for a long time to come. read more

Very cute and historic spot! I was in the area for a couple of days, and a friend recommended that we try a date shake. It was my first time visiting, and I found it absolutely charming. We chose to come during the week, which worked out well; even though the garden was closed for an event, it was still enjoyable to explore. Shields is a date farm that dates back to the 1920's when other date farms were thriving in the area. These farms were a popular stop for visitors and even celebrities! Fun fact: a single male date palm can pollinate up to 10 female date palms, depending on the variety. Now, back to the visit--the date shake was absolutely delicious! If you don't buy anything else, make sure to try this shake. They also offered date tastings for just 50 cents. My favorites were the Thoory dates; I loved their slightly dry texture and gentle crunch. The Deglet and Blonde dates were a bit too sweet for my taste, but overall, everything was delicious! I highly recommend stopping by! read more

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The date shakes here are really sweet and tasty. Before coming here I've only ever been to hadleys date farm and there's definitely a noticeable difference. 1: Shields offers only 2 flavors coffee and vanilla and no vegan option. 2: Shields has a thicker consistency. 3: shields is sweeter 4: Hadleys tastes more like dates and has more chunks as well. I really wanted to give shields a 5 star for the awesome date shakes, but I didn't really like the fact that they charged so much for their credit card usage. In no situation for card present do you pay 4%. The employees have been brainwashed to say that they are just passing down their credit card costs charged to them by the bank, but in reality they make a small profit from when you use your card because they are definitely not getting charged 4%. I did my research and found out the truth if things. read more

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Been coming here for over 30 years and it only gets better with age. I've had dates from all over the world & especially the Middle East where I'm from and Shields has a royal date that is absolutely incredible & can stand up to world renowned dates from the Persian Gulf. I love this place & will be coming back for years to come read more

I've been to Palm Springs/ Indio a couple of times and I didn't realize this place existed. We visited Indio with family since my aunt has a timeshare and I needed to take some graduation pics. I wasn't a fan of dates until your health makes you explore other stuff like dates! After a stop here, I would definitely recommend checking this place out. As a place that shows you the different dates they have, along with biblical references, and a place to buy your dates this is your one stop shop to learn about dates and to buy a variety of dates non organic to organic! It's also nice to learn what the city offers especially when growing dates! We also tried the famous date shake and coffee date shake! Everytime we stop by Indio, this Shield's is one of the places that we must stop by! read more

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I had family from Wisconsin visit and both she and I were BLOWN AWAY by how gorgeous this garden is!!! You can't miss the huge sign from the street (knight in armor). Parking was a breeze. The entrance to the garden is to the right of the building. There is a cafe, gift shop, theater and ice cream parlor (vintage vibe). Do yourself a favor, and have the date shake! read more

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Delicious breakfast in an iconic landmark. We enjoyed "the walk"- glad these monuments found a second home. Tasty date treats for souvenirs too! read more

Beautiful Life of Jesus in the gardens; wonderful dates, lemons, more - - - - - - - - February, 2025 Visit My wonderful wife and I enjoyed a trip to Palm Desert and San Diego, with a visit to La Jolla. Shields Date Garden is over 100 years old; We have visited for 25+ years and somehow we only learned about, and visited, on this trip. They show a movie with good insights into all that is needed to grow date palm trees... time, skill, and water are key. The gardens also have many palm trees and citrus trees and other plants, and as you wan there are 14 stations showing the life of Jesus - so nice, and contemplative and inspirational. Inside the shop you can order and enjoy date shakes or date ice cream, and rode many different varieties of the dates, some of which are unique to Shields. Lisbon Lemons! Unsure if they are available every day, but since we saw lemons on the trees, we asked, and we took home, a bag with 12 Lisbon lemons, which we sweet with only a hint of tartness - good to add to water and good to eat as-is. Thank you, Shields Date Garden - we're glad we visited! ----- ----- ----- read more

My Father and his wife, brought my Fiancee and myself here as this is one of their favorite places in the area. This was both of our first time here and even having a date. This is definitely a good place to stop and sight see, if your new to the area or simply have never been here. The place is very retro decorated and has plenty of home made dates and other snacks. They even have a variety of touristy gifts available for purchase. The highlight is the short free movie that you can sit and watch about dates and the facility itself. read more

I took a couple of friends here to treat them to their first desert date shake - and we were pleasantly surprised! The food was pretty good and everything was appropriately sized. The main dish that WOWed me was the stuffed dates. The way that blue cheese meshed with the saltiness of the meat, spice of the jalapeño, and the sweetness of the date was perfect. Make that a must! Everything else was good too, but I wouldn't call them flavor explosions. After our meal, we were able to walk around the gardens which was a cool sight to see. Give this place a try if you want to see where these magical dates come from! read more

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