The wild wild west is alive and well in Pioneertown.  I’m not normally a western kinda guy, but this sweet little town on the outskirts of Yucca Valley in the high desert above Palm Springs,  makes for a great day trip. It’s only about three of four blocks long, and no cars are allowed down the dusty dirt road that is main street. However,  if you’re riding a horse or bull, I’m sure they’d make an exception for you.

While the town looks like it was built in the 1880’s, it was actually a  tinsel town creation for filming western movies.  Roy Rogers broke ground for the first building on September 1, 1946. As of a decade ago, over 200 movies and TV series had been filmed on this open air set with stars such as Gene Autry and The Cisco Kid.

I’ve been here several times over the years, and the town never  disappoints, especially for first time visitors.  There are so many great details to enjoy… the longer you look, the more you see. And if an afternoon isn’t enough, you can stay at the Pioneertown Motel right next door. I can only imagine how stunning the night sky must look once the sun has set. And if stargazing isn’t your thing, then saddle up to the bar at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace. I’ve never had a better chiliburger in my life, and their onion rings are pretty outstanding too.

I don’t mean to be unkind, but there’s also something a tad bit unsettling about this hidden little town off Route 62… I just can’t quite put my finger on.  Maybe there’s some big military cover-up happening in those hills in the distance,  or who knows what. When I think of this hot dusty road in the middle of nowhere, my favorite song from the Bagdad Cafe comes to mind. Maybe we should all gather at the Bates Motel, I mean Pioneertown Motel, next Halloween…  and decide for ourselves.