China Ranch Date Farm & Bakery

Well, worth the detour off our course of travel, and we loved the plunge into the canyon with its wide variety of rock formations, and then the oasis at the bottom with the beautiful date palms. As has been noted, the date shakes were delicious. I also enjoyed the gift shop and bought a cactus stalk cross.

We absolutely loved this place! Such an oasis! Amazing trails! Beautiful fig palms orchard! Delicious fig coffee shake!

Best variety of dates, cookies and absolutely delicious date shakes. Nice place to visit and explore while grabbing a sweet treat! The date shakes is a must try!

A hidden gem in the area. A date farm that you can freely visit and wonder around. There’s a bakery with products and the best date shake (vegan) you’ll drink. Extremely lowkey and relaxing. Don’t miss if you are in the area.

Wonderful place to visit, grab some dates, date bread, and date shakes (they even have a vegan version). Great shop attached with clothing, purses, jewelry, and so much more. There's a great little hike around the back of the place. A must stop when visiting Death Valley!

We really enjoyed the hiking & date shakes. Trails offer amazing scenery with some shade by the river & very few people. The road leading to the farm is mostly unpaved & bumpy/narrow/windy but not terrible, just need to be careful. We had a small rental car & it was fine. Highly recommend visiting!

This place is gorgeous! Like an oasis in the dessert. The drive down was even scenic with historical markers for old gypsum mines. The store was cute and the staff were friendly. My husband LOVED his coffee and chocolate date shake. We bought some mixed dates to snack on while we drove around Death Valley National Park. I highly recommend China Ranch as a morning stop before you head out for the day.

Gift shop,milk shakes and of course dates for sale. Bought jar of honey, hope it will be good.

Recommended! Beautiful drive to this spot that had beautiful grounds and surroundings! Purchased a date iced frappe coffee and date cookies, and chowed down under the shade of the many sitting spots. Very cool gift shop with interesting finds. Go check it out and lemme know whatcha think of it!

About an hour outside Henderson Nevada heading towards Pahrump. Long drive but beautiful scenery! Expected more but interesting!

Far from the maddening crowds of Las Vegas, there is a beautiful date ranch in Tecopa, California. I have had this place bookmarked for a long time and finally had an opportunity to check it out. We made the short drive out here (1.5 hours) into the world of date palms. Towards the end of the drive, the landscape changes into this mini oasis of lush greenery. The turn off into the farm is clearly marked. You wind your way down into the ranch on a dirt road that leads into the canyon. Be aware that other drivers will be coming from the other direction. As we drove in, we witnessed a worker pollinating one of the many date palms. I found this interesting to witness. How does pollination occur? There are both male and female date palms. Initially both trees produce brown flower pods in in the spring. These pods split open to reveal flowers inside. The long stems of the male flowers are placed inside the female flowers to assure complete pollination. One male tree can supply enough pollen for 40-50 female trees. Isn't nature fascinating? We made our way down into the canyon and found parking easily as we were one of the few people there. There are picnic tables to sit at and they offer a little shade. It was relatively warm the day we came so I would advise visiting in the fall, early spring and winter. The date farm is huge and is family owned and operated. It offers a small gift shop with lots of Native American items and of course lots of date items. The date shake counter is within the store and you can also order your shake from the patio and the date shake counter. There is a tiny museum offering insight and historical information. They are in the process of renovating the museum. So much history here from Kit Carson sleeping here to Antonio Armijo (the first European visitor) arriving here and establishing the Old Spanish Trail. There are four hiking trails in the area. These trails include a small slot canyon, a waterfall, old abandoned mines and beautiful desert views. We didn't hike on this day as my friend was not prepared. The farm itself is only twenty miles to the Death Valley National Park entrance. Be sure to bring closed toed shoes and your hiking day pack with plenty of water. We witnessed the China Ranch creek flowing which ultimately leads to the Amargosa River. Yes, there is a lot of water here all from underground of course which makes this area so lush and oasis like. Surprising I know. The area is home to many animals and over 225 bird species have been recorded. The date shakes were so yummy. We even added chocolate to our shakes which enhanced the taste even more. My friend bought some date bread to bring home. I plan to return for a second date in the fall/winter to check out the hiking in the area.

I absolutely loved it, beautiful little hiking trails a wonderful gift shop absolutely love their date shake. A little rough getting down the hill, but it's well worth it.

China Ranch Date Farm & Bakery is located in Tecopa, California, on the southeastern edge of Death Valley National Park. There is a small museum on the property as well as a gift shop that sells date shakes, packaged dates, and a wide variety of wares & other date products. There is also a well-maintained trail system connected to the property that follows the Amargosa Wild & Scenic River, the only free-flowing river in the Death Valley region of the Mojave Desert. I visited China Ranch Date Farm & Bakery during the 2024 winter holidays, when I was seeking new road trip options from Henderson/Las Vegas. I thoroughly enjoyed this off-the-beaten-path adventure. Highlights from my trip included hiking to the Amargosa River waterfall, savoring a coffee date shake from the farm store, and taking a scenic drive along Old Spanish Trail Highway to Highway 127 & Highway 178. Attractions along that route included natural hot springs, badlands, the towns of Tecopa & Shoshone, and the Nopah Range Wilderness.

Who would have thought a lush area of land outside of Las Vegas would have so many date trees, especially in the desert! This was worth the 1.5 hour drive from Las Vegas, even with the winding dirt roads. Even on a weekend, it was not super busy and we were able to find parking near the bakery and gift shop. Of course, all the visitors were in line for their date shakes; my husband got the Date Shake (has ice cream, dates, and vanilla extract) and I got the Vegan Date Smoothie (dates, almond milk, cashews, mesquite flour, and frozen banana). You have to go inside the bakery to order the shakes, and then pick-up is outside the building. I was impressed with the Vegan Date Smoothie as it was cold and easy to drink, with a date and banana taste (rating is 5 out of 5). The Date Shake tasted more like vanilla ice cream with a very very subtle date taste, but my husband loved it (4 out of 5). I would definitely get the Vegan Date Smoothie again. They also have a Vegan Coffee Date Frappe and Hot/Cold Coffee. Prices were pretty fair, especially for the size of the cups. There is seating right outside the bakery and picnic tables scattered throughout the farm. The bakery smelled really really good. All date products used dates grown on the farm. They had samples of dates we could try; I sampled all the ones that were available and my favorite is the Honey Date, so I grabbed a container of it for $9. They sold raw dates, date candies, date bars, and a variety of date baked goods like brownies, cookies, and bread. My husband bought one of their $4 date brownies and the chocolate flavor overpowered the taste of the dates, but it was sooo moist and sweet (rating 5 out of 5). I also pursued their Date Pecan Cookies and Date Nut Bread, both which were delicious and didn't have seed oils in the ingredients. I highly recommend their Date Nut Bread. We got to walk around for a bit and saw that a walking/hiking trail is directly connected to the parking lot, where there is a shading area with tables and seating. We also walked through the rows of date trees and enjoyed the clean air.

It's a long and winding road to the some of the best dates and date shakes you'll ever have in your life, right in the middle of groves of dates. First, the vegan date smoothie: this is the best date shake and definitely the healthiest shake I've ever had. Made from cashews, mesquite flour, almond milk, frozen banana and of course dates, it's luscious, nutritious and as far as I know, only made here at China Ranch. The dates themselves are fantastic, fresh and sweet, packed into paper boxes for easy transport home. There's also date bread and a ton of souvenirs to browse through. There are several hiking trails available starting out from the store as well, featuring amazing views of the Mohave desert. I completed the Slot Canyon trail featuring (you guessed it) a slot canyon. Stunning views and very interesting plant life along the trail. You'll feel like you're on another planet. China Ranch Date Farm is a must-see. Free parking in the lot.

This is my all-time favorite place near Tecopa, California and in the desert it's a must stop. You absolutely have to try the coffee date shake. It is incredibly delicious. I stop here every single time I go through TeCopa to enjoy the Hot Springs. I bring all my friends and family here and I absolutely love this place. I've been coming here for over a decade and I am just so grateful that this place exists. Thank you for a wonderful family owned business. You guys are so much appreciated.

Whether or not it's worth driving out of your way for this spot is debatable, but you'll be rewarded with some solid date options. Staff was friendly and I appreciate they offer a restroom... very handy after driving for a few hours out here. I actually went with the vegan date smoothie to be less guilty on the choice and it was still very flavorful. Not overly sweet in a good way with nice date flavoring. The date bread is also very moist and tasty! Makes for a nice grab for the road. Warning the road in is pretty sketchy. While you don't need 4WD, it's not paved and high clearance is probably preferred. Our Civic made it in fine but definitely had a bunch of brake warnings with the inclines going down and it's one way, so you gotta be careful going in and out. Makes for an adventure just getting here.

This place still has the same charm. I was visiting Death Valley again and China Ranch was on my list of must-visits before heading home to the east coast. They have the same menu items of baked goods, shakes, and smoothies. The vegan date smoothie is the best thing I've ever tasted. If you're in the area, definitely stop in and buy too many things like I did!

Possibly the best dates I've ever had. Wonderful. Dateland in AZ is a close second. The date shake is great and should not be missed. Friendly, courteous service. Open 9 a.m. everyday. Quick directions: Make the turn to Tecopa, 5 miles south of Shoshone, CA. Worth the road trip!

Great place to visit in the middle of nowhere beautiful farm with dates you can hike many hiking trails enjoy dates shake

A bit of a drive from Tecopa, but absolutely worth it. The best dates and date baked goods I've ever tried. The Black Beauty variety is especially delicious and less sweet than others. And there's nothing more decadent than having a coffee-infused date shake for breakfast. The staff is friendly and the gift store is large and well stocked with all kinds of unique products. It's incredible to see such lush beauty in the middle of the desert in what feels like the middle of nowhere. The Amaragosa Trail is steps away from the farm and provides a long hike along the river. The area has a fascinating and tragic history-- it is the traditional homelands of the Shoshone and Paiute and was later founded by a man named Quon Sing who tragically disappeared--but is now a serene and beautiful oasis.

Love this place! The fresh dates are most delicious. They also have some amazing bakery offerings and of course the decedent date shakes made with love. We enjoy walking around the gift shop and surrounding land. The hikes are really special. If you are in the mood to wander for several miles, you'll run into signs of the olden days. Including an old mining operation and the remains of an old railroad bed. We visit at least four times a year from Vegas, and always make sure to bring our guest out to this very special spot.

I loved this place. We stopped on the way to Joshua tree and I was thrilled that they had a vegan date smoothie, which was tasty. They had free date samples, and gift shop and you could see how dates grow. Museum was ok. Would love to come back and do some of the trails. The road to get there was scenic too.

Another Death Valley region gem! In summer of 2016 I took my first ever trip through Death Valley. It was a hot 114 degree day and I had to take a break from driving, so I happened arrive at Stovepipe Wells Village. Badwater Saloon was open, so I pulled over and ordered a cold beer to settle my thirst , then hunger hit! One of the items I tried on that day was what they called "China Ranch Stuffed Dates". These were dates stuffed with goat cheese and jalapenos wrapped in Applewood bacon and a touch of prickly pear syrup; del-freaking-icious!!! So I asked the bartender where China Ranch was and he told me. A couple of months later when I had more time to explore Death Valley, I picked up my Mom in Las Vegas and we hit the road! One of our stops on that trip was China Ranch Date Farm. The location is amazing by itself! You would never know it is there because it is hidden amongst hills and surrounded by desert. You drive on a dirt road that is cut amongst barren hills and as you make the last turn there is a green oasis full of palm trees! Believe it or not humans have lived in this area for at least since the Shoshone and Ute people first arrived in the area around 1,000 A.D. Then came the Spanish ranchos, mining and railroad! The name "China Ranch" comes from a Chinese mine worker named either Quon Sing or Ah Foo who settled in this oasis in the late 1800s, built the irrigation system and developed a fruit garden and planted vegetables, and raised meat for the local mining camps. Then came a nasty roughneck named Morrison who illegally chased him off the property. The legend goes that Morrison may have even killed the Chinese owner and disposed of his body, because no one ever saw him leave. Morrison eventually sold the property, but the name "China Ranch" had stuck. Ever since then the property has had many owners who turned it into a fig farm, cattle ranch, hog farm, alfalfa farm, and others. Finally in 1970, Charles Brown Jr. and Bernice Sorrells purchased it and to this day it remains in these families. China Ranch offers numerous delicious date products, such as breads, pastes, syrups, delicious date shakes made fresh to order and of course plenty of varieties of dates, including Deglet Noors, Medjools, and Honey dates. Depending on the season, they also sell other varieties including a China Ranch exclusive hybrid date. My personal favorites are Black Beauty Dates. They also have a gift shop and a small museum. There are a few picnic tables outside in case one wishes to sit and enjoy the surrounding for a while. For hikers, there are a few hiking trails to choose from. SO there is a little bit of everything for everyone! If you are ever in the area, do not miss the opportunity to visit, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Beautiful date farm well worth the drive. The roads wind down the valley are breathtaking. The milk shake and vegan smootie were both fantastic after a mile hike. The trails were well maintained. The water trickles down stream and makes the daye farm a paradise. We will definitely go back.

Well... it's definitely this little oasis out in the middle of nowhere (Tecopa, CA) about 65 miles away from The Vegas valley... BUT that's about all it was. Granted it was 95 degrees so there wasn't much to do to escape the heat. I wanted to do their small hike to the slot canyon but it was way too hot. So we went back to the farm and hardly anyone was there. We went into the shop and I tried three of their varieties of dates which were delicious. I then ordered one of their date shakes and that was good too... albeit it VERY VERY sweet. Other than that, it was a one and done trip for me and my bf... we drove back and were just like, "yeah... there was no point to drive all the way out there." Just personal preference. The three stars are for the date shake. I should've got the one with cold brew coffee added to cut the sweetness a bit. BUT to drive about 120 miles around trip for an ice cream? Nah.

Best mother's day ever! The date farm is the place to go for amazing date shakes, date bread, date muffins! But also for the little hikes among the trees and shady spots. Highly reccomend u attend in spring winter or fall...its too too hot otherwise. And the horse flys rule.

Would highly recommend a day trip out here from Las Vegas! The drive is beautiful and the farm is its own beautiful oasis! If you have the time and it's not too hot, definitely do the hiking behind the farm and finish the day with date ice cream!

Totally unexpected. Feels like you are going the wrong way but keep going. When the paved road ends and the dirt road goes between a canyon, keep going. Keep going until you get to an oasis of amazing date shakes, variety of dates, and baked goods. Then walk towards the trail head and walk to a bubbling brook and a small waterfall. It is beautiful, full of history, and relaxing.

Worth the drive from Las Vegas. Beautiful, relaxing, and straightforward drive. It is such a quaint place. Very cool to see the date palm trees. There's a little bit of dirt road but not a rough terrain to go through. Love the little gift shop they have. Had some date shake. Super delicious! We also bought dates from here and it is amazing and flavorful! It's also very nice to be able to support their business. There are places you can hike. Make sure to bring lots of water on hot days! And I have spotted a coyote within their date farm so be watchful.

Get your date shakes!!!! In spite of the fact that we are in the middle of the desert, this oasis is open during COVID-19 with all precautions in place, which is great. There's no guide on what to do- you're just here to wander the date farm or gift shop or trail. Follow the Old Spanish Trail Road past Tecopa from 127. Then follow the signs for China Ranch Date Farm. It's about .5 mile of paved road, then 1.5 miles of unpaved for the rest of the way. It's pretty fun and can be done with a 2WD but go slow if you do as parts of it is one lane. Though I didn't try the hike since it's August and it's about 110F, it's definitely something to try next time! The gift shop has a lot of trinkets and fabrics that I haven't fully checked out, and they have quite a lot of products made in the farm, such as dates (of course), salsa, pickled quail eggs, etc. I ordered a date shake with banana and given that it was 110F I think I rate it higher than it actually is, but still good overall. It's a bit too sweet for me, and I feel like the ice cream melts too fast, but nonetheless it tasted good in this scorching weather. If they used better ice cream than I'd give it a 5. Ate some refrigerated dates at the picnic tables near the trailhead, and man it was pretty good. Got the assorted just to see how all of them tasted. Personally, I thought the dark brown/blackish looking dates were the most tender, delicious of the assorted batch. Just my 2 cents. Just keep an eye out on the gigantic flies when picnicking here! Overall, fun little side trip for first time goers. I might be back in the winter when temps are cooler to hike the trails and explore more, but overall I felt satisfied making the trip here from Death Valley!

Unbelievable oasis hidden in the Mojave. Family owned business, open 7 days a week.

LOVE the date shakes here, they are truly the highlight!! This little spot is tucked away in the middle of nowhere, so if you're not looking for it specifically, it's definitely not something you would randomly come across! A cool spot to check out if you are in the area for sure. The date shakes are sooo amazing and so are the dates! I typically get the vegan date smoothie, while my husband opts for the date shake. We've stopped here a few times on our way back to Vegas from the Delights Hot Springs, and are always sure to grab something. I would SO love to give them 5 stars, but our last visit here left my stomach churning. :/ Not in the physical sense, luckily, but I was pretty nauseated when I found SEVERAL long hairs in our trail mix. They're sealed when purchased, so how did that happen?? D: Unfortunately I'll probably never eat anything from here again, but I will always support the local vendors by buying some of the other products!

Great destination, terrible Horse Flies. Wear a nylon windbreaker or a leather jacket to resist the Horse Fly bites! They're everywhere with no attempts to capture or kill them!

What a surprise! Loved the drive down down down into the belly of a precarious looking rocky canyon walls reaching into the date farm. An oasis in the middle of nowhere:-) loved the landscape and admire the family who ventured out into this remote area to farm dates! Such a cool place. I loved the date shake.

This is a special place to come visit if you are around tecopa. It's a beautiful place that looks like a wonderland, they have delicious date bread and date smoothies. Even a vegan option smoothie, with a cute store in the back with local businesses product. So much to see here and hiking in the back with even a waterfall.

What an absolute gem of a find! We discovered this farm while we were exploring the Death Valley area and stayed here overnight with our camper van through our Harvest Host membership. I am a huge date lover so I was really excited to try their dates. They have an ample variety of dates that you really can't find in most places. Grocery stores and the like will have the usual medjools are deglet noors but China Ranch offers so much more. We ordered a 5lb sampler box (Halawy, Khadrawy, Honey and CR Black were included), date nut bread, date syrup and a couple of date smoothies. Everything was delicious! I'm so glad that offer online ordering because I will definitely be ordering more dates in the future from them. The staff is so friendly and COVID protocols are in place. If you're ever in the area and love dates as much as I do, make it a point to give them a visit!

I love stopping in, but this was my first visit since the Covid protocols have been in effect. They are handling it quite well. If you want shakes, you can order from outside, but if you want to shop, they will admit you upon request. We went inside. No one--not Hadleys or Shields can hold a candle to the yumminess served here. We bought date bread, cookies, and muffins. My favorites find was the thick date syrup. This is an amazing item to have on hand for cooking. Yes, its a weird little little drive to get into the box canyon, but it is sooo worth it.

On our way to visit family in Pahrump, NV, I asked my husband if he would like to go on a quick adventure. He always obliges. We took the turnoff down the Old Spanish Trail. Then we followed the signs down a narrow caliche road with twists and turns and hills and dips. My husband who was driving looks at me and mouthed, "Where the f*** are you taking us?" Our daughters in the backseat were having fun finding "faces" on the sides of the mountains and hills. We reached the farm about 10 minutes later mainly because we drove slow and stopped to read signs and take photos. In some places only a single vehicle would fit so be careful. The history of this place is interesting. Check it out: http://www.chinaranch.com/default.asp The gift shop and snack bar are nothing spectacular, but you have the option of refrigerated dates or room temperature ones. I recommend the former because it's about 109°F in early July (2018). It's worth a visit. The coffee date shake ($6) is a bit better than the regular date shake ($5). The guy that blended ours left small chunks and date bits. If you're not down with that, I'd let them know... Vegas isn't too far away. There is a hot springs nearby. Lots of hiking in the area. Just bring extra gas and water... 4-wheel drive wouldn't hurt either. Most likely you will not get a cell phone signal out here. I didn't. 2018 Yelp challenge #144

a special place near Las Vegas. A wonderful place for a day trip for Las Vegas locals. Delicious dates and fun grounds to walk around. We saw lots of wildlife (lizards, birds, and coyotes)! Very sweet staff on property! A must visit :)

Such a secret gem!!! My goodness! Follow the signs for the absolute BEST DATE SHAKE I HAVE EVER HAD EVER EVER EVER. And I grew up in the desert. After treats, we shopped the cool gift shop and then walked the date farm and learned so much about dates and how they are grown. I didn't know dates have been farmed for over 6,000 years. It's a really cool place and worth the trek. Do NOT miss the date bread too. Take at least a loaf home or for the road.

Who would have thought a thriving date farm exists in the middle of a desert? This ranch has some cool history attached to it dating back to the early 1900's. After changing hands over three times, the current family operating this ranch is still doing a great job. Getting here is a bit tricky. There were some windy dirt paths easy for our truck to maneuver but can be problematic for lowered vehicles. At one point the roads are narrow so drive very slow to avoid collisions with a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Once you arrive to the ranch, you'll see a tropical oasis in the middle of desert- lots of date palm trees. There is plenty of parking. There is a gift shop selling random Knick knacks- thick southwestern blankets, books, handmade pottery and ceramics, gemstones, healing sage, etc. They also sell homemade soaps and lotions with sample testers out. The best part was being able to sample all the varieties of dates. We ended up purchasing several containers of the gourmet and black beauty dates. They keep well in the fridge for months, and can even be frozen without affecting the taste. There is a gift box option or the plastic box is $6 to $7 depending on the kind you go with. There was even homemade honeys packed in mason jars- several varieties available as well. We went with the clover kind. Lastly, we tried the date shake but it was just okay for me. I like my date smoothies made with cashew nuts and dates and raw milk. They used the plastic tub ice creams to blend the dates with, and it's not the greatest quality of ice cream. But she put a good amount of dates so it was chunky and swirled through the shake. I noticed signs stating they sell the female and male date trees. I would inquire about that if anybody wanted to plant their own, especially if you live in a dry and arid environment (like Arizona, Nevada or parts of SoCal). We also went hiking- a lot of trails are listed. Bring snacks and water but pack everything out! I can't stand seeing litter on hiking trails. It is so disrespectful. This place is definitely worth checking out when in the area. We came in the winter time so it was much cooler.

Visited December 1st,2021& was surprised to find so many beautiful dates still growing aplenty! Such beauty& wow! I didn't appreciate the yumminess of dates until now! I also saw several coyotes in the date orchard& down by the Amargosa River when I hiked from the date ranch property. The hike by the river was really so striking: Loved the greenery , the relics from the past( ie old cars from the 50s)& the stark desert hills against the blue sky ! I look forward to bringing loved ones here to surprise them with a hike. I did not expect such beauty!!! Worth a visit if you are in the area!!

Mood - Date Shake As your driving to the ranch, thru the many twists and turns until you reach your destination your surrounded by the desert. Until you get to that point of Ah- ha - the oasis in the middle of no where. The road goes from a 2 lane road, to, you better have some good driving skills as it is a 1.5 lane road. The Date Ranch is situated at the bottom of the hill with ample parking. There are many trails, plants for sale, a small 2 room musuem, and a gift shop that has honestly a little bit of everything for everyone ( even shakes and treats ) The shakes didn't disappoint at all, you can even add extra flavor if you choose. I bought crystals, and Palo Santos wood for smudging. We will def be back, as they had alot of Native American made items that hit home for us. I would truly recommend- you won't be disappointed. Bring adequate shoes for hiking, and enough liquids for hydration especially during summer months. Location is Tecopa Ca, - ample parking, only 1.5 hours away from Vegas.

the signs inside the shop are ai generated. the milkshake was nice but i cant justify going here when they either partake in this trend or profit off of it.

China Ranch Date Farm is literally in the middle of nowhere. You can find it by going through the southern part of Death Valley (which I also consider in the middle of nowhere), near Tecopa, California. It is a small farm in a natural oasis. It will delight you to see lush greenery in the middle of the Mojave. It's like Ireland or Hawaii was plopped down in the middle of the desert! You will definitely want your "picture-taker" here...cottonwood trees, wandering streams, big towering greystone boulders, marshes, amazing birdlife and other little critters, and of course, date palms. That's what brought us here. After dieting for several weeks, we wanted something healthy and sweet (and we heard the "date shake" that this place offers is worth the trip), and desiring a change of scene, without having to go all the way out of town, we decided on China Ranch. What a good idea! The Ranch is a sweet, quiet, tranquil place with lots of opportunities for hiking. We did not do that on this trip, (because we were traveling with a friend who has a medical restriction), but the different trails did look inviting. The Old Spanish Trail is within walking distance. Or you could take the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad bed. You could hike to nearby abandoned mines, too...if you dare. (Really, it's not as scary as it sounds. The Ranch has blocked off any dicey ones, and posted clear signs. Just use commonsense and obey!) We got a lot out of the experience anyway, though, just sitting in the front of the Date Shop with our journals, listening to the sweet chirping of dozens of different melodies of local birds. And taking their pictures! There were some beauties! I'm not generally a bird-watcher, and do not really do the Nature Channel thing, so I could not begin to tell you what species or varieties of avians we saw (except for the unmistakeable hummingbird), but there were some blue-breasted ones, and some dusky-brown ones, and large and small. Aside from the sounds of the blender (making those date shakes) in the shop, it was as quiet as can be. Across from this sitting area is an old shack--presumably from the early 1900s--which still has the water pump, roof, rusted out stove, and table. Standing and looking in, you can also see the gorgeous mountains in the background. Step aside, "Tiny House!" The date shakes were good! A little too rich for our blood, so we ate about 3/4 and discarded the rest. But it was worth the caloric intake. The shop, as some have complained, IS dated, a bit chaotic, and cluttered. (They could use the services of an interior designer and planner to get the most out of the space and edit the offerings). There is just not a lot to see here, and it is a tiny bit disappointing. The shop anchors the experience here, so getting this place tidied and spruced up should be a bigger priority for the Ranch. The gorgeous green house next door to the main shop is lovely, though. And the bathrooms are clean! The biggest complaint has to be the flies. I know this is not the fault of the Ranch owners...and perhaps there is nothing that can be done about it. (Is there really nothing that can be done about it?) But the biting flies are a real pain in the patootie. I mean, you can't get more than one step in front of the other before you are swatting flies. Can you tell I am a city girl? I think if they could cut down the fly population (which obviously really likes dates--who knew?), and get the gift shop/date shack back to its former glory, this place would be perfect.

I love dates. Sweet, fudge-y, and what I like to call nature's candy. I'm a huge fan of the Hot Springs in Tecopa and on a drive in during daylight hours, I saw a big yellow sign that said DATE FARM with and arrow. For those of you who don't know, dates grow on palm trees (which require a lot of water). I'm basically like Alice and this sign was guiding me to Wonderland. A date farm! In the middle of desert?! What is this voodoo?! Down the rabbit hole I went... There's another yellow sign that points into some giant rocks. So, I drove. And it's a rough little canyon that you drive through. Go slowly, cars may be coming out from their visit. While driving, you literally think, where am I? What is happening? Where is this going? Is this a joke? Mom... there's no cell service here! Is this how it ends? Then, suddenly... out of nowhere there's a sea of DATE PALMS. It's free to walk among the dates. Which I highly recommend. It's flat and accessible. It smells incredible. Pro-tip: Dates are in season between January and May. I had no idea how many varieties there were. You can try them for free at the little gift shop and you can take your new favorite variety home with you. They also have date shakes, cookies, sauces, and cakes. There's a funky little gift shop attached and about a 2 minute walk from the gift shop there's a modest museum which tells the history of the China Date Ranch. Definitely worth checking out; legit the best date I've had all year - fruit and men included!

I've ventured to the Date Farm twice. 2 stars for the interesting canyons and hiking, one HALF star for the gift shop. The gift shop was decorated nice and the dates for sampling were good. The last visit was aimed to try a date shake, but unfortunately the man behind the counter ignored me and my son and my husband (standing right in front of him in line mind you) until the clock struck 5pm and told us he's closed. I'm happy we didn't get our shakes though, there were WAAAY too many flies inside the gift shop all over EVERYTHING. The flies were breeding, the trash was probably filled with maggots, if a health inspector came it would be shut down in an Instant. Even in the restroom I had to wave my arms constantly to deter flies from landing on me. It was DISGUSTING . The date farm is in the middle of nowhere, in my opinion it's not worth a trip. Death Valley is way too awesome to consider this an attraction, I will not recommend this to anyone. (And I won't be back!)

Such a cool place in an odd little corner of the world and a part of CA I never knew existed. The bread is amazing, as were the muffins, shake and smoothie. The smoothie was super healthy but so rich I only made it halfway through. We'd like to come back and hike but didn't have time this trip

A true oasis in the middle of the Death Valley Desert. If you're wandering around the Death Valley and you see a small painted sign telling you that China Ranch is just down the road..... take it! It's a long windy, dusty dirt road, but it's a fun drive down into what seems like a canyon, dont worry it eventually opens up again and you'll see some vegetation including the date palms. Once you're at the ranch, make a pit stop, use the restrooms and then go order a Date Shake! These bad boys are delicious, but man oh man do they melt fast, so make sure you slurp them up quick! It's so hot here, I think it's impossible to get an ice cream head ache! The staff here was super nice!

Don't believe they are open anymore. No responses to any communications despite many attempts.

A hidden gem in a desert oasis. always pop in when we stay a few nights at the hot springs. this trip i had to go back twice. first and foremost its the constant smell of fresh baked date breads, the insanely cute gift shop, friendly owner and staff and the backdrop of the surrounding grounds to explore and eat your shake. love love love china ranch

Love this little oasis, a hidden gem! The date shakes are amazing, and the quirky gift store is fun!

Had a great time and enjoyed walking the trails. It really was a lot of fun and well worth the drive from Las Vegas.

I really like China Ranch Date Farm. I made another visit today with four friends and we hiked the Crack Trail after making a short trip past the turnoff to the trail to see the small waterfall on the Amargosa River as it flows south through the eastern edge of China Ranch. I have been here about 10 times in the last four years hiking and exploring. There are several trails, but note that almost no shade is available on any hike. The trails are described on the Ranch's website and they have a trail guide available at the gift shop for 50 cents. Its' the same information as on their website. If you want to do a more challenging hike and are going with friends and two cars, you can spot one at the Ranch by the gift shop and then drive up to Tecopa itself to the Post Office. There is a dirt road that goes behind the PO to a trailhead 1/10 of a mile from the PO. Start the hike here and it's about 6 miles along the Amargosa River through Amargosa Canyon to reach China Ranch. A date shake and one of their date, chocolate chip or date, vanilla chip cookies is a reward for a wonderful hike.

** My 200th Review! ** I saved this special review for my 200th! I love this place! Wow this is truly a oasis in the middle of nowhere!!! When you are driving you will be thinking there is no way a business this far into the desert or even greenery!! The road turns into a dirt road and you just keep driving and winding around rock mountains. Once you are close you will start seeing palm trees and signs and you will know you have arrived! It is amazing that this is here! It is a great place to go and visit. We have taken our dogs it is dog friendly! Drive in by the trees and there benches to sit and the dogs will love being on the grass! We take a ride and go into the shop they have with items for sale, as well as homemade baked date nut bread. This is amazing!!! We always buy a couple to take back with us, The Date nut shakes are so yummy!!!! So worth a day trip to come here. There is hiking as well we have never done because we have the dogs with us but sometime I would like to do it, They sell dates fresh you can eat the way they are or bake your self with them. They are so good! You will love coming here if you have never been! Check it out cause it is worth it! Take a look around while your there!! Have a date shake! And buy the bread it is delicious!!

We love getting out of town to go get a date shake and shop at their gift shop. The trail from the parking lot offers a short loop with wild life and nice scenery. Staff is friendly, horse flies are not.