What Cities Are In The High Desert Part 2
This is the second in a two-part series. Here is the first article titled What Cities Are In the High Desert click here.
Why locals call in the High Desert their home is for several reasons. For instance, it is commuter-friendly, with fresh air and clear blue skies with dramatic landscapes and exquisite sunsets are a delight to see. Recreational areas like Mojave Narrows, Hesperia Lakes, Johnson Valley, Big Bear, and Wrightwood are close to the cities of the High Desert for easy day trips. The High Desert offers a great selection of affordable housing options to choose from.
In this article, we will cover seven areas Adelanto, El Mariage, Helendale-Silver Lakes, Apple Valley, Barstow, and Lucene Valley.
Adelanto
The name Adelanto means ‘progress’ or ‘advance’ in Spanish.
Some major employers include ● Adelanto School District and adjacent Victorville employers of ● General Atomics ● Northwest Pipes ● Commercial Wood Products ● Molded Fiber Glass and the federal prison.
There is retail Shopping available: through the Victorville Walmart Supercenter, off the 395 as well as Stater Bros., Walgreens, AutoZone, and Several take out food options. From 1991 to 2016, Adelanto was home to the high desert Mavericks, a minor league baseball team of the Class A-Advanced California League. Present-day, the National Premier soccer league has used the site for High Desert Elite FC matches.
El Mirage
El Mirage is a Dry Lake, west of Adelanto that has been used for filming movies and television commercials, most notably the opening sequence of the later episodes of the TV series Sky King. El mirage is Located 9 miles to the west of the 15 freeway. And just beyond it about five more miles is the city of Helendale.
Helendale
Within Helendale is the community of Silver Lakes with a championship golf course, two lakes, tennis courts, their own school district of K through high school, and a very community feel with many activities year-round including the spectacular light show on the lake with a line up of boats for Fourth of July. Being equidistant from Barstow and Victorville, this community is home for many families at the Marine base in Barstow, the railroad in Barstow, the army base at Ft. Irwin, or several of the Victorville employers. If you are an avid golfer, golfing is included in your monthly dues for as often as you play!
Apple Valley
Apple Valley is the next city we will touch on and things to do here include :
Town’s End Farmer Market off of Deep Creek Road and Festival at the Apple Valley Legacy Museum. Apple Valley is also adjacent to the Mojave Narrows Regional Park with camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and biking activities.
Apple Valley offers minimum of half-acre lots, shopping, open spaces, and very good schools. Apple Valley is home to a nationally recognized laboratory a school that gives students a hands-on science and math education – the Lewis Center for Academic Excellence. Apple Valley is passed through with easy access to Lucerne Valley, Big Bear, Las Vegas, and Johnson Valley. The Park and Recreation Department provides a full spectrum of recreation, sport, educational and equestrian programs for children, teens, adults, and families. Watch the video to see what outdoor activities locals enjoy.
Watch the video to see what outdoor activities locals enjoy.
One thing they don’t have in Apple Valley are apples! There are many stories as to how Apple Valley acquired its name. According to the late Mary Hampton, local historian, the name arose from the abundance of apple orchards that existed here in the 1920s. The apples were being grown by the ton at award-winning orchards. Unfortunately, with the Great Depression and the cost of pumping water for irrigation, the orchards died off in the 1930s. Homes in Apple Valley range from 229k- 999k.
Health Care
Health care is a major concern for most people and Apple Valley hosts the region’s largest medical community and is the center for advanced services including radiology and heart care. It has emerged as a leader in advanced health care systems spanning from pediatrics to radiology through the St. Marys medical facilities.
Key Commercial Entrance
As an established area, Apple Valley’s Highway 18 Corridor is also becoming a key commercial entrance to northwest Apple Valley.
Apple Valley is located 20 miles south of the Barstow/Lenwood and is adjacent to the east side of Victorville and the north side of Hesperia, Apple valley has clean air, low crime rates, and open spaces which allows Apple Valley to be the land of opportunity for those who are seeking a better place to live, work, and play.
Barstow
Barstow is our next high desert city and in the late 1800s, the Barstow area became a mining center. It also became a busy rail center and a jumping-off place for immigrants entering the state on US Route 66, made famous by John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath.” modern and historic facilities are still available along Barstow’s Main Street, the original Route 66. Also, just off Main Street, at First Street, travelers can drive over an old iron bridge that leads to the railroad depot once the site of the historic Harvey House, originally opened in 1911.
Interstate Highway system I-40 and I-15 converged at the city limits with State Highway 58, making it the transportation hub of the western Mojave Desert.
Barstow has Open spaces, is close to Vegas, and as an older community, has much history with The Harvey House and The Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum and Tanger Mall however it does have newer homes from the 2000’s east of the 15 freeway. In the ‘heights’ area adjacent to the beautiful veterans’ home and commuting complex.
Lucerne Valley
Our final destination is Lucerne Valley which is a town in San Bernardino County. Living in Lucerne Valley offers residents a suburban rural mix feel and most residents own their homes. It is An unincorporated community located 21 miles east-southeast of Apple Valley and Victorville off of Hwy 18.
James E. “Dad” Goulding in 1897, named his 160-acre homestead ranch Lucerne because it was such a good place to grow alfalfa (Lucerne is the Swiss word for “alfalfa”, and was a word commonly used by the Mormons traveling through).
If you like off-roading you can go right from your front yard or Johnson Valley off of Old Woman Spring Rd. Lucerne is the gateway to 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours. It has Open space, dirt roads, and is close to Barstow, Apple Valley, Big Bear, Yucca Valley. Happy Trails rental offers 4WD, ATV & off-road tours in Lucerne Valley.
While there, stop in and eat at the famous Cafe 247 as they fire up the bbq daily. On occasions, during the weekends they have outdoor seating and live music.
At the base before travel up to Big Bear mountain is what I call the “everything stop” it is a hardware, grocery, and deli with tables to sit down for a quick breakfast, lunch, or snack. Also, there is a bank, post office, and great ice cream cones.
There is also the Wolf Mountain Sanctuary which provides a unique up-close experience with wolves.
Hope you found this useful and I will see you next time.