Interesting Facts About Windmills In Palm Springs

When driving into Palm Springs, California from Los Angeles along Interstate-10, the first sign that you’ve arrived in the desert is the row upon row of windmills along both sides of the highway. The San Gorgonio pass can often be a wind tunnel when weather systems force air up against the San Bernardino Mountains to the north and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south. The combination of terrain and geography provide an ideal location for the placement of windmills to provide a green renewable energy source plus an attraction in and of themselves.

San Gorgonio Wind Park

The San Gorgonio Wind Park in Palm Springs is home to 2,700 wind turbines that were built in the 1980s, making in the oldest wind farm in the United States. Touring this desert attraction is the best way to learn about how these turbines, some of them standing nearly 300 feet high, convert wind into energy. Palm Springs Windmill Tours provides tours twice a day at 10 am and 1 pm which last approximately 1.5-2 hours. The tours include:

• Travel in a luxury air conditioned bus with full views inside the fence surrounding the windmills.
• An up close and personal view of the majestic windmills.
• A chance to see the windmill tops on the ground in the equipment yard.
• An experienced and knowledgeable tour guide.
• A visit to other energy generation facilities including solar and natural gas.
• A frosty date shake to bring your tour to a tasty conclusion.

The tours begin at the main office of Palm Springs Windmill Tours located at 62950 20th Ave in Palm Springs. You’ll receive an introduction of renewable energy history in California and the Coachella Valley including early difficulties and how engineers solved those problems.  Although you don’t get to enter a wind turbine for safety reasons, there are restored and historic wind mills on ground level that you can see up close and touch. Exhibits are posted in the working windfarm areas providing information on modern technology at use in the windmills to generate power.

As there is some walking involved, it is suggested participants wear comfortable shoes, preferably closed toe to keep sand out. Reservations are suggested and you can book them online or by calling 760-320-4600. Private tours are also available, just fill out their private tour request online or call 760-320-4600.

Make POSH Palm Springs Inn Your Place To Stay

Make POSH Palm Springs Inn your home base for exploring the windmills of the Coachella Valley. After your tour, relax in our large refreshing pool perfect for a quick dip or just lounging around. Float in the pool while you soak up the desert sun and enjoy our complimentary happy hour complete with a frosty POSH martini from 4-5 pm. Our PersOnable Service & Hospitality will have you coming back again and again as you discover all the great things to do in Palm Springs.  Check our availability and reserve your room today!

Photo Credit: Anna Jimenez Calaf, Unsplash.com