If you haven't been to downtown Indio lately, you are in for a big surprise

As Indio's Abi Carter became the winner of "American Idol" last weekend, it was kismet that the city of Indio was able to provide a homecoming in a revitalized downtown complete with a new outdoor stage which she performed on during her hometown visit May 14.

The city’s slogan could not be more on point – “The City of Indio is Center Stage for the Coachella Valley.”

Taking center stage doesn’t come without clearing hurdles. The journey to Indio’s present momentum required persistence, vision, hard work and planning by city council, city staff and local business owners who were willing to invest in the future to create a revitalized downtown with $200 million in private and public investments.

The Desert Sun editorial board had a very well-timed – and previously planned – visit to downtown Indio on the day of Carter's hometown visit, with City Manager Bryan Montgomery as a guide.

The momentum of Indio’s downtown revitalization is palpable – you could hear hammers clinking as people were staking out their spots for the concert later that day, as street cleaners did a last-minute pass and soundstage mixers wandered over to the stage to get mics ready for the show.

Indio’s population is the largest in the Coachella Valley at 89,137, according to the 2020 Census. And with a median age of 39 years old, according to Census Reporter, Indio feels less like a tourist destination and more like a city with a historic downtown core – complemented by the hip, creative energy of young people bringing new business to storefronts.

There’s a specific mix of old and new. There’s a Yellow Mart, Indio Tap House and Gabino’s Creperie East all on a short stretch of Miles Avenue.

Whether it's the beautification of older building facades, the 70 new, market-rate apartments being built, or the future home of College of the Desert’s expanded Indio satellite campus – a facility which officials say will double its capacity to 8,000 students – the growth is fully in motion.

A huge kudos to Indio, for keeping the nostalgic charm of the downtown while embracing the renaissance of the future.

Whether you’re an Indio resident walking from your house to Food Truck Fridays or a Coachella Valley resident hopping in the car for a short drive to a date night out – Indio’s downtown is just getting warmed up – don’t forget to wear your “Indio loves Abi” T-shirt.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: If you haven't been to downtown Indio lately, you are in for a big surprise