Did you know that a desert boom town, with petroglyphs still visible today, has served as a backdrop for hundreds of Hollywood films? Located on the northern edge of Joshua Tree National Park, Yucca Valley is part of the Morongo Basin.
Serrano and Chemehuevi Indians were the first to settle in Yucca Valley and artifacts from their presence can still be seen today. Later, in 1881, freighter Chuck Warren leased land in this area where he and his sons dug the first well, which became known as Warren’s Well.
Over time, the Warren family built a windmill to pump water from the well and established a settlement in the area. During this time, the area was known as Lone Star or Lone Star Ranch before being renamed to Yucca Valley. Settlers transformed the area to be an important stop for those traveling between the San Bernardino and Coachella valleys.
In the early 1920s, following WWI, the area attracted veterans with physical ailments due to its hot climate, which made it easier on their recovering bodies. As the population grew, Lone Star established its first gas station in 1923. From there, developments would continue for years to come as more gas stations, food markets and homes flourished in the area.
In 1946, a western movie set was built in the area, where TV productions such as “The Cisco Kid” and Edgar Buchanan’s “Judge Roy Bean” were filmed. The growth of the region during that time set the stage for the town of Yucca Valley to become incorporated in 1991 with more than 16,000 residents in the area.
In 2008, Australian artist Andrew Rogers created two massive geoglyphs, one of which was made up of 460 tons of stone. The purpose of the geoglyphs is to honor and recognize the history of the land.
Yucca Valley continues to honor the past while striving to create a better future. Today, the town has a population of more than 21,000 residents with many travelers passing through on their way to Joshua Tree National Park.
The region’s California Welcome Center can be found on State Route 62 in Yucca Valley. The center offers essential information and resources while welcoming all visitors to the area.
The information in this historical feature was originally part of a video series produced by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s office.
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