In 1972, Francis Aleba, Harriet Allen's mother, purchased the building and opened "The Cantina"; a bar known for serving burritos and attracting outlaw bikers. The establishment in this form operated for a decade before closing.
Pioneertown Cantina - Unknown Year
1982-2003
In 1982, Harriet Allen and her husband, Claude "Pappy" Allen, purchased The Cantina and renamed it Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. The venue offered a combination of Tex-Mex cuisine and live music, with performances often featuring Pappy, Harriet, and their granddaughter Kristina. It also became a popular stop for bikers traveling through the Mojave Desert corridor.
Harriet Allen was known for her cooking and occasional performances of country music standards, while Pappy Allen contributed to the venue’s construction and maintenance. The establishment developed a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere, attracting both locals and visitors to Joshua Tree National Park. Over time, Pappy & Harriet's gained wider recognition as a destination for food and live entertainment in the remote desert setting.
When Pappy Allen died in 1994, hundreds of mourners from around the world attended his memorial, including Victoria Williams, who later recorded the song "Happy to Have Known Pappy" for her Atlantic Records release, Loose.
A local airplane pilot, Jay Hauk, owned Pappy and Harriet's for a few years before it was next purchased.
2003-2021
In 2003, Robyn Celia and Linda Krantz purchased Pappy & Harriet's. Longtime patrons and passionate music lovers, they revitalized the space and elevated its reputation as a premier destination for live music while staying true to the venues roots. Under their 18 year stewardship, the stage welcomed an eclectic mix of world-renowned artists - from Paul McCartney and Robert Plant to Vampire Weekend, The Dandy Warhols and Queens Of The Stone Age, all while still embracing up-and-coming acts and underground artists alike.
In the summer of 2006, the Sawtooth Complex fire threatened Pappy & Harriet's and the rest of Pioneertown, but the town and club were not among the 50 homes and over 60,000 acres of desert burned.[3][4]
Billboard Magazine named Pappy & Harriet's one of the Top Ten Hidden Gems in the Country in its 2012 Best Clubs issue. The club attracts artists and musicians from all over the world.
NY Times Magazine featured Pappy and Harriet's in its 2013 article "Listen Up | In The California Desert, A One Of A Kind Music Venue Blossoms."
SXSW featured the documentary The Pioneertown Palace in 2014.
Anthony Bourdain featured Pappy & Harriet's in the "US Desert" episode of his television show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
In 2014, Simian Mobile Disco performed/recorded their live album "Whorl" during a one-off set at Pappy & Harriet's.[6] The set, a jam session in the desert, and a bit of studio work in London contributed to the final album.[7]
Coachella Festival promoters Goldenvoice Productions and Santa Monica-based NPR station KCRW have presented shows at Pappy & Harriet's. The majority of bookings were generated by one of the club's former co-owners, Robyn Celia.
For period of time, a Monday night Open Mic hosted by musician Ted Quinn featured hundreds of performers. Most of the Open Mic performers are local or lesser-known traveling troubadours, but many established artists, including Feist, Julie Christensen, and Ke$ha have also made appearances.
2021-Present
In 2021, after almost two decades of ownership, Robyn and Linda sold the business and property to Morgan Margolis, CEO of Knitting Factory & Partners, music curators Knitting Factory Ent. and their booking arm, Bravo Presents. Plaintiffs Morgan Margolis, John Chapman, S&H Desert Depot LLC of P&H Pioneertown LP LLC partners dealt with a heated lawsuit against Defendants JB Moresco and Lisa Elin of P&H Pioneertown GP LLC which resulted in a 3.5-year battle through the justice system. The plaintiff team decisively won the lengthy fight and final takeover of the business and property on December 23, 2025.
Howling: New Moon Rising was shot in and around Pappy & Harriet's and Pioneertown. The film featured many of the bar's regular customers as cast members.
The restaurant is used as a location in the documentary Nowhere Now: The Ballad of Joshua Tree.
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