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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I read on line that Wynonna Judd just appeared in Pioneer Town at Pappy and Harriet’s Saloon/Restaurant recently.
Paul McCartney played there 4 years ago. Winona did play there recently.
Next time you’re in the area, make a reservation to visit the Integratron in Landers for a sound bath. Truly one of a kind experience.
The sound bath is $1200 for 1 hour of relaxing while someone plays crystals. Yay for the Goop generation!
I have no problem with people spending money on whatever, but making claims that it has “scientifically-proven healing properties” should be a criminal offense. First of all, if it in fact did have healing properties, you would merely need to record it and replay it. Secondly, sounds is literally basic physics, and super easy to measure and do a peer reviewed study on.
I have heard about this place a couple of times. But it’s been a while, it’s out in the middle of nowhere they said , so it’s out of the way. maybe next time head to Arizona will drop by. Thank you.
It isn’t unknown at all. It is a big hangout for hipsters and influencers.Instagram is full of pictures taken there and the live music concerts can be sold out months ahead of time. So wear your granny dresses,beards and ironic hair-dos and don’t forget to post your pics with a filtered lens if you go, because the place is not unknown, and it can be crowded.
I was just about to say the same thing!! I worked on an Apple commercial in Joshua tree and on the way back to LA stop by and it was packed, and there wasn’t even a special event there! But it’s cool to know that more and more people know about it and will help keep it alive.
And if anyone really wants to go to a real Western Gold Country Town, one of the oldest and best preserved real Gold Country Town in California is the town of Columbia just 10 minutes outside of Sonora. Now there’s the real deal!!
I liked your article .I’ve lived in Yucca Valley for 20 years . There are rattle snakes in Our area .Tourists need to be aware of this .
Thanks for sharing the info on a place this native SoCal boy had never heard of, before. It sounds great – I’m definitely going to visit Pioneertown the next time I visit the desert. I’m also going to share the information about this place with my friends and relatives, so they can share in the fun, also ! Thank you for writing this article !
U are a contributor to the hoards and hoards of people visiting places like this,national parks and so on.Soon there will never be a place that is less traveled
I’m pretty sure the owners are ecstatic for publicity since it could mean they won’t have to shutdown because of no business.
Look up the reason Robert Frost wrote the poem the road less travelled to find out that he was not trying to inspire cliche one liners but actually that it was regrettable!
I’ll be living an hour away from this place in about 2 months. Can’t wait to visit!
Another town of the Old West that is fun to visit is Calico Ghost Town, now operated by San Bernardino County. It has lodging now which is different than when I visited. It was orginally an old Silver mining town restored by Walter Knott in 1950.
Thanks for the tip!
It sounds like a charming place to visit. Thanks for the information and photos.
I wish I knew about this when I visited Palm Springs. It sounds like something right up my alley.
Thanks for the share on this place. It’s a definite next time stop.