Pioneertown ~ California

For those who dream of living in a classic old Hollywood western movie, there actually is a place to make this wish happen in southern California. Pioneertown is the spot on the map to look for and this community was originally designed as a living Hollywood western stage set back in the mid 1940s. All of the buildings look like they came straight out of the late 1800s and the main street area businesses are exactly the same as what is seen in the classic western films depicting that era. Pioneertown features a blacksmith shop, livery and mercantile while an assayer shop and other businesses associated with the old west lifestyle can be found too. This old west style village is also a haven for artisans, so an art gallery, potter and even an old fashioned soap maker all have shops on main street. It simply would not be an authentic wild west town without a saloon or brothel and Pioneertown boasts having these sin filled retreats. The sidewalks are old wood planks, main street is dirt and horses have the right of way, so the dream of living in a classic Hollywood western is indeed real in good old Pioneertown.

Pioneertown does have an eventful past and many famous western movies were filmed in this place. The Pioneertown Film Museum is the best place to experience the golden years, while traditional live entertainment can actually still be found on Mane Street. Staged bank robberies and gunfights take place all day long, which definitely have a way of drawing the crowd into the action. The Pioneertown outdoor theater hosts all sorts of fun events on weekends, so it pays to look at the schedule before wandering around town. Other family fun activities include gold panning and horseback riding, while plenty of old west lifestyle shopping awaits to be done too. There are restaurants to get a belly full of hearty western style grub and the Pioneertown motels have always welcomed visitors to spend some extra time living the old wild west dream, so be sure to chalk this unique destination high on the list!