Pioneertown History

The town started as a live-in Old West motion picture set, built in the 1940s. The movie set was designed to provide a place for the actors to live, and at the same time to have their homes used as part of the movie set. A number of Westerns and early television shows were filmed in Pioneertown, including The Cisco Kid starring Duncan Renaldo, Judge Roy Bean starring Edgar Buchanan, Annie Oakley starring Gail Davis and The Range Rider starring Jock Mahoney.

Roy Rogers, Dick Curtis and Russell Hayden were among the original developers and investors, and Gene Autry frequently taped his show at the six-lane bowling alley which is still in operation today. Its construction was credited to one "A.E. Thompson" in 1947 and Roy Rogers rolled out the first ball in 1949. School-age children were hired as pinsetters until the installation of automatic pinsetting equipment in the 1950s. According to the Morongo Basin Historical Society, the bowling alley is one of the oldest in continuous use in California. Autry also had his own room at the Pioneertown Motel.

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How do I get there?

Saddle up your horse or catch the stagecoach and join us in Pioneertown, California!

To get there, take Interstate 10 to the Twentynine Palms--Joshua Tree National Park (Highway 62) exit. Head on up the mountain while yer watchin out fer gunslingers & rustlers along the way!

Keep that pony movin' til you're in Yucca Valley (about 25 miles from the exit). Turn left on Pioneertown Road (the Water Canyon Coffee House is on the corner) and you'll be in Pioneertown afore you know it (about 5 miles).

In Pioneertown, turn right just past Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. You're on Mane Street now. Park near the Bowling Alley. Grab a sittin' spot on Mane Street right in front of the Pioneer Bowl & get ready to see desperados in death defying shoot-outs.

Bring the whole family and spend a fun-filled afternoon with the Gunfighters for Hire in Pioneertown!

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What should I Wear?

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