Pioneertown Motel

In some ways it’s the quintessential Southern California story: Pioneertown started out as fiction, and ended up becoming real. It was born when Hollywood Western stars like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers grew weary of traveling long distances in search of Old West atmosphere, and established their own little Westworld in the high desert near Joshua Tree. It never quite took off as the resort town they intended it to be, until now; thanks to desert festivals like Coachella, as well as the stratospheric cost of living in Los Angeles, Pioneertown, today, is for real. And in the Pioneertown Motel, it’s got its very own boutique hotel.

Desperados on the run from Los Angeles will be pleased to find a hotel that’s stylish and comfortable, but that stops well short of Hollywood-style glamour or opulence. The rooms combine vintage charm with a contemporary design eye and some custom furniture. The Canteen is the all-day lounge, but it’s no restaurant — there’s a surprisingly good one within walking distance, though, as well as Pappy and Harriet’s, a Western-themed rock-and-roll bar and barbecue joint that hosts national acts and a famous open mic. It’s a long way from being the next Palm Springs, but for travelers with the pioneering spirit, it presents nothing but opportunity.