29 Palms WTF???

[X-rated]

Drove from Havasu to OC today and decided to take a route we had never travelled before. It starts gettin fukn weird about 10 miles east of 29 and then just gets fukn weirder!! Burnt out clapped out houses, thousands of old cars and car bodies laying everywhere, strange looking animals wandering in the desert….WTF is the deal with this place? If it’s supposed to be like this I’m sorry for insulting it but it struck me funny that a place this close to civilization could be this fukd up.

 

[Bobby V]

Drove from Havasu to OC today and decided to take a route we had never travelled before. It starts gettin fukn weird about 10 miles east of 29 and then just gets fukn weirder!! Burnt out clapped out houses, thousands of old cars and car bodies laying everywhere, strange looking animals wandering in the desert….WTF is the deal with this place? If it’s supposed to be like this I’m sorry for insulting it but it struck me funny that a place this close to civilization could be this fukd up.

A lot of the old houses / small structures were built a longtime ago when they were giving away the land for dirt cheap. All you had to do was put a house structure on it. My grandparents moved to Landers in the late 60’s and turned the small building into their garage and built a bigger home on the 5 acres and retired.

 

[Flatsix66]

I love that drive. I swear it sometimes is faster than going through Desert Center if the i10 is slow.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

A lot of the old houses / small structures were built a longtime ago when they were giving away the land for dirt cheap. All you had to do was put a house structure on it. My grandparents moved to Landers in the late 60’s and turned the small building into their garage and built a bigger home on the 5 acres and retired.

My wife and I literally had a conversation about this 3 hours ago. Apparently it was a homestead act where as long as you place a structure on the property you were granted a deed to a parcel. She was saying that it was a deal in the 50s and 60s.

It was the first time I had ever heard of the program

 

[Happy Smitty]

It was the last government homestead program. Requirement to homestead the land was to build a minimum house. That's why they all look small and similar. That's the route I take to KOH. I enjoy the drive. Lots of eccentric weird shit out there if you look close.

 

[TrollerDave]

Just make sure your tank is full before you pass through.

 

[rivermobster]

It was the last government homestead program. Requirement to homestead the land was to build a minimum house. That's why they all look small and similar. That's the route I take to KOH. I enjoy the drive. Lots of eccentric weird shit out there if you look close.

My aunt and uncle built one. Ended up selling it for a couple of bucks years later! It was basically just four walls and a roof.

 

[Riverfamlee]

Thought you found out there were only 28 palms

 

[mobldj]

I love that drive. I swear it sometimes is faster than going through Desert Center if the i10 is slow.

agreed and almost all downhill

 

[EarpRider]

Drove from Havasu to OC today and decided to take a route we had never travelled before. It starts gettin fukn weird about 10 miles east of 29 and then just gets fukn weirder!! Burnt out clapped out houses, thousands of old cars and car bodies laying everywhere, strange looking animals wandering in the desert….WTF is the deal with this place? If it’s supposed to be like this I’m sorry for insulting it but it struck me funny that a place this close to civilization could be this fukd up.

What strange looking animals?

 

[Rondog4405]

I switch it up every now and then and do that route. Everytime I regret it . Those speed limits and chp though yucca and Joshua tree are fn everywhere.

 

[BingerFang]

If you do pass through that way a stop at The Rib Co is a must. Their bbq is amazing.

We’re sorry. We can’t find the page you’re looking for.

The link has expired or can’t be found.

yelp.to

 

[Outdrive1]

Thanks for the explanation. That is one weird ass area.

 

[Shlbyntro]

If you do pass through that way a stop at The Rib Co is a must. Their bbq is amazing.

We’re sorry. We can’t find the page you’re looking for.

The link has expired or can’t be found.

yelp.to

there's also a great Mexican food place built inside of an old bank in 29 palms. you can sit and eat inside the vault if you want too.

back when, my normal routine was always rice road on the way to and 29 palms coming home. and I would stop for Mexican food

 

[BingerFang]

there's also a great Mexican food place built inside of an old bank in 29 palms. you can sit and eat inside the vault if you want too.

back when, my normal routine was always rice road on the way to and 29 palms coming home. and I would stop for Mexican food

What’s the Mexican joint called? I’ll check it out next time

 

[Rondog4405]

I

there's also a great Mexican food place built inside of an old bank in 29 palms. you can sit and eat inside the vault if you want too.

back when, my normal routine was always rice road on the way to and 29 palms coming home. and I would stop for Mexican food

I think it's called Edchadas. Ate there Years ago. Awesome food!

 

[Shlbyntro]

I
I think it's called Edchadas. Ate there Years ago. Awesome food!

sounds right to me. it's been a decade for me tho

 

[Rondog4405]

sounds right to me. it's been a decade for me tho

Me too.. I used to do alot of work out there on base. Stopped one time to give it a try.. good stuff!

 

[Wheeler]

Thanks for the explanation. That is one weird ass area.

If da Gig were still here I bet he could enlighten us on desert life.

 

[TPC]

Basic Homesteader houses and wet gunny sack sleeping shacks abandon in decay across the desert.

Before Air Conditioning and swamp coolers on hot summer nights folks would have a sleeping patio kinda room with water dripping down gunny sacks hanging in the open door and windows.
Had a swamp cooler evaporation effect keeping the rooms cool to sleep in.

Gunny sacks:

Decades ago 29 Palms AKA 29 Stumps had fewer signals and was not as long a drive thru as it is today.

 

[Water Romper]

Isn't that area mostly military?

 

[Happy Smitty]

Another intriguing area is Amboy road between the 40 and 62.

 

[grumpy88]

That road is creepy . I feel like if you break down out there you would end up missing . The little airport makes for the perfect drug distribution area .

 

[Shlbyntro]

watch out for Tank Crossing

 

[HB2Havasu]

Wasn’t there a big UFO cult in that area back in the 1950’s? Check out the Integratron just west of TwentyNine Palms.

I’ve driven thru that areas hundreds of times. Strange looking animals? First I’ve heard of that, lol.

 

[GOTTBoat]

When there was one light in Yucca Valley and one in Twentynine Palms it was a good alternate to 177/Desert Center. But with multiple lights in Morongo, Yucca, and Twentynine Palms and the lowered speed limits it's only good when there is a big wreck on the 10 of 177 is flooded.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Are some of you people just now figuring out that desert folks are a bit “different”?

 

[Jed-O]

Shit. I grew up going to the river that route. And still do from time to time to avoid the 10 all together. The only strange animal I've ever seen is an albino gas station attendent in 29 palms when I was 7 years old. I vividly remember my dad saying "What the fuck is an albino thinking it's a good idea to live in the desert!?

 

[fishing fool]

If you think that is a weird drive, try Kelbaker RD. Take I40 to Kelbaker RD. and it will drop you into 29 Palms.

 

[coolchange]

Basic Homesteader houses and wet gunny sack sleeping shacks abandon in decay across the desert.

Before Air Conditioning and swamp coolers on hot summer nights folks would have a sleeping patio kinda room with water dripping down gunny sacks hanging in the open door and windows.
Had a swamp cooler evaporation effect keeping the rooms cool to sleep in.

Gunny sacks:
View attachment 1101769

Decades ago 29 Palms AKA 29 Stumps had fewer signals and was not as long a drive thru as it is today.

Went through there about 7 years ago, it had been about 10 years previous to that for my last pass through there . Holy crap, all the lights and traffic, just getting through town was half the trip. Never again.

 

[TCHB]

Drove from Havasu to OC today and decided to take a route we had never travelled before. It starts gettin fukn weird about 10 miles east of 29 and then just gets fukn weirder!! Burnt out clapped out houses, thousands of old cars and car bodies laying everywhere, strange looking animals wandering in the desert….WTF is the deal with this place? If it’s supposed to be like this I’m sorry for insulting it but it struck me funny that a place this close to civilization could be this fukd up.

Are you n Havasu donkey acres!

 

[Ziggy]

Wasn’t there a big UFO cult in that area back in the 1950’s? Check out the Integratron just west of TwentyNine Palms.

I’ve driven thru that areas hundreds of times. Strange looking animals? First I’ve heard of that, lol.

UFO sightings were very regular events around Amboy, Searchlight and 29Palms.
.
Homesteading land claims wasn't exclusive to the desert, you could still claim free homestead land in Alaska until 1986, the rest of the nation was cut off in '76.

 

[HALLETT BOY]

 

[racetrash]

Drive it every week, Landers to Parker and back while we finish the Parker palace, and getting the Landers house ready to sell. All the really weird shit is east of 29, Wonder Valley is the Hotspot of freaks.

 

[spectras only]

The government should start another homesteading program for the homeless out there. It should clean up the streets of major cities.

 

[lbhsbz]

Are some of you people just now figuring out that desert folks are a bit “different”?

confirmed by RD's post this morning....

 

[Lavey5150]

Such a great route avoiding the 10 from the River, that's a 5th gear WFO route on that 62 Always come through 29 on my trips to Bessemer, Boone,etc to MOTO.
Always interesting things,people,objects,structures to see indeed.Hats off to the locals selling their goods to the Prius/Tesla driving Capri wearing tree huggers I see window shopping on my way down the blvd to ride, hurt dirt, and burn fossil fuels.

 

[Sandlord]

Tarantino goes to 29 Palms to get ideas for new characters

 

[pronstar]

My sister used to live in 29 and I spent many summers there, and my BIL was mayor of Yucca Valley, so I’m pretty familiar with the area.

Back in the day, rumor was that a bunch of occultists (Satanist’s etc) lived along that section of highway…

 

[Wheeler]

That road is creepy . I feel like if you break down out there you would end up missing . The little airport makes for the perfect drug distribution area .

 

[Ladsm]

Worked out on the base in 29 Palms for years. Its one place that definitely beats Bullhead on the interesting people that live there.

 

[DRIVE BYE]

My Dad Homesteaded in Joshua Tree in 1950. We were the only Cabin against the National Monument boundary back then. I basically grew up there. Good times. There are some good reads on it as well. I knew Bill Keys Personally and spent a lot of time at the desert Queen Ranch.
Also I believe there was a lot of section 8 Stuff in the 29 area back then.....

 

[Ragged Edge]

Wasn’t there a big UFO cult in that area back in the 1950’s? Check out the Integratron just west of TwentyNine Palms.

I’ve driven thru that areas hundreds of times. Strange looking animals? First I’ve heard of that, lol.

Tweekers can be confused for strange looking animals.

 

[grumpy88]

Did they ever find the kid that grandma dropped off to go " hiking " in 120 degree heat ? They had a search point near the 3 way stop on desert center . I think it was like 2 years ago

 

[mjc]

My son lives right off Amboy road out there and works for the school district. His neighborhood is pretty much like any other track home area.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

One of my customers families owned the bowling alley in 29 palms for years when he was a kid he was the pin setter!

 

[Rondog4405]

If you happen to be due for a Buzzcut or itching for some ink. .. 29 palms has got you covered! Just turn down Adobe rd. BOOM!

 

[Jed-O]

Did they ever find the kid that grandma dropped off to go " hiking " in 120 degree heat ? They had a search point near the 3 way stop on desert center . I think it was like 2 years ago

Lots of shallow holes around that intersection. I've seen plenty of them over the past 40 years. Most of them full of water heaters. But who would take time to dig a hole to dump a water heater?

 

[GRADS]

Wait just a minute, I was born in Twentynine Palms.

 

[Lavey5150]

Wait just a minute, I was born in Twentynine Palms.

It all makes sense now.