Desert Oases: THANKFUL for Vintage Roadside

At this point, you are probably giving thanks that this is to be the last post from our whirlwind, desert, birthday extravaganza!  I, however, am somewhat wistful that it is all over.  Nevertheless, on this the official day of gratitude and giving thanks, I am reminded that the whole trip was joyful and, in the immortal words of Irving Berlin via Bing Crosby, "I've got plenty to be thankful for."

"I've Got Plenty to be Thankful for"

***SIDE NOTE***

Speaking of Bing, for whatever reason, our latest post about Bing Crosby's Blue Skies Trailer Village posted out of order.  If you haven't had a chance to read it, just follow the link.

I really do have plenty to be thankful for.  As my natural tendency is towards being a complete and utter ingrate, I must remind myself daily to count my many blessings.  I feel another song coming on.

"Count Your Blessings"

Hmmm, that Irving Berlin was an unnaturally grateful fellow.  Taking a note from him, I will share with you what fills our wacky tacky hearts with gratitude, at this time of year or any - VINTAGE ROADSIDE!!!  I won't go into detail on every attraction as the pictures are pretty self-explanatory.  I will say that we visited all of these spots in a 24-hour period and we are so grateful that sights like these are in relative abundance within a short distance of our home.  Furthermore, we are grateful for the creative minds that gave us these unnatural wonders of the world.  Further still, we are grateful for the nostalgic hearts that maintain these structures so we can continue in our pursuit of all things wacky tacky.

Riverside County Date Festival Fairgrounds

82-503 Hwy 111

Indio, CA

Pioneertown, CA
53688 Pioneertown Rd.
Pioneertown, CA

Beautiful!!
Pioneertown was once a western lot used to film scenes for movies and TV.
Roy Rogers broke ground for Pioneertown in 1946 with the help of
The Sons of the Pioneers, from which the town takes its name.

"Wagon Wheels"

I'm pretty sure this is what Heaven sounds like.

One of you will have to drop me a line and let me 

know as it is unlikely that I will find out firsthand.

Rustlin' some steer.

We would have died within five minutes of being on the trail.

That's one crazy totem pole!

I couldn't stop her...

You don't get like this by sucking lemons!

My new album cover

Boot Hill
So long, ol' friend.

The restrooms at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown

"Studs" & "Fillies"

Interior of  the Bottle Wall at Pappy & Harriet's

Exterior of the Bottle Wall

Cabazon Dinosaurs
50770 Seminole Dr.
Cabazon, CA

True, the Cabazon Dinosaurs are iconic and
probably deserve an entire post of their own.
What can I say that hasn't already been said?
They are fundamental to the cause of wacky tacky.

If you've never had a chance to be inside a brontosaurus,
this is what it looks like.

Snake charmer

Tell me that you don't find this absolutely breathtaking.

Giant Gumby & Pokey - Norco, CA
4175 California St.
Norco, CA

The best part about Gumby and Pokey?  They aren't a marketing gimmick; 

they are just lawn art in someone's front yard.

Hahaha...he's doing what I'm doing.

Thank you, dear readers, for indulging me in my inherent neediness, childish behavior, and wacky tacky antics; Thank you for following along on our (mis)adventures and sharing your comments.  Lately life has been a bit crazy but with a brother-in-law deployed in the army and some health issues in the family and of my own, it is nice to put things in perspective and examine all that for which I should be thankful.  I have a healthy, beautiful nephew, an amazing family, and the support of friends; I count myself as very blessed and grateful!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

It's a Date!!!

Whether we are out for just a day or a long weekend, one of our desert traditions is stopping by Hadley Fruit Orchards.  

Hadley's has been a roadside fruit stand for the last 80 years and we always make a point of checking in to peruse the merchandise, purchase oddities like blown-out ostrich eggs, and indulge in that modern day miracle - the date shake!!!

Miles of aisles of desert bounty - snacks, dried fruits, candy & nuts

Heck, they're even making homemade peanut butter.

But it's all about the dates!

There are so many things wrong with me that one would think
lactose intolerance is the least of my worries.  But it hurts the
 most when I come face-to-face with the banana-date shake.
 No shake for me!

It can be hard to believe that something that looks like
this and hangs off of the side of palm tree would be something
one would want to ingest, let alone be something that is totally delicious.

The Hadley Family and my family got in on the secret early and dates have been a part of our family's pantry as long as I can remember.  My maternal grandmother makes amazing oatmeal, chocolate chip, date, walnut cookies.
For parties, my parents always made "mock-rumaki" as an appetizer - a date stuffed with an almond and wrapped in bacon.  I hated it as a kid but my tastes have matured!

Hadley's also has a wall of fame.
Our favorite signed photo was that of child-star &
Shirley Temple contemporary, Jane Withers.

I had heard tell that further into the desert, down Highway 111, there was another famous date farm but we had always been so preoccupied by Hadleys to pay much attention.  Jane Withers provenance not withstanding, I made sure we visited the other hotbed of date propagation - Shields Date Ranch.

I, of course, was immediately taken by the sign.

A view of the ranch.
Date palms require major hydration.

Shields Date Ranch has been in the same location since 1924.
The current facade was erected in 1953.  Between the sign and the building,
I was already sold.

Detail of the stenciled, terrazzo floor.

Romance & Sex Life of the Date...you had me at "free."
My favorite part of Shields Date Ranch is that they not only
maintain the desert novelty of a vintage, roadside fruit
stand, they threw the wacky tacky stank on it!

Even if one hated dates, it would be hard to pass up the
"The Romance of the Date."

Before we even looked at the store's offerings, we had to find the theater.

Mr Shields knew that sex sells.
Seriously, we bought about $40 worth of dates and date-related
products including date shakes, chocolate covered dates,
date bars, and prickly pear cactus candy.

The 108 seat theater.
Apparently, date palm pornography has a more
limited appeal than I would have thought.

Hadleys has some major competition.  My brother and sister said that Shields' shakes may have the edge on Hadleys'.  
The secret is the "date crystals," a naturally-derived, date byproduct unique to Shields. 

"Please come again"???
No need for the formal invitation, I'll be back.  It's a date!!!

I don't get asked out a lot but I can honestly say that Hadleys and Shields are two of the best "dates" I've ever had!  If you're ever out Palm Springs way, be sure to make a date with some dates!

Hadley Fruit Orchards

48980 Seminole Dr

Cabazon, CA

(800)854-5655

hadleyfruitorchards.com

Shields Date Ranch

80225 Hwy 111

Indio, CA

(800)414-2555

shieldsdategarden.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny