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Joshua Tree gateway communities
Visitor Guide
Produced by sun runner media
The Sun Runner magazine &
southwest stories with steve brown
Chuck Caplinger's art exhibition at the 29 Palms Art Gallery for November, 2018 - In An Earthly Manner.
Chuck Caplinger's art exhibition at the 29 Palms Art Gallery for November, 2018 - In An Earthly Manner.
Attractions
Performing Arts & Theatres
The Curtain Call Players
56039 Santa Fe Trail, Yucca Valley
www.facebook.com/CurtainCallPlayers
Groves Cabin Theatre
8768 Desert Willow Trail, Morongo Valley
(760)365-4523
www.grovescabintheatre.org
Harrison House
Joshua Tree
(Event tickets available at Joshua Tree Health Foods)
(760)366-4712
www.louharrisonhouse.org
Hi-Desert Cultural Center & Blak Box Theatre
Performing arts, special events
61231 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
(760)366-3777
www.hidesertculturalcenter.com
Theatre 29
John Calveri Memorial Theatre.
73637 Sullivan Road, Twentynine Palms
(760)361-4151
www.theatre29.org
Museums & History
Beauty Bubble Salon & Museum
61855 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree
(760)366-9000
Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Yucca Valley Community Center
57166 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley
(760)369-7212
www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org
Morongo Basin Historical Society
Museum & Research Center
632 Landers Lane, Landers
(760)364-2000
Old Schoolhouse Museum
6760 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms
(760)367-2366
www.29palmshistorical.com
World Famous Crochet Museum
61855 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
www.sharielf.com/gallery.html
Art Galleries, Exhibits
29 Palms Art Gallery & Gift Shop
Art gallery, art classes, special events
74055 Cottonwood Dr. (off National Park Dr.)
Twentynine Palms
(760)367-7819
www.29palmsartgallery.com
29 Palms Creative Center & Gallery
Art gallery, art classes, special events
6847 Adobe Road. Twentynine Palms
(760)361-1805
29 Palms Inn (Oasis of Mara)
Desert artwork by local artists displayed in restaurant, presented by Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council.
73950 Inn Ave.(off National Park Dr.),
Twentynine Palms
(760)367-3505
A Roadside Attraction
69197 29 Palms Hwy., Twentynine Palms
(760)401-8038
www.douglasosmith.com
Art Colony of Morongo Valley
Covington Park, 11165 Vale Drive, Morongo Valley
(760)363-6547
ArtFX & Furnishings
55836 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley
(619)990-5683
Art Queen
61855 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
www.sharielf.com/gallery.html
Beatnik Lounge
Art gallery, performance space
61597 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
(760)475-4860
BKB Ceramics
61705 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree
(760)821-3765
BoxoPROJECTS
62732 Sullivan Road, Joshua Tree
(917)669-6098
Chuck Caplinger’s Desert Art Studio & Gallery
(open by appointment)
74655 Wellock Road, Twentynine Palms
(760)221-7703
Crystal Cave, other installations and
artists at Sky Village Swap Meet
Saturdays: 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Sundays 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
7028 Theater Road, Yucca Valley
(760)365-2104
www.skyvillageswapmeet.com
Desert Christ Park
Dedicated to world peace
56218 Sunnyslope Drive, Yucca Valley
www.desertchristpark.org
Gallery 62
61607 29 Palms Hwy #H., Joshua Tree
www.gallery62.org
Glass Outhouse Gallery
Art shows, receptions, live music, and a real glass outhouse. Open weekends.
77575 29 Palms Hwy., Wonder Valley
(turn at Thunder Road, honk or call)
(760)367-3807
Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Yucca Valley Community Center
57166 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley
(760)369-7212
www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org
Hi-Desert Test Sites
Arts events and installations
Office: Sky Village Swap Meet
7028 Theater Road, Yucca Valley
(760)365-2104
www.highdeserttestsites.com
I Heart Joshua Tree Gallery
(In Sun Alley Shops)
61871 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
(760)774-2553
JTAG - Joshua Tree Art Gallery
61607 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
(760)366-3636
www.joshuatreeartgallery.com
MazAmar Art Pottery
Mane Street, Pioneertown
(760)228-0290
Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum
Outdoor assemblage art installations
Blair Lane, Joshua Tree
(213)382-7516
tarashall@att.net
www.noahpurifoy.com/joshua-tree-outdoor-museum
Oasis of Murals/Public Art Installations
Outdoor murals depicting the history of
Twentynine Palms.
www.visit29.com
Old Schoolhouse Museum
Home to the Weed Show!
6760 National Park Drive,
Twentynine Palms.
(760)367-2366
www.29palmshistorical.com
Purple Agave Art Gallery at Cactus Mart
Desert artists and artisans
49889 29 Palms Hwy., Morongo Valley
(760)363-6076
Rhythms of Life
Earthworks installation by Andrew Rogers. 5 miles north on Old Woman Springs Road/Hwy 247 at Aberdeen, Yucca Valley
www.andrewrogers.org
Simi Dabah Sculpture Garden
Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree
www.simidabahsculptures.com
Taylor Junction
61732 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
(760)974-9165
Twentynine Palms Visitor Center Gallery
Art gallery, visitor information
73484 29 Palms Hwy., Twentynine Palms
Live Music & Nightlife
29 Palms Inn
Nightly live music.
73950 Inn Ave.(off National Park Dr.)
(760)367-3505
Electric Sports Lounge
57564 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley
(760)228-1199
Frontier Cafe
55844 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley
(760)820-1360
Gadi’s Restaurant
56193 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley
(760)820-1213
www.gadisbarandgrill.com/events
Harrison House
Joshua Tree
(760)366-4712
www.louharrisonhouse.org
Joshua Tree Saloon
61835 29 Palms Highway, Joshua Tree
(760)366-2250
www.joshuatreesaloon.com/weekly-music-calendar/
Kokopelli’s Kantina
57154 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley
(760)228-2589
Landers Brew
1388 Golden Slipper Lane, Landers
(760)623-6300
Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown
(760)365-5956,
www.pappyandharriets.com
The Palms
83131 Amboy Road,
Twentynine Palms (Wonder Valley)
(760)391-2810
Tortoise Rock Casino
73829 Baseline Road, Twentynine Palms
(760)367-9759
www.tortoiserockcasino.com
Natural Attractions:
Hiking, Picnics, Play
Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark
(part of Mojave Trails National Monument)
www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/needles/pubs.Par.68625.File.dat/Amboy_Crater.pdf
Castle Mountains National Monument
Joshua Tree National Park
Mitchell Caverns
Mojave National Preserve
Mojave Trails National Monument
www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/mojave-trails-national-monument
Pioneertown Mountains Preserve
51010 Pipes Canyon Road
(760)369-7105
www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_pioneertown.html
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains
National Monument
Sand to Snow National Monument
www.fs.fed.us/visit/sand-to-snow-national-monument
www.blm.gov/visit/sand-to-snow-national-monument
Including:
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
11055 East Drive, Morongo Valley
(760)363-7190
Mission Creek Preserve
60550 Mission Creek Road, Desert Hot Springs (760)369-7105
www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_missioncreek.html
Whitewater Preserve
9160 Whitewater Canyon Road, Whitewater
(760)325-7222
www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_whitewater.html
Desert Night Sky
Andromeda Society
Coyote Telescope
(844)648-3759
Joshua Tree Astronomy Arts Theater
Star parties at Joshua Tree Lake Campground
2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree
Sky’s the Limit Observatory & Nature Center
Utah Trail, near JTNP entrance
(760)367-7222
Twentynine Palms Astronomy Club
www.29palmsastronomy.org
Outdoor Recreation,
Horseback Riding, Meerkats
Cottonwood Canyon Ranch Trail Rides
(760)363-7475
http://tophorseboarding.webs.com
Coyote Ridge Stable Trail Rides
(760)799-5182
Crazy Horse Ranch Trail Rides
Morongo Valley
(760)831-6450
Fellow Earthlings Wildlife Center
Fellow Earthlings is a licensed meerkat care center. Visitors are only allowed through the center’s Adopt a Meerkat Program. Morongo Valley,
(760)363-1344
Yucca Valley Equestrian Center
(760)365-4433
www.yuccavalleyequestriancenter.com
Offbeat Fun
Cactus Mart
Dig your own cactus, gardening, and wildlife classes
49889 29 Palms Hwy., Morongo Valley
(760)363-6076
Giant Rock
Really big rock (lots of stories and the occasional UFO)!
Giant Rock Rd. from Belfield, Landers. 4WD high clearance recommended.
Gubler Orchids
Greenhouse tours, orchids and carnivorous plants
2200 Belfield Blvd., Landers
800-GUBLERS
Integratron
Sound baths, special events, fascinating history.
Check website for open dates.
2477 Belfield Blvd., Landers
(760)364-3126
Institute of Mentalphysics/Joshua Tree Retreat Center
Designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright and his son Lloyd, this large 420 acre retreat center is fascinating to visit. Home to special events, spiritual retreats, classes, and bookstore, check with personnel at gate or bookstore before exploring the grounds.
59700 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree
(760)365-8371
Krblin Jihn Kabin
About as alternative a history as you can get, the Kcymaerxthaere project by Eames Demetrios, is a window into an alternate reality, of which there are many, out here in the desert.
Go north on Sunburst Avenue, right on Crestview Drive, follow to end of the street, turn right on Border Avenue (dirt). The site is on the left 1.5 blocks south. Joshua Tree.
Smith’s Ranch Drive-In
4584 Adobe Road, 29 Palms
(760)367-7713
Old West Shows
Gunfighters for Hire
Sundays, 2:30 p.m., April-October, Pioneertown
Mane Street Stampede
Saturdays, 2:30 p.m., April-October, Pioneertown
Hiking/Rock Climbing Guides and Tours
American Alpine Institute
(360)671-1505
Cliffhanger Guides
(209)743-8363
Desert Institute/Joshua Tree National Park Association
Seasonal field classes on a variety of topics, in and around Joshua Tree National Park
www.joshuatree.org/desert-institute/
Flux Adventures
(510)593-7599
Jolliffication Rock Climbing for Everyone
(760)401-0643
Joshua Tree Adventures
(802)673-4385
Joshua Tree Excursions
61325 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree
(760)974-9536
Joshua Tree Guides Climbing School & Guide Service
Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School
(760)366-4745
www.joshuatreerockclimbing.com
Mojave Guides (Rock Climbing)
(760)820-2806
Ruth's Rabbit Trail Tours
(760)217-0129
Stone Adventures Rock Climbing Guides
(760)820-4324
The Climbing Life Guides
(760)780-8868
www.joshuatreeclimbinglifeguides.com
Uprising Adventure Guides
888-254-6266
Vertical Adventures Rock Climbing School
(800)514-8785
Casinos
Tortoise Rock Casino
Casino, live entertainment
73829 Baseline Rd., Twentynine Palms
(760)367-9759
Golf
Desert Winds Golf Course
On Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms. Enter by Back Gate at Morongo Road off Indian Trail. Duffers Retreat offers breakfast/lunch.
(760)830-6132
Hawk’s Landing Golf Club at Blue Skies
55100 Martinez Trail, Yucca Valley
(760)365-0033
Roadrunner Dunes Golf Course
4733 Desert Knoll Dr., off Amboy Road,
Twentynine Palms.
(760)367-5770
The Area
The Joshua Tree Gateway Communities are located down Route 62 along the northern border of Joshua Tree National Park. The communities—Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Homestead Valley (Landers, Johnson Valley, Flamingo Heights and Yucca Mesa), Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, and Wonder Valley—are located in the Morongo Basin, also known as the hi-desert (the unique greeting-style spelling was chosen many years ago to differentiate our high desert from the high desert of the Lancaster/Palmdale area).
Some folks who are unacquainted with, or whom disapprove of the grammar of the hi-desert title, refer to our area as the high desert as well. Our hi-desert is part of the Mojave Desert, while Joshua Tree National Park starts up here in the Mojave Desert and slides its way down to the lo-desert, or Colorado Desert. Oh, and it’s the “Mojave,” not Mohave.
The Towns
Locals often shorten town names, so “valley” is frequently dropped from Yucca and Morongo, while never dropped from Johnson or Wonder. Joshua Tree can become “JTree,” or simply, “JT,” while Pioneertown is sometimes “Pi-town,” and Twentynine Palms becomes good old “29.” (We should note Marines stationed at the base in Twentynine Palms also have pet names for their new home, calling it “The Stumps,” or “29 Stumps.”)
The Highways
Our two highways also offer a diversity of names. Route 62, for example, also goes by the names of State Route 62, Highway 62, and the Twentynine (29) Palms Highway. Don’t worry—they’re all one and the same.
And if you head north from Yucca Valley on Route 247, you’ll notice it’s also called Highway 247, or Old Woman Springs Road, and if you drive far enough out into Johnson Valley, you’ll see the historic Old Woman Springs Ranch. If you stay on 247, you’ll eventually wind up in Barstow. You’ve been warned. (Just joking!) It also connects to the 18, which can take you up to Big Bear Lake, or on to Apple Valley and Victorville.
While we have no interstate freeways running through the Joshua Tree Gateway Communities, we are accessible from Interstates 10, 15, and 40, also known as “I-10,” “I-15,” or “I-40.” Sometimes you’ll hear them referred to by their numbers—the 10, the 15, and the 40. The 10 runs to the south of us, the 15 and 40 are to the north. You can get here from there!
The Park
Joshua Tree National Park is sometimes just referred to as “the park,” by locals, or as “the monument,” by either longtime residents who were here when it was a national monument, or by new hip LA migrants to the area who think it sounds cool.
Getting around the Joshua Tree Gateway Communities is far easier, and a lot more picturesque, than navigating most urban areas. Hi-desert folks are pretty friendly, so if you need directions, just stop and ask. We’ve got more visitor information centers than highways, after all.
