Category Development

Pioneertown was founded in 1946 by a group of Western actors who had been several plans to develop the land surrounding Pioneertown and make it a resort.

June 29, 1948 featured image

Pioneertown Expansion Announced At Resort in Hills

Pioneertown, a mountain community about 6O miles from Palm Springs, has recently added 12,000 acres to its original holdings of 13,000 acres and is opening its third subdivision. Executives of the Pioneertown corporation also have announced that a utility company will bring in electrical power lines within the next 60 days to replace the corporation’s own generating plant.

July 11, 1948 featured image

Redlands Man Seeks Water
From Bennett Springs

The division has also received an application of the Pioneertown corporation of Yucca Valley to appropriate 20,000 gallons per day from Burns Creek, Tributary to Pipes creek, for domestic purposes, to the cost an estimated $47,500, and that of Richard D. Rutledge of for the mastic water from Mesquite Springs, tributary to Seales lake bed. The work will cost an estimated $1000.

Oct. 17, 1948 featured image

Movie People Build Town In Desert Wastes

Representing an investment of $600,000 and with a present population of 300 to 350 persons, Pioneertown, to the eye, is a typical frontier community of early wild-West days. It's one business thoroughfare, specifically called Mane Street, is lined on both sides by commercial establishments of various kinds.

Dec. 1, 1948 featured image

Genuine Wild West Town
Springs Up in Desert

The Wild West not being so wild anymore, a Western movie company is turning this desert village into a permanent cowtown. This Hollywood version of the good, old days started out to be a resort for Western movie stars with millyuns. Even the stores of the tiny one-street town were built in old-fashioned Western style to make oatburner heroes feel right at home.

MADE TO ORDER – The builders of Pioneertown were a group of idealistic filmies who wanted to live and work together. Result is this practical 40-acre "set" in San Bernardino Mountains. Cisco Kid company, first in action there, is shown at lower right of panorama of town an in pictures at sides. That's Leo Carrillo in front of painting at left of bank scene. Situation opens up new scenic vistas for camera. Boom began for this two-year-old community when location hunters "rediscovered" Pioneertown, got 25-year film franchise.

Westerns Now Booming New Desert Hollywood

The classic advice, “Go west, young man,” is now being amended to “Go east, slightly.” For, in a saga of modern pioneering that sounds like Hollywood repeating itself, the movie makers are establishing a new frontier at Pioneertown, 125 miles east of Los Angeles and less than five miles up into the San Bernadino Mountains from Yucca Valley. There they are producing and will produce fittingly westerns.

Mar. 25, 1947 featured image

Pioneertown, 30 Miles Away,
Will Revive Early Days

A new road to Pioneertown, the final phase of a scenic highway which brings Bear Valley about 55 miles from Palm Springs is now open. Pioneertown, the new old west town in the San Bernardino mountains, is only 30 miles from the Village by way of Indian avenue and a panoramic scenic road.