The High Desert Aviation Story Begins in Pioneertown in the 1940s, where Gene Autry and Roy Rogers ramped up filming to the point of needing near constant flights for cast and crew. The Hollywood contingent used the Sky Corrals in Yucca Valley and a dirt runway in Pioneertown known as the Roy Rogers Airport (below) prior to the opening of the Yucca Valley Airport.

Newspaper article about Gene Autry seeking airport retention at Yucca Valley. Autry abandoned his horse and guitar for a request regarding airport facilities. He has made 75 films in the Pioneer area and is involved in a proposal for an airport district at Yucca Valley.
A vintage airplane with the words "Red Dog" and "Pioneertown" on its side, parked on a desert-like landscape with scrubby bushes, cactus, and mountains in the background.

A cloudburst one summer night in the late 1950s was a prelude to Yucca Valley’s present airport location. A Spanish War veteran was suffering from a stroke and the local Dr. John Bendall struggled to reach him by car. Unsatisfied with the predicament Dr. Bendall, a pilot himself, decided to acquire the 80-acre plot at Warren’s Well to construct a private airport and dinner house— the Copper Room.

A small single-engine propeller plane flying low over a fence with a rural landscape in the background.
A small theater stage with a drum and musical notes above it, suggesting a music or performance event.

For over a decade, until the early 1970s, the Copper Room was the place to be in the high desert. Frank Sinatra’s best friend, composer and confidant, Jimmy Van Heusen (below) was the Honorary Mayor of Yucca Valley at the time. The Copper Room existed at the nexus of golden area aviation and Rat Pack revelry. The airport lounge was beacon for seasoned pilots and heavy hitting musicians boasting continuous live music, cold martinis and dancing under the stars.

Four people dressed in formal attire standing side by side at a social event. The women is wearing a dress with lace, and the men are in suits, with one wearing a hat. They are smiling and posing for the photo.
Blank white background with a small black line in the center
Album cover featuring a photo of Frank Sinatra wearing a black suit, white shirt, black tie, and a black fedora hat. The background is greenish, and the album title indicates that Sinatra sings Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. The cover has pink and white sections with bold black text.
A simple drawing of a red flower with a black center and green leaves.

Jimmy Van Heusen wrote countless title songs for Frank Sinatra's albums in the late 1950s, including Love and Marriage, To Love and Be Loved, Come Fly with Me, Only the Lonely, and Come Dance with Me. Van Heusen was an avid pilot who discovered the desert on a flight path back from New York and was famously credited for inspiring Sinatra’s move.

A drawing of a red flower with dark center, green leaves, and a black stem.
Group of mixed toddlers playing with colorful toy blocks on a yellow floor in a play area.
A newspaper clipping announcing the opening of the Copper Room at the Yucca Valley Airport, operated by John Haskell and Bob Roberts. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from noon to 2 p.m. until December 2, with plans for a grand opening and new hours. It will serve traditional Thanksgiving dinners.
A red flower with dark petals and a dark center, attached to a green leaf and a brown stem.
Black and white photo of several vintage airplanes parked on a tarmac.
Black and white line drawing of a person standing on a platform, holding a briefcase, with a cityscape background.

“The ‘Baron’ as it was known was a very happening spot in 1970s Yucca Valley.
It was pretty hip and all, and a favorite destination amongst big money guys who flew in with guests for dinner in their Cessna’s, Mooney’s, and Pipers. At that time you could call in your drink and dinner order from the air; you could talk to the bartender on the Unicom radio and order ahead. It was pretty cool.”

Person dressed in red kneeling on the ground in front of a sign that reads "Red Baron" with a picture of a toy airplane, wearing a red shirt and red pants, and a red hat with a toy helicopter on it.
Close-up of a red flower with green leaves.

For decades after the Red Baron era, Wine & Roses was a favorite amongst locals. A few years ago the venue shuttered and was in need of restoration and revival. After uncovering the rich history of the space and Yucca Valley itself, the team behind the Pioneertown Motel and Red Dog Saloon (Pioneertown) endeavored to bring back the glory days the Copper Room.

Two men outdoors, one sitting on rocks playing an acoustic guitar, the other standing and working with equipment or tools.

“Gram would roll in driving his pearl gray Aston-Martin followed by an entourage of six or seven fancy and exotic cars. A real ‘Grand Entrance’ at 3:00 in the afternoon in Yucca Valley at the Red Baron. The first couple of times he came in I didn’t even know who he was as he ordered pitchers of Margaritas for himself, this bright blonde headed guy and numerous other semi-famous rock stars and groupies that were with him. Gram always said he loved the Red Baron bar in the late afternoon with the windows facing the desert sunset.”

— Tim Bullock on 1972-1974 Red Baron

Close-up of a slot machine showing a jackpot win with three red sevens and coins spilling out.
Aerial view of mountain ranges seen from an airplane window with part of the airplane wing visible. High above Joshua Tree National Park.
A simple illustration of a red flower with a green stem and leaves.
Close-up of a hand holding a small object, with a black background.
A hand-drawn map of a desert area with landmarks such as mountains, parks, and roads. Notable locations include Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Pioneertown, and Indian Pow Wow Site. The map also shows roads, an airport, a golf course, and various parks and monuments, with annotations indicating destinations and points of interest.

How to Get Here

We are located right next to the Yucca Valley Airport.

57360 Aviation Dr, Yucca Valley, CA 92284

Open Daily: 4pm - 10pm

Drive Here // Fly Here