Shields Date Garden

Just to follow up, have now received our second 5 lb shipment of dates. Again, they arrived in less than 2 days after placing the online order, in perfect condition, super fresh, and the flavor is amazing. So happy!

Must stop here! Get a date shake and watch the film in the theater. I didn’t appreciate what an ordeal date farming was until this stop on my desert vacation. I recommend you split the date shake with someone– it’s huge.
Many shopportunities too! If you buy enough product in the store, entry for 2 to the garden is included. Worth the stop if you like dates!

This is a little gem of a place. I would recommend lunch here. The ahi tower was great and the date burger is also awesome. Don’t miss out on the walk. It is worth the experience, even if you are not religious. The grounds are beautiful and peaceful. Finish off your visit with a swing through the gift shop and a date shake to go. In case you are wondering, my family thought the date shake tasted like caramel. We all liked it! Have fun and enjoy Shields – oh, and don’t forget to sit through the charming little film on the date’s sex life. Priceless throwback!!!

I had never been here before. We drove by and had to stop. Cute little gift shop with lots of date items. They sell even crystal dates. They apparently use it in the date shakes. It was Mothers Day they had live music outside. The Garden walk cost 5 dollars per person to tour. If you spend money in the gift shop over an amount you get two free tickets. The Garden walk is beautiful. It is a peaceful walk around streams and ponds. They have these beautiful statues to reflect on. I felt like I was in Israel. Honestly you don’t see statues like this of Jesus anywhere. Don’t listen to the haters on here. It really is a beautiful place. I will come again

First the food: it was good. My husband had the walleye fish tacos and I had the chicken tostado. Both were really tasty. We shared the date milkshake which was delicious, but it was very sweet and very rich so we didn’t finish it.
The gardens: ugh. I was hoping to learn a little bit about dates and how they are grown, picked, and dried. The 1950 video which plays in the store is very informative, but very dated. The gardens are not kept up! The ladders on the palm trees are starting to fall, the dates on the trees are over ripened and falling on the ground. The grapefruit and lemons are falling on the ground and rotting. VERY disappointing for a place that is known for caring for their plants.
The shop was cute with lots of nostalgic items and free date tasting. I enjoyed the nicknacks but didn’t buy anything.
In all, it appears to me that the religious side of the gardens have taken priority over the fruit. I am religious and I can appreciate the teachings of Jesus, but not at the risk of the Shields Date Garden. We won’t go back.

I would give it 5 stars, but this was my first time. Serve a meal as good as this a few times in a row, and I’ll gladly give it 5.
I had the walleye fish tacos. So good. The rice was good, the guacamole was real good, the beans were excellent and light, the service was stellar, and the setting is sweet – an outdoor café with umbrellas by a date garden. And the sauce for the tacos? Just right. The price for all was $ 15.
The store in front has a very cool gift shop, kinda quirky, a great place for unique gifts – I’ve been to the gift shop a bunch of times. Antique postcards, gag gifts, sauces, and stuff.
I’ve had their famous «date» milkshakes, they’re really good, but a little sweet.
All in all, I’m gonna go back to the outdoor café… a whole bunch of times. All three of us amigos loved what we had. One had the ahi tower salad, loved it, one had the piglet omelette, loved it.
You gotta check out this place. I’m a big fan now.

This is a very cool store, it has a large variety of dates, candies, hot sauce, honey, novelties …& last but not least date shakes. The shake was very thick and loaded with dates, there are only 2 ingredients in it, vanilla ice cream & dates = delish!
It’s interesting to learn about the sex life of dates and all the hard work that went in the process of «creating/​producing» dates.
Did not visit the café or garden, but enjoyed our visit all the same.

Good selection of dried fruits and nuts. It’s odd to see tip jars by the cash registers in the grocery and gift shops. Tip for what? Ringing me up? The date shake was so cloyingly sweet, I threw it out after a few sips. The garden (extra cost to walk) should warn visitors it is loaded with Christian religious statues and contains no horticultural information. Don’t bother.

We came here when we were staying out in La Quinta. It was really cool learning about the date palms and the process, our kids even enjoyed the video as well. They have tons of different dates and date products (like cookies, bread, etc) to sample for free, and if you spent $ 25 (very easy!) you could explore the garden for free. The garden walk was really great, but people who aren’t Christian/​Catholic may think it is a bit much. They have these life sized sculptures of biblical scenes throughout, which we really enjoyed exploring.

An icon of the Coachella Valley when you drive the 111 highway toward Indio. It’s been around since 1924 when all around this area it was planted with the various date palms that made this place famous. This is Shields where entering the old instantly recognizable building brings you back a good 60 some years. We decided to stop here again after many years absent. Inside you’ll find seating on wooden bench tables and a soda fountain where the date shakes are prepared; one dollop of finely grated sweet dates with three big scoops of the best vanilla Ice cream churned in a large 24oz cup, one size, one price! Inside the store you’ll find a dozen types of dates, each comes packaged in see thru containers. A selection of the best dates are offered for your own taste test, and I recommend that you try the larger, soft and sweet Medool or the medium Deglet Noor. Two benefits for pitted dates; first, I don’t have to worry about a place to spit out the pit, and secondly, the dates are easier to chew on and getting directly to that meaty and savory date flavor. I personally would not get any dates that have been sprinkled with coconut or inserted with nuts. For best flavor I buy the dates that are already pitted. Another reason this store is so much fun to visit is because you can still find odd trinkets for souvenirs as well as many different salsas and jellies so popular not necessarily for their content, but for the often funny names and artsy décor of the outside labeling. Yes, and where else can you learn about the sex life of the date. Take some time to see the film. More time can be spent here to walk the gardens, and now they have fine dining in the patio area under umbrellas. We did not do any dining, but thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgic look of Shields. With good management and staff, Sustained Date Palm sourcing for great product, fair pricing and keeping the look of yesterday, I think Shields Date Garden could be around for another 100 years.

A must see joint! grab a date! its healthy and delicious!!!

Loved visiting this place. Never knew there was so much to know about dates. LOL. Terrific array of products, almost all coming from dates. I’m looking forward to eating in the Café one of these times.

«I’m up in the woods, I’m down on my mind
«I’m building a still to slow down the time»
— — — — — — — — — — — — — –­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ — — — — — — -
In A Sentence™
If you want dates; they’ve got dates!
Quick Review™
+ Date shakes. They’re tasty. And inexpensive.
+/​-​Parking is difficult to come by during festival season. There is a dirt lot adjacent to the garden.
— Bunch of tourist trap trinkets here.
KEY:
+ Positive observation
+/​-​Neutral note
— Negative observation
Employee of Excellence™
Unknown. Whoever makes the shakes, I suppose. I don’t know.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — –­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ — — — — — — -
This review is for the shop, not the restaurant. The restaurant –
– is absurdly busy and reviewed separately. This is about the date shakes, not breakfast/​lunch/​brunch/​almuerzo/​whatever.
The date shakes are outstanding. And, at under five bucks — American — a relative steal.
If you’re here for Coachella, or Stagecoach, come by. Tip your server generously.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — –­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ — — — — — — -
Rating: Four-​stars, «Yay! I’m a fan.»

Stopped here with the bf during our weekend trip to Palm Springs. Apparently this place is very popular for tourists and is one of the «top places to visit» in Palm Springs. But it’s actually about 20 – 30 min away. I thought it was going to be a more casual/​fast food place but it’s actually a sit down restaurant combined with a little market/​grocery store full of dates, dried fruits, nuts, etc. we didn’t end up buying anything from the store– their snacks are a bit on the pricier side. But we tasted some of their samples and I have to admit they were pretty good.
Anyways the restaurant itself was pretty good. We got a scramble which came with scambled eggs, meat (chorizo, ham, sausage, etc I think?), rainbow potatoes (sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, white potatoes) and date and walnut toast. It was super tasty, fresh, and filling. We also got their special date burger which came with fries. I couldn’t really taste the dates because of the strong blue cheese flavor (which I don’t really like) and probably would have chosen to get something else. The fries were really good though. And finally, we got the date shake which is probably their most famous item. It was about $ 5 but it was enough for the two of us to share. The shake was very ice cream like and heavy/​viscous, but yummy! I couldn’t taste the dates that much but I could see it in the shake. It is on the sweeter side, definitely more of a dessert item.
Overall, I’d recommend stopping by if you’re in the area and especially if you love dates! The walk tour is free if you dine here as well (usually it’s like $ 5).

Check out the free movie theatre explaining the history of the date in the Coachella Valley. Don’t leave without having a date shake, I recommend splitting it with a friend as it’s large and comes in one size. If you like old-​timey memorabilia gifts, the gift shop is fun to look around. I haven’t done the outdoor garden walk, but it looks peaceful. Food is pretty good and the ambiance on the patio is nice when the weather is cool enough. Hubby and I frequent Shields as he really enjoys their Chorizo Burrito.

It was suggested that I try the date shake. Taste good but I know I tried better.
Old shop with a lot of cute novelties that I would have loved to buy.
Loved the fact that they offered so much samples of different kinds of dates! I have never seen such a selection! I would have sampled everything, but my daughter would not let me.

The Shield’s Date Garden is a fraud — a classic bait and switch operation. A tour of a date garden, one would think, would be about dates, right? That’s what one is led to believe here. But no: here it’s about Jesus. And if you happen not to be interested in Jesus? Too bad: you have given $ 5 per person to the operation, by the time you realize. Not very Christ-​like behavior on the part of the proprietors, if you ask me.

This review is for the Date garden. DO NOT pay for the date garden tour. There is nothing about the date farming. It’s all about Jesus. They give a booklet full of biblical info. I’m surprised there were no reviews mentioning this. So, I’m writing one.
We wanted to know more about the date farming. Would have been furious if we paid for this crap. If you want to know more, watch the movie, they show at the store.
Now having warned you, I would like to say the garden is quite nice and peaceful. So, if you happen to earn free tickets by dining at their café or the store, do walk n enjoy the garden, try to spot dates on the palms. Just don’t expect any info about it.

Yes. Go. The shop is loaded with interesting novelties and yummy treats. Get a few healthy snacks and your ticket to the garden.
Do the Walk at Shields. What a uplifting retreat! You have to experience it to understand it. Renew your soul. Plan an hour or two to stroll through this hidden garden. It’s a peaceful place to write, sketch, take photos, reflect, or enjoy time with friends or family. Refresh your spirit. Come here to rest.

Why do I love this place? I have no idea. Yes I do. It’s weird like me: A twisted hybrid of The Madonna Inn, some dutch-​ginger-​bread nursery rhyme and Alladin. If you do nothing else in your life, you should try a date shake here. God wants you to try this. It is pure vanilla-​caramel sex sucked through a straw. Does that sound good? Yes.
I’m not even sure how to describe what this place is. It technically shouldn’t exist, but it does. A kingdom (no, literally a kingdom) dedicated to nothing but dates. A 50-​acre date-​themed park, bakery, and gift shop promoting the sexual prowess of dates. Hundreds of towering date palms, and an unsettling amount of Jesus statues will atone for your sugary sins… Oh and they also want you to buy dates and have sex. Bring it on Jesus.
A tiny movie theater in the back of gift shop allows you to suck down your shake with a ‘date’ in the dark, contemplate your sex life, and learn about the history of where how trees make sweet magical nuggets.
Why would you want to go here? I don’t know. Why does any body go anywhere? When you’re 85 rocking back and forth in that squeaky chair you’ll remember that really weird awesome place you went out to in the desert and wonder if it was all real or if you were just really high.
Parking is abundant. Just look for the Giant Knight pointing the way.

We were crossing the desert from Phoenix driving to California when my son announced we were going to Shield’s Date Garden for a date shake. The restaurant closes on Sunday at 2:30 so we were really rushing to get there. Upon arrival at 2:15 we found it already closed but were pleasantly surprised to find the gift shop sells date shakes and stays open til 5:00.
The date shake is wonderful and well deserves all the accolades. I’ve never been a big fan of dates because they are so intensely sweet but the date shake is a perfect blend of sweetness, creaminess, and distinct caramel and chocolate overtones of flavor. It is so unique and delicious everyone should give it a try.
The rest of the gift shop is truly a nostalgia trip for anyone who grew up in the 1940’s, 1950’s or 60’s driving two lane highways and can remember as kids seeing signs for a tourist stop with special treats and begging your parents to stop. Many tourist stops were tourist traps, but Shields Date Garden has many unique souvenirs and treats that make it well worth the stop. They feature a sampling bar where you can taste for free the many varieties of dates they grow and compare the textures and tastes to help you decide what you want to purchase. They offer packages of dates in many combinations as well as individual varieties. They have date crystals and date sugar if you want to recreate the date shake at home. You can find some unique and reasonably priced souvenirs for all your friends back home at this stop.
Shields Date Garden is a gem at the edge of the desert.

Five stars for the dates and the wonderful samples. We have been here many times and I’ve never gone on the date walk. You have the option of paying five dollars a person or buying $ 25 worth of product and entering the walk for free. Heads up; the date walk has nothing to do with the dates other than the fact that there are date trees along part of the walk. Most of the walk is Jesus and an obscene amount of concrete pavers. There are large concrete figures of Jesus and his life events throughout the date walk. It feels like bible camp
We would’ve found this walk more interesting if there’d been information about the dates the grapefruit trees and the other vegetation that grows here in the desert. There are some nice water features including a water wasting misting arch. My favorite part was breaking bread with Jesus at the Last Supper right next to the pond.

This is based on my experience, but I will say there were quite a few angry patrons around me one of the two times I’ve been. They waited a very, very, long time for their food. One of the tables had a baby and a toddler and waited an hour+ for their food. Yikes!
So my experience… the food is very good. Tasty and fresh. I went expecting just a good date shake and was surprised to have such good food as well.
I ordered the curry chicken wrap. I was told hey we’re out of the curry chicken and to pick something else, to which I begrudgingly complied. 15 minutes later, a curry chicken wrap came out as my meal. The waitress was surprised to see me eating the wrap (a food runner brought it out). I don’t know how that happened.
One of the times I visited, the date shake was perfect. The other time, the shake was way too date-​y in flavor.
They have a date garden, touristy type place, but it didn’t go because I thought it was ridiculous to have to pay.
The gift shop is cute, overpriced, but cute. Of course I buy too much junk that won’t fit in my suitcase, but, ah well.

Haven’t been in a while (even though it’s practically in my back yard!)
We ordered their signature Shields burger with blue cheese, bacon, and of course dates! Really good, lots of flavors. I had their summer special for $ 13.95 (drink, app, entrée) and choose the hummus (had chipotle in it, was a lil too dense for me) and the chorizo burger (really juicy and flavorful) everything was a large size and good. Fries have some house seasonings, hit or miss but I liked it. Oh and the date shake was amazing, a bit sweet but who cares?! It’s a meal all on its own, creamy and satisfying on all levels.
Took a break after and watched Mr Shields talk about the Romance and Sex Life of the Date. After the quick show we started sampling in the shop… so many dates! My favorite though are the Deglet Noors, not too sweet, chewy and fruity!
People there are very nice, it’s a great stop and the shop carries fun things to purchase.

Stopped by here while in Palm Springs, it was a good 30 minute drive from our hotel near DT Palm Springs. There’s a little theater inside that as a movie on replay about the history of the Shields Date Garden which was pretty interesting, definitely dated though.
The store has a ton of different dates to choose from, from sugared ones to ones that were stuffed. There are also lots of dates for you to sample as well. We opted not to try their famous date shake but now I kind of wished I did. An interesting place to visit, I found that dates are pretty good after all. Just wish there was more to see here after making the drive out.

Confession: I don’t like dates.
What the heck was I doing at a date garden? Enjoying lunch at their café (separate review).
Shields is a pretty neat blast from the past; it doesn’t look like a whole lot has changed over the years — which is nice.
When you walk in, you’re led into a store that sells more than dates and grapefruits (which are also grown there). Instead, there’s an assortment of snacks, tchotchkes, and bits and bobs. There is also a snack bar along the back wall that has fresh juices (grapefruit, orange, and another kind, I believe), as well as rootbeer floats. As Grace W. points out, there is also a cinema area that shows a video on dates and the Gardens.
What I recommend you do is The Walk. If you dine at the café, it’s complimentary, otherwise, there is a small admission charge. Religious walk of Jesus’ life. I was surprised that something like this exists; I haven’t seen so much on display publicly about religion in a long time. Nevertheless, The Walk is pretty neat — and you can get up close to the date palm, and take a nice jaunt through the Gardens.
A nice, different way to spend an afternoon.

I stopped by here to grab a date shake and some dates while passing through the area. I kinda remembered seeing this place on some random TV show a while ago and thought I’d check it out.
Well, the date shake was just okay. It was too sweet and honestly tasted like a vanilla shake with a hint of date, as if they used date extract. I guess it’s worth checking out just to see what this famous date shake is like, and 1 is maybe enough for 2 because it’s quite big.
You can sample some of the dates and it’s self serve. I tasted a bunch and decided to get the assorted mix. They were okay, but I should’ve gotten something smaller because they pack a lot in those containers.
Worthy place to check out if you’re in the area. They also have a free short movie on dates continuously running in the theater room.
But I would be more interested in coming back to get some breakfast or lunch at the café behind the store:

For anyone new or visiting, you may think, «really, a store dedicated to dates? Wait, you mean the fruit?» Yes!
When you are in the Palm Springs/​Coachella Valley area, this is one of the best places to visit. A definite tourist attraction and the number one place to come for date shakes.
Locals, like me, shop here as well. Some people I know specially ask me to buy them packaged dates for gifts. For the family, I buy the date «caramel sauce,» a syrup to add as a topping to ice cream, and date crystals to make date shakes at home (their ice cream has wheat in it, but the dates don’t). In addition to dates, they also sell dried nuts and fruits, as well as wacky gift shop items.
Customer service is always excellent and they have many samples you can try. They share their recipes online and will give them to you when you visit the shop; just ask for their recipes.
Here is their recipe to make their famous shakes at home:
Makes a 16 oz Shields World Famous Date Shake
To make Date Paste:
¼ cup of Shields Date Crystals®
¼ cup of water
Mix well and freeze overnight.
To make Shields Famous Date Shake:
¼ cup Frozen Date Paste from above
1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream
½ cup of very cold Milk
Blend with a drink blender and enjoy.
The date crystals taste good sprinkled on top of ice cream, too.

Free samples… Go to the counter to try the dates, this way you know which one to get.
We bought Royal Medjools, and Soft Blonde Dates
And the best shake ever– the World Famous Date Shake. Very tasty and bits of dates in every sip.
The shop has lots of sauces, jams, candies and other various souvenirs.