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.

Mane Street featured image

Pioneertown is Newest Old Town in All of the West

PIONEERTOWN, the newest little "old” town in the West—on the south western slopes of; the San Bernardino mountains. 4,000 feet above and some 15 miles north of Devil’s Garden. With peaks and pinnacles of rock as a backdrop, mesa and Joshua trees fading info distant vistas of blue, this huge; stage setting filled the eyes of' observing location scouts and, an idea was born and swathed, in the Hollywood Intrepid manner.
town's development plans featured image

TOWN’S DEVELOPMENT PLANS TOLD BY BOARD

Plans for new development, and a new board of directors of the in Pioneertown Corp., was announced yesterday by John Martel, new board secretary and counsel for Pioneertown Corp. The announcement followed the resignation from the board of Bill Murphy, Fletcher Jones and Charles L. Nichols, former officers in the corporation.
Dec. 12, 1959 featured image

Pioneertown High Desert Project

To paraphrase the Scottish bard, if you take the high road and I take the low road, I’d be in Palm Springs or Palm Desert, while you’d find yourself in Yucca Valley on the high desert, or perhaps what has been dubbed “The Golden Empire” whose capital is picturesque Pioneertown.
Oct. 18, 1964 featured image

Firm Proceeds With Pioneertown Plans

Publication of a new 12-page information brochure and the completion of the blueprints for Mane Street and the Pioneertown-to-be are the latest steps taken in the development of the 30-square mile Golden Empire, it was announced by J. C. Van Horne, resident manager of the project.
Dec. 1, 1964 featured image

Hauser, Bailey Plan Pioneertown Ventures

Jack Bailey, of "Queen For A Day" fame, also visited Pioneertown last week, as a guest of Lefton. Bailey is interested in starting an “Art Colony” in The Golden Empire. Bailey’s hobby is painting, and he feels The Golden Empire will become an ideal mecca for artists from all parts of the world, he said.
Jan. 26, 1966 featured image

California Golden Empire
New Yucca Valley City Plan
Restoration of Pioneertown

A prime factor in the growth potential of the high desert is the unparalleled weather. The Golden Empire is situated 4000 feet above sea level, and the cool breezes that flow off the San Bernadino Mountains in the background also protect it from excessive high temperatures. The California Golden Empire enjoys a year round average temperature of a pleasantly mild 70 degrees.