Pioneertown

Planning a trip to Joshua Tree? No visit to JT should go without a stop to amble down Mane Street in Pioneertown. The town was built in the 1940s by Hollywood. That's right - it's not a "historic" Old West town. It's a real-life movie set. Pioneertown was built with real buildings though, not just facades. Hollywood once shot so many westerns here that it was not uncommon to have a movie filming on one side of Mane Street and a TV show filming on the other. Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy - you name it - they were here. Roy Rogers threw out the first ball at the Pioneertown Bowl. Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace has hosted everyone from Jewel, Cyndi Lauper, Robert Plant, Leon Russell, Eric Burdon (who was a longtime Joshua Tree resident), and Sir Paul McCartney, among many, many others. You can find beautiful handcrafted pottery at MazAmar Art Pottery, and fun trinkets and souvenirs in the shops along Mane Street. Old West re-enactments are common on weekend afternoons in season, and The Red Dog Saloon has been serving up tacos at LA prices lately. Tips: Best time to visit is high noon, of course. If you want to have a open pit mesquite grilled dinner at Pappy & Harriet's, plan on making reservations for dinner and/or shows there - they've long been "discovered" and are often booked solid. We locals don't go as often because it gets so crowded, but it's always a good time. Enjoy the margaritas in Mason jars, and buy a round for Pappy and Buzz Gamble.

Incredible movie set near Joshua Tree.