Overview
If you are looking to experience a small bit of western Hollywood history, a Pioneer Town visit is worth the trip. The town reminds me of Tombstone, Arizona, with its main street surrounded on each side by authentic-looking western old-time stores. A few tourist shops, a bar, a hotel, and a few restaurants. The main attraction to the town is the Pioneer Saloon and all the crazy stories that have happened here.
Adventure
Pioneer Town is a very interesting place located about 15minutes from Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center. The town is small but there is plenty of parking for your van or RV. It’s a fun place to spend a few hours or overnight. I highly recommend any van or RV nomad in the area to visit Pioneer Town to enjoy the show.
Pioneer Town History
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
References and Other Adventures
- Website: Pioneer Town
Joshua Tree National Park
Besides a visit to the beach, a visit to Joshua Tree National Park is a must for any van or RV nomad exploring Southern California. The park offers excellent adventures to include camping, climbing, hiking, horseback riding, stargazing, and great geologic features that add to the wonder of this vast wilderness.
Whitewater Preserve
The Whitewater Preserve is a great place to visit if you are traveling through the Palm Springs and Joshua Tree areas. The preserve has the Whitewater River which runs year-round going through it which supplies water to its pools. The canyon has a robust population of bighorn sheep, deer, bears, and is an important wildlife corridor between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains.
