Pioneertown is one of the strangest and most charming places in the high desert. Hollywood built it in the 1940s as a working Old West movie set where the cast and crew could also live, and much of it is still standing. Here is our favorite way to spend a day here, starting 15 minutes down the hill with our rescued animals, then what to do in Pioneertown itself.
15 Minutes Down the Hill: Kaleidoscope Desert Sanctuary
About 15 minutes down the hill from Pioneertown, in Morongo Valley, Kaleidoscope Desert Sanctuary is a 7.5-acre art and animal rescue and a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Over 100 rescued residents live here, a zebra, mini horses, mini cows, emus, goats, pigs and giant tortoises among them, roaming free among murals, sculpture and glass.
The Sanctuary Tour runs daily at 10 AM, plus 12 PM on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, about 90 minutes for $65. The Day Pass runs 12 to 6 PM for $165 with the tour, a Gamelatron session, the pool and the hot tub included. Visits are 18 and up. Book at kaleidoscopedesert.com/visit.
Pair It With Dinner in Pioneertown
The easy way to do both: spend the afternoon with the animals, then drive up the hill for dinner. Take the tour, or lie back for the Gamelatron Sound Experience, a full hour of fifteen bronze gongs played by robotic mallets, on the hour from 1 to 7 PM for $65. A late afternoon session lets out right around dinnertime. Thursday through Saturday, the Evening Tour + Swim at 6 PM ($95, drinks and snacks included) ends right around dinnertime too.
Walk Mane Street
Yes, Mane, as in horse. The wooden storefronts, hitching posts and dusty main drag look exactly like the westerns that were filmed here. Go in the late afternoon when the light turns gold and the boulders behind town start to glow.
Eat at Pappy and Harriet’s
The roadhouse at the heart of Pioneertown is famous for its barbecue off the mesquite grill and a room full of Old West character. It gets busy on weekends, so go early or plan to wait.
Hike the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve
A few minutes up the road, this preserve covers rugged canyons, piñon and juniper woodland, and the trailhead for Pipes Canyon, a pleasant walk past boulders and seasonal water. It feels a world away from town and sees far fewer people than the national park.
Browse Yucca Valley
Yucca Valley, about 15 minutes away, has a long stretch of vintage shops, antique malls and coffee spots along Highway 62. It is the place to find a cowboy shirt that fits the Pioneertown mood.
Stay for the Stars
Pioneertown sits high and far from city light, so the night sky is spectacular. Pull off somewhere safe after dinner, turn your lights off, and give your eyes ten minutes. The Milky Way usually shows up on a clear, moonless night.
