Drive for Pioneer Loop Due to Get Started Soon

Aug. 3, 1967 - Desert Sentinel-b — PROPOSED LOOP — Pioneer Pass Road, from Pioneertown to Big Bear country, has long been the dream of desert and mountain residents. The direct route from the desert via Indian Avenue, Twentynine Palms Highway, Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley and up the mountain to the pass through Pioneertown will afford tourists a drive through the great loop from Desert Hot Springs, Big Bear, Yucca Valley and back to the desert area. This week, Pioneer Loop Assn. officials renewed efforts to make the road a reality. This aerial photo shows the existing road, which is in poor shape, up to Round Valley and the Big Bear country. Don English and Kelly Shugart are members of the loop committee. (Hi-Desert Star photo).

Pioneer Pass Road, from the Twentynine Palms Highway through Yucca Valley and Pioneertown to Big Bear has long been the dreams of both the low and high desert residents.

The road, when developed, will provide a direct route from the great Big Bear country to the high desert and Coachella Valley region. Desert Hot Springs, being on the north end of the valley, is in an opportune location for the pass route.

County and state officials have agreed to join in the drive to get a road built between Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, and Big Bear.

Members of the Pioneer Loop Assn. project committee includes representatives from Desert Hot Springs, Cabazon, Banning, Beaumont, Redlands, Riverside, Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, Pioneertown, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Morongo Valley.

Dan English, representing the local Chamber of Commerce and Kelly Shugart from city hall, are members of the coordinator committee.

John Haskell, chairman of the association project committee,

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LOOP DRIVE TO START SOON

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invited a panel of government dignitaries in a special meeting held in San Bernadino last Monday.

The entire group accepted Haskell’s Invitation to be members of an executive committee to guide the project.

The “Old National Forest Highway Program” came under lengthy discussion in more than nine miles of the proposed route from Johnson Valley to Baines Lake are in the National Forest area.

The Rim of the World Highway and the Palms to the Pines Highway were built under the program. It was stated.

Efforts, according to PLA officials, will be directed toward establishing a precise route and creating a passable road so that utilization of the route can be presented to county and state agencies.

Those attending included: Don B. Miller, of Campbell and Miller Associates engineering firm; Roy A. Hays of Colton Construction; Dan Bauer, State Forestry Service; Ronald McCormick, Forestry Service; Ray Gregory, representing Assemblyman Stewart Hinkley.

Ross Dana supervisor: Walt Campbell, County Road Department; Charles Goodspend, representing Congressman Jerry Pettis; Howard L. Reese, Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce; Richard D. Reddick, representing State Sen. William E. Coombs; Mel Edwards, County Economic Development Commission.