Disney is building a beach in the desert, and the first pieces of it open to the public in fall 2026. Cotino Bay Beach, Dining and Shops, the waterfront town center at the heart of Rancho Mirage's Cotino community, is set to debut with about 45,000 square feet of restaurants and shops wrapped around a 24-acre swimmable lagoon that anyone can pay to enjoy. Here is what is coming, when, and why it matters for the middle of the Coachella Valley.
What is Cotino Bay Beach in Rancho Mirage?
Cotino is the first Storyliving by Disney community, a master-planned neighborhood imagined by Disney Imagineers on the land between Bob Hope Drive and Monterey Avenue, just south of Gerald Ford Drive. The town center sits on the north end of Cotino Bay, the community's 24-acre lagoon, off Monterey between Gerald Ford and Frank Sinatra Drives. Its first phase covers roughly 45,000 square feet of shopping, dining, and entertainment, and Disney is targeting a fall 2026 opening for the first tenants. The shops and restaurants will be open to everyone. Getting into the water itself will carry a separate fee, with pricing and hours to be announced closer to opening.
Which restaurants and shops open first?
Four names lead the opening lineup, and each one tells you something about the tone Disney is going for here.
- Elevare, an 8,000-square-foot waterfront restaurant created by Oak View Group and designed by Ignisio Studios, serving refined American food built on local, seasonal ingredients. Plans call for lunch and dinner daily, a weekend brunch, and a broad terrace angled toward Cotino Bay and the San Jacinto Mountains.
- Artigiano, a Canadian coffee company with more than 26 years in specialty coffee, opening its first United States café in a 3,000-square-foot space.
- On the Mark Fine Foods and Provisions, the Palm Springs market known for artisan goods and sandwiches, adding a 3,700-square-foot second location.
- Khaga Yoga, a 2,000-square-foot studio with two practice rooms and classes for adults and families.
Disney has said more tenants will follow in the months ahead, and later phases of the town center call for a hotel and additional retail along a pedestrian plaza.
How much does it cost to live at Cotino?
City approvals envision close to 2,000 homes and condos at full buildout, with more than 300 in the first phase, including a 55-plus neighborhood along the north and west edges. Preliminary sales opened in 2024. Many designs start above $1 million, and top-tier homes reach the upper $4 million range. Shea Homes, Woodbridge Pacific Group, and Davidson Communities are building the different sections. Residents can opt into the Artisan Club, a voluntary membership that offers Disney-curated programs, wellness, and entertainment. It is a choice, not a requirement of ownership.
Why does a Disney town center matter for Rancho Mirage?
Rancho Mirage has always sat in the geographic center of the valley, a short drive from Palm Desert's El Paseo shopping district and minutes from the resorts along Highway 111. What it has not had is a true public waterfront. Cotino Bay changes that. A lagoon you can swim in, ringed by restaurants with mountain views, is a new kind of anchor for a city better known for golf and gated privacy. For homeowners nearby, a national-brand destination that draws regional visitors tends to support both foot traffic and long-term property values, and it gives the whole eastern edge of Rancho Mirage a reason to be on more people's maps.
When can you visit Cotino Bay Beach?
The first tenants are targeted to open in fall 2026. Some reports point to a phased rollout that continues into 2027, so expect the town center to fill in over time rather than all at once. Cotino's sales studio is already open by appointment, and model home tours are available now for buyers who want to see where the community is heading before the shops arrive.
Frequently asked questions about Cotino Bay Beach
Where is Cotino located in Rancho Mirage?
Cotino sits between Bob Hope Drive and Monterey Avenue, just south of Gerald Ford Drive. The Cotino Bay Beach town center is off Monterey Avenue between Gerald Ford and Frank Sinatra Drives.
Is Cotino Bay open to the public?
The shops and restaurants at Cotino Bay Beach, Dining and Shops will be open to everyone. Access to the 24-acre swimmable lagoon requires a separate fee, with details to be released as the opening approaches.
What does it cost to buy a home at Cotino?
As of the community's preliminary 2024 sales, many home designs start above $1 million, and top-tier residences reach the upper $4 million range.
Do you have to be a Disney member to live at Cotino?
No. The Artisan Club is a voluntary membership. Owning a home at Cotino does not require it.
When does Cotino Bay Beach open?
Disney is targeting fall 2026 for the first tenants, including Elevare, Artigiano, On the Mark Fine Foods and Provisions, and Khaga Yoga, with more to follow in phases.
Talk to the local experts on Rancho Mirage
A project like Cotino reshapes how buyers think about a whole side of the city, and the details change as each phase is announced. The Stanton Williams Group covers Rancho Mirage and the rest of the Coachella Valley every day, and we are always glad to walk clients through what a new community like this means for value, resale, and lifestyle, on the market and off. For a closer look at Rancho Mirage neighborhoods and current listings, reach out to Norman Williams and Jacqulyn Stanton of The Stanton Williams Group at Compass. Norman can be reached at 760.464.2190 and Jacqulyn at 760.702.2557.
