When your group touches down at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal, CA, the last thing anyone wants to do is spend an hour figuring out where to eat. Whether you’re flying in for a golf trip, a corporate retreat, a private event, or just a long desert weekend, Big Smoke Trailers has you covered the moment you step off the plane.
Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport sits in the eastern Coachella Valley, just minutes from La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella. It’s a busy hub for private aviation, corporate charters, and the kind of groups that travel with purpose. And that’s exactly who we serve.
Food Ready When You Land
We understand how group travel works. You’ve got a tight itinerary, people are hungry, and the last thing you want is a two-hour delay hunting for a restaurant that can handle your group size. Big Smoke Trailers can have a full catering setup waiting for you at your venue, vacation rental, or private hangar before your wheels even touch down.
Our BBQ trailers are fully self-contained and built for on-location setups. We bring the pit, the smoke, the sides, and the full-service crew. No venue required. Whether you need a casual drop-off spread for 10 or a plated catering experience for 80, we make it happen on your schedule.
We’ve worked with corporate groups, golf trip crews, and private parties flying in from all over the country. The common thread: they want premium food without the hassle of coordinating a restaurant. That’s what we do.
Serving the Area Around Cochran Airport
Thermal, CA is home to some of the most sought-after private venues in the desert. Luxury vacation rentals, private estates, golf club facilities, and resort properties are all within easy reach of the airport. Big Smoke delivers and sets up at all of them.
Some of the areas we regularly serve near Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport:
- La Quinta — Golf courses, private homes, resort-adjacent vacation rentals
- Indio — Festival-season houses, corporate event spaces, polo grounds
- Coachella — Private properties, community events, group houses
- Thermal itself — Private clubs, track venues, estate properties
If you’re in the eastern Coachella Valley and flying private, there’s a good chance your venue is within our delivery and setup range. Reach out and let us know your location — we’ll confirm availability and get you a quote fast.
Corporate Groups and Flight Crew Catering
Not every group flying into Cochran is here for leisure. Corporate charters, executive retreats, and team-building trips make up a significant share of the traffic at private airports like this one. If you’re organizing food for a business group, you need a caterer who understands logistics, timing, and presentation.
Big Smoke checks all of those boxes. Our corporate BBQ catering is built for groups that expect quality and efficiency. We show up on time, set up fast, keep the line moving, and clean up when we’re done. Your attendees eat well, and you don’t have to think about it.
We also cater for flight crews and support staff. If your team is on the ground for a layover or an extended stay, we can arrange drop-off meals, full-service setups, or anything in between.
Golf Trips Flying Into Thermal
The Coachella Valley is one of the premier golf destinations in the country. PGA West, The Thermal Club, Madison Club, Hideaway Golf Club — the list of world-class courses near Cochran Airport is impressive. Groups flying in for golf weekends often want a full catering experience to match the trip.
Big Smoke is the caterer for those groups. We’ve set up at private residences, poolside at rental homes, and in club facilities across the Valley. If your golf trip needs a proper post-round feast or a pre-game spread, we’ve got the slow-smoked meats and sides to make it memorable. Check out our golf tournament catering page for more on how we work with golf groups.
Why Big Smoke for Airport-Area Catering
Most catering companies require you to bring the party to them. We work the other way around. Our trailers go where your event is. That flexibility is exactly what groups flying into a remote desert airport need.
Here’s what makes us the right call:
- We come to you — no venue required
- Full-service setup with professional staff
- Slow-smoked meats done right, every time
- Flexible menu options from classic BBQ to Surf and Turf
- Groups from 5 to 250+ welcome
- Drop-off catering or full staffed service available
Flying into the Coachella Valley? Make sure the food is handled before you land. Request a quote online or call us at (760) 531-6060 and we’ll take care of the rest.
Our Catering Menus
Authentic BBQ
Appetizers: Southern Smoked Sliders · Hickory Bacon Wrapped Dates · Deviled Egg Flights · Smoked Jalapeño Poppers · Cowboy Charcuterie Board · Smoked Chicken Salads
Entrees: BBQ Sandwiches · BBQ Baked Potato · Big Smoked Wings · Big Smoke Bowls
BBQ By The Lb: Big Smoke Brisket · Smoked Sausage · Real Deal Ribs · Pulled Pork · Smoked Pulled Chicken
Sides: Baked Beans · Baked Potatoes · Coleslaw · Mashed Potatoes · Mac n Cheese · Sweet Potatoes
Get the Full Authentic BBQ Menu or call (760) 531-6060
American Cookout
Appetizers: Deviled Egg Flights · Big Smoked Wings · Smoked Jalapeño Poppers · Cowboy Charcuterie Board · Hickory Bacon Wrapped Dates
Entrees: Grilled Tri-Tip Burgers · Big Smoke Bratwurst · Big Smoked Wings · Whole Tri-Tip
Sides: Baked Beans · Baked Potatoes · Coleslaw · Mashed Potatoes · Mac n Cheese · Sweet Potatoes · Grilled Veggies
Get the Full Cookout Menu or call (760) 531-6060
Surf & Turf
Appetizers: Surf & Turf Skewers · Crab Stuffed Mushrooms · Shrimp Cocktail · Lobster Bisque Shots
Entrees: Lobster Tails · King Crab Legs · Grilled Filet Mignon · Surf & Turf Combos
Sides: Garlic Mashed Potatoes · Grilled Asparagus · Roasted Corn · Caesar Salad
Get the Full Surf & Turf Menu or call (760) 531-6060
Authentic Brunch
Appetizers: Smoked Salmon Bites · Mini Quiches · Fruit Skewers · Mimosa Bar Setup
Entrees: Smoked Brisket Benedict · BBQ Breakfast Bowls · Chicken & Waffles · Smoked Breakfast Burrito
Sides: Hash Browns · Fresh Fruit · Pastry Basket · Yogurt Parfaits
Get the Full Brunch Menu or call (760) 531-6060
Book Your Catering Today
Big Smoke serves events of all sizes across the Coachella Valley — from intimate gatherings of 5 to large-scale celebrations of 250+. Drop-off catering, full-service setup, bartending, and vacation rental stocking all available.
Call us at (760) 531-6060 or request a free quote online. We will get back to you fast.
Also check out our catering for other Valley events: Stagecoach Festival · Coachella Festival · AMEX Golf Tournament · Bachelorette Parties · Bachelor Parties
