How The West Was Fun

When thinking about the word Frontier, the mind tends to wonder towards the images of cowboys, wagon trains, Frontier Airlines and of course western movies. Outside of Hollywood, about 130 miles east (if you headed west you’d get wet) is the town of Pioneertown, CA home to a long standing western movie set.

Pioneertown USA

Founded in 1946, Pioneertown was built as set for western films where actors and crew could not only shoot, but live during productions. Such films include, The Valiant Hombre (1948), On Top of Old Smokey (1953 – with Gene Autry), and The Howling 7: New Moon Rising (1995). The set is still used today for films, commercials, and mostly likely for The Howling 8: Bad Moon Rising.

Sound Stage

The only Sound Stage left, might just have been a barn

and they put a sign up. We will truly never know, because it was locked.

Here are two clips from The Howling 8: Bad Moon Rising:

Clip #1: Howling Revealed

Clip #2: Comic Relief

Like most great things, a fire happened. Fortunately most of the set is still intact. On the weekends the locals put on reenactments and gun fights. There is even a cool and odd bowling alley for the kiddies. When you drop off the rug rats, drink your sorrows away at the dive bar Pappy & Harriet’s, which is know to have “the best Honky Tonk west of the Mississippi”. So apparently Dallas can suck it when it comes to “Honky Tonk”.

Pioneer Bowl: Bumpers are for City Slickers

Our Offbeat Explorers went on a weekday so there wasn’t much going on other than a Deliverance Hidden Camera Show. Was pretty sure that glass storeowner was going to skin one of us. Kind of creepy, but we had the town to ourselves, it was a blast.

"Marshall... watch out for him, he's plum loco."

So if you are near the 29 Palms area and want to experience The Hills Have Eyes, mosey on down to Pioneertown.

Oddly the tracks did not lead to a mine

Mane Street (in the west, no one corrects you)

Custom Saddles, you bet!

Interior of the Wagon Wheel Saloon