Tahquitz lends his name to many locales in the desert. Tahquitz Way is a major street connecting the airport to downtown. Tahquitz River Estates is the laegest of the official neighborhoods in Palm Springs and contains many spanish homes from the 30’s and 40′ along with midcentury homes from the 50’s and 60’s.
They all get their name from a shaman of the Cahuilla band of native americans that called the area, now known as Palm springs, home. Tahquitz was the first shaman created by Mukat, the creator of all things. Tahquitz had much power, and in the beginning he used his power for the good of all people. Tahquitz became the guardian spirit of all shamans and he gave them power to do good. But over time, Tahquitz began to use his power for selfish reasons. He began to use his power to harm the Cahuilla People. The people became angry and they banished Tahquitz to this canyon that now bears his name. He made his home high in the San Jacinto Mountains in a secret cave below the towering rock known today as Tahquitz Peak. It is said that his spirit still lives in this canyon. He can sometimes be seen as a large green fireball streaking across the night sky. The strange rumblings heard deep within the San Jacinto Mountains, the shaking of the ground, and the crashing of boulders are all attributed to Tahquitz as he stomps about the canyon. Another legend says that he is the dustdevil searching for souls to bring back up into the canyon.
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