Mecca is a quiet and unincorporated community in Riverside County’s Coachella Valley. The town of just over 8,000 residents is known for its proximity to the Salton Sea and local farms. “The majority of the people in Mecca are working in agriculture, especially during harvesting season,” says Ruth Hernandez of HomeSmart, who has nearly two decades of experience in the area. “It’s a quiet farming community with affordable housing.” Mecca is known as one of the leading producers of dates in the nation; the town also grows grapes and citrus fruits. The hot desert community is under the jurisdiction of Riverside County, including the Riverside County Sheriff’s office and Riverside County Fire Department.
Mecca is located in an unincorporated area of Riverside County, near the Salton Sea.
Mecca is one of the largest producers of dates, with several farms in the area.
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Cooling off at Mecca Beach and Salton Sea
Along the Salton Sea is Mecca Beach, which has buoyed-off areas for swimming. Fishing and kayaking are also popular activities, and locals visit the surrounding Salton Sea State Recreation Area for camping and hiking. Hikers head to the Mecca Hills Wilderness, a 26,000 acre sanctuary for hiking and birdwatching. The Box Canyon Road is part of the Mecca Hills Wilderness area, a 16-mile trail from the Salton Sea to Joshua Tree National Park. This track is a popular spot for driving and biking with views of the San Bernardino Mountains. Mecca Sports Complex has outdoor volleyball courts, soccer fields and a splash pad.
The Mecca Hills Wilderness Area is a popular destination for hiking, featuring scenic trails and landscapes.
Find activities such as hiking and boating at Mecca Beach on the Salton Sea.
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Single-family homes built in the 1990s
The median price for a single-family home in Mecca is $327,000. Ranch-style builds from the 1990s and 2000s with Mediterranean influences are popular just north of downtown. Most homes in the downtown district are ranch styles from the 1950s and 60s, while manufactured homes are available on the far north end of the town. Wildfires are prevalent in the area, so locals are advised to keep their properties free of flammable debris.
Ranch homes from the 1950s and '60s are popular styles found in downtown Mecca.
Manufactured homes are primarily found on the north side of Mecca.
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Mecca Moving Forward
Riverside County has proposed a Moving Mecca Forward community revitalization strategy aimed at boosting the local economy. Major goals of the project are to make improvements to 2nd Street, incentivize businesses to move into Mecca’s downtown district and attract big box stores to the area.
Efforts are underway to improve Mecca’s 2nd Street by bringing big-box stores to the area.
Riverside County is exploring projects to revitalize Mecca and help the area grow economically.
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Mexican eateries on 2nd Street
Mecca has a limited selection of shopping and dining establishments along 2nd Street in its downtown district. Groceries are sold at national outlets like Dollar General, or local shops like Leon’s Meat Market or El Super Toro Loco. Local Mexican restaurants like Taco Time and The Plaza Restaurant are in town, while Chelo’s Burgers and Starbucks locations are just a couple miles west. While the city is looking to attract more retail outlets to the area, Mecca remains without many of the conveniences of larger towns. “Unless you are getting groceries, you need to drive up to Coachella for pretty much any other shopping,” says Hernandez.
Plaza Restaurant in Mecca offers a great shrimp cocktail to satisfy your seafood craving.
Mecca residents can find fresh groceries and produce at local markets, such as El Super Toro Loco.
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Riding SunLine Transit buses
The SunLine Transit Agency provides bus service throughout Riverside County and into San Bernadino, with frequent stops in and around Mecca. Highway 111 intersects the town from north to south, leading locals 11 miles up the road to Coachella. Highway 86 goes 40 miles to Palm Springs; the Palm Springs International Airport is the nearest major destination for air travel.
Learning at the Coachella Valley Unified School District
Students in the area attend Coachella Valley Unified School District institutions. The district has a C-minus overall grade on Niche and serves over 16,000 students. Mecca Elementary School is located in town and holds a C-minus rating; older kids will have to take the bus to Toro Canyon Middle School and Desert Mirage High School in nearby Thermal. Desert Mirage High has a C-plus overall ranking.
Mecca Elementary School features outstanding playground facilities for students to enjoy.
Desert Mirage High School, near Mecca, offers excellent academic programs.
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Heat and air quality concerns
Mecca experiences an extreme desert climate with dry, hot days and chilly nights. The temperature regularly tops out in the 100s from May through September, with lows in the upper 60s. Highs reach the 70s in the winter months and lows dip into the upper 30s. The city sees an average of three inches of rain per year. The drying of the Salton Sea is another environmental concern; it has caused rising dust and pollution levels in Mecca’s air.
The extreme desert climate of Mecca causes high temperatures to persist from late spring into early fall.
The shrinking of the Salton Sea near Mecca has led to an increase in dust and pollution in the area.
Raquel Davalos has been a resident of the Coachella Valley since 1974 and has been selling Valley Real Estate for nearly two decades. She joined Re/Max Consultants in 1996 and Re/Max Desert Properties in 2019 and has developed a deep understanding of the Valley''s Real Estate market, from its vast offerings, to the complexities of selling and purchasing a home here. To date, Raquel Davalos has sold over 700 homes, representing both buyers and sellers. These accomplishments have led to Raquel Davalos receiving consecutive awards since 2001: she boasts several 100% and Platinum Club awards, as well as having received a Hall of Fame award in 2004 and a Lifetime Achievement award in 2013. Raquel Davalos is also a member of CAR and NAHREP and has received a Green designation for her studies in energy efficient homes. Raquel Davalos is fluent in English, Spanish and French and derives a great deal of pleasure in helping buyers find the perfect home and helping sellers received the greatest return on their investment.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
