A few summers ago, my family and I visited the desert, where we spent four nights in a plush house that we rented via Vrbo. You can check out all the details about our beautifully designed house rental here.
But first, I wanted to tell you about a small town that I’d never heard of and you may not have either, though you’ve definitely seen it in movies, TV shows and commercials.
In fact, while we were there, it looked like something was being filmed since I saw a lot of production trucks and staff.
My friend, former travel writer and Palm Springs resident, Chris McGinnis, recommended that we visit Pioneertown on our way to check out Joshua Tree National Park. From Palm Springs, Pioneertown is just 30 miles (40 minutes without traffic) and from there, it’s just 16 miles to Joshua Tree. Pioneertown is only a four-mile detour and well worth it.
Since I knew nothing about Pioneertown, I looked it up. According to Visit California, “In 1946, Pioneertown was founded by a group of Hollywood investors, including actors Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. They dreamed of creating an Old West set that was actually a town worth visiting, with 1880s-style false-front façades but interiors that had stuff for visitors to see and do too. Up went (from the outside) frontier stables, saloons, and jails; inside, they housed ice cream parlours, bowling alleys and motels. More than 50 films and television shows were filmed here in the 1940s and ‘50s. While location shooting and businesses here have dwindled, you can still see mock gunfights on Mane Street (pun intended). But the most happening place by far is Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, with surprisingly good live music (Robert Plant and Leon Russell have played here) in a seemingly unlikely setting.”
We arrived just after 10am on Friday and there was hardly anyone around except for two couples who we later saw at Joshua Tree and a few production people. Just as the town’s website warned, during the week it’s like a ghost town. All but two of the shops were closed but I loved it and so did the kids. It was like having a Hollywood set all to ourselves.
You might not want to wear your nice shoes because all the roads in Pioneertown are just like the wild, wild west. It’s just dirt and sand. Mane Street is pedestrian and horses only but there’s plenty of free parking all around. Two huge thumbs up for a quick stop. For more information, check out the Pioneertown website.
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Thanks for the article on Pioneer Town. We have been to Joshua Tree and Palm Desert many times since we live in northern San Diego County (a 2 hour trip from our home). We will definitely check it out on our next trip there!
I was just going to say you missed a couple of pretty famous performers at Pappy & Harriet’s …….. Donovan and Paul McCartney. And, besides all that, they serve delicious food!
Thank you Margo. Pioneer town about as new as Daytona, Florida. Only social media scensters are showing up these days. Our beautiful Mojave desert is already full of destructive unappreciative out of Towner’s so wait a few months then arrive. Plz respect our desert.
We have lived in this area since 1960, and have had a place in Rimrock, for the last 35 years, just a few miles up the road, towards Big Bear. It’s always nice to read that world travelers, such as yourself Jonny, have discovered and appreciate our home, and speaking for the craftspeople, and business owners visitors are welcome. When you can, Johnny, I invite you and your family to visit, and stay at our place, (actually my neighbor) for the last 40 years, Garth’s Boulder Gardens, Google it, it’s a, “hip camp”, featuring camping, glamping, retreats, weddings, concerts, and casual visits. If you like the boulders of Joshua Tree national Park, come see and stay, some have stayed for years.
BTW, love your weekly appearances on Leo Laporte’s, The Tech Guy, show.
We were stationed in 29 palms and whenever we had visitors we always went to Pioneer Town.
Pioneertown is NOT a hidden gem! That’s like saying few people have ever heard of Coachella. Famous artists (I.e. Paul McCartney)have played to backed crowds there. If you visit Joshua Tree, most likely Pioneertown is a stop. You’re obviously not from Southern California.
Just because a place is unknown to you, doesn’t mean it is unknown at all! Pioneertown is a very popular attraction to desert visitors. Be prepared for a long wait at Pappy & Harriet’s due to the cool vibe and regular musical talent. I’m not sure why you’d be surprised to find good music there. Then again, I’m surprised that a travel writer would be so sheltered and snobbish.
Not sure why you think I’m being snobbish. I never said I was surprised about good music there.