#342 - Hicksville Trailer Palace in Joshua Tree

Gypsy Vardo Wagon for a Night

This magical little "circus trailer" was our home for one night!

A few years ago, I spotted an image of it on the internet. When I found out you could actually spend a night in the wagon, I put it on the list! 

Pee-wee Connection

The charm of the tiny house on wheels, wasn't the only thing that lured me. It was also the desert setting! Just 13 miles from Joshua Tree National Park area.

Honestly, I was maybe the most excited about the quirky history of the little trailer! It played a part in the ridiculously nutty, (love it or hate it) movie, "Big Top Pee-wee". More on that later.

Finding the Place

Don and I booked the little trailer for a night in October. It was the halfway stop, on our California road trip. The night before, we'd been in Hollywood. What a contrast!

We followed the website's driving instructions, which warned us to avoid Foxy Flats Rd. However, we weren't given a preferred route. This photo shows the lovely road we chose... before the flat gravel road suddenly climbed a steep hill and things got tricky with our rental car!
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Hicksville Trailer Palace

We were relieved to end our rugged road adventure. We parked near a spiky Joshua Tree, outside the fenced in compound, with the amusing name. Hicksville Trailer Palace! 

I was giddy about our overnight in the little gypsy wagon. I was excited to spend a night in a quirky resort, out in the desert. 

Purple Office at the Trailer Palace

​We moved towards the purple building, with the word Office on the door. I was feeling pretty tickled to be staying this colorful oasis, filled with refurbished trailers. This is the kind of oddball place that Don and I love. 

I guess using the word tickled, shows my age. I picked it up from my grandmother. "Daw" was frequently tickled over things. This resort would not be Daw's kind of place, but I can imagine her saying, "Oh I am just tickled to death that we are able to stay at the Roosevelt Hotel!"

The Geezers Arrive

​Anyway, Don and I headed for the door and knocked quite a few times. When Jessica opened the door, I was confused by her perplexed expression. That was an odd greeting, since we'd been told to text 30 minutes before arrival. She was expecting us.

There was an awkward silence, so I introduced myself and Don, in case she'd had a bit of amnesia. I soon realized she was simply baffled to see a bald man and a lady with wrinkles. She was clearly expecting younger guests, like the ones jumping up and down, on the website. We clearly weren't hip enough for Hicksville.

Touring the Compound

Jessica had us follow her through the locked gate. I tried not to be insulted when she muttered, "I hope you know what you're in for."  She spoke as if we might be too elderly to navigate the internet. Maybe we hadn't  peeked at the website to know they had communal bathrooms and a vape room, located in an old lifeguard stand. Those things didn't thrill me, but I knew about them.

I gave her a pass. Maybe she had a headache. "I know..." I sort of teased, "We look like a couple of old geezers, but we stay in places like this a lot." I assured her that I'd studied the website. The first thing she pointed out was a cartoonish outhouse, sitting on the Astroturf. It was one of 2 toilets we were welcome to use. (Daw wouldn't have gone for this!)

Music & Pool Girls

We passed a juke box, built into the side of the purple house. Jessica told us it was complimentary. 

Music was already playing, entertaining 6 young women lounging in the peanut sized saltwater pool.

The 6 women were the only other Hicksville guests, on that October Thursday. They looked about as pleased to see us as Jessica had been. I would have gestured hello, but they sipped their drinks and tried to ignore the elders who were passing through their space.

I did not invade their privacy, by taking pool photos that might include the gals in bikinis, holding beers. I took photos later.

Mostly Trailers

We followed Jill around the grounds. She pointed out the other trailer options. I was glad almost all were unoccupied that evening.

There was an intriguing houseboat and a Sideshow-themed circus train car. The trailer, with the porch and roof, reminded me of Lucy & Desi's luxury home, in "The Long Long Trailer" movie. That's where the Pool Gals were staying.

A Community of Trailers

Just like in the movie, our trailer was located on the edge of the property. We had a good spot for looking out over our odd little community.

In the movie, the trapeze artist Gina lives in the colorful wagon. Her window gave her a good view of other tents and trailers. Our view was similar to Gina's, but we never saw Pee-wee approach!

Interior 

When we stepped inside our trailer it felt like a storybook cottage. The colorful curtains hid the bed, as well as the large window.

There was a purple velvet couch, across from a sink. Squirts of water came forth with a press-down lever. Not exactly the easiest for washing your face, but I was happy to have it. We already knew our tiny trailer had no bathroom.

The opened curtains revealed the bed and more window light. A shiny wooden table slid out from a slot beneath the mattress. That came in handy.

I definitely needed to "climb" into bed. It was high! But it was comfier and larger than expected. And the ledge for the bay window, gave me a bedside table.

Spotlight on Pee Wee

This may have been Gina's home in the movie, but the cozy trailer was definitely focused on Pee-wee. I liked the curious artwork, titled "Tequilla".

A little shelf held Pee-wee related books and toys and the once popular, talking Pee-wee doll. I pulled on the plastic ring, but heard no voice when I pulled the string. Just the same hissing sound, my old Chatty Cathy Doll made, after years of play. 

I had some fun with an old Viewmaster toy. It showed images of Pee-Wee, from his Pee-wee's Playhouse Show. Don used to watch with our daughter when I worked on Saturday mornings. Good times!

TV/Movie Star... Cancelled?

Not all folks appreciated Pee-Wee's humor, back in the day. And then after he got in trouble with the law, he lost a few fans. But Pee-wee's been gone more than a year, now. Rest in Peace. I choose to embrace the good in Paul Ruebens and the joy he brought to lots of kiddos.

Long before Pee-wee was a "star", he was a teenage actor, at a theatre in Sarasota, Florida. I found his original name, in an old theatre program, from a play my dad directed in 1968. Paul Ruebenfeld actually. Small world.

TV & AC

Our space was tiny, but there was an a.c. unit, which was very much needed with the blazing afternoon sun.

Seemed silly to have a TV, especially since it didn't seem to work. But there was a DVD player which miraculously did. Later that night we popped in the Big Top Pee-wee movie. We had an amusing viewing.

The Movie

I snapped photos of the wagon, to compare later. 

I took this photo below, to send my kids. 

They recognized Sacha, the performer on the left. He taught our kids at Circus Camp, one summer. So many fun connections!

It's been 36 years since this scene was shot inside the wagon. Not too much has changed.

A different couch, but the wallpaper looks the same!

Evening Light

There was an interesting feel to the place as the sun began to lower.

The Pool Girls retreated to their big trailer, but the juke box music continued their playlist as the sun lowered. Luckily it was a varied one, that we sort of enjoyed.

Phototime with Props
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​With no-one around but us, I pulled out my Gypsy skirt for a quick photo or 2.  

Knowing we'd be staying in Pee-wee's gypsy wagon, I packed props.

I tossed a couple of bowties into the suitcase. They weren't red like Pee-wee's but I think he'd like their style.  

Sorry we blurred you Pee-wee. I didn't realize we were on portrait mode.

​​By 6, the wagon cast a perfect shadow over our 2 chairs. Don made drinks and we enjoyed looking out over the dusty little kingdom. We had the place to ourselves. 

And then Jessica appeared. She just stopped to chat. Maybe her headache went away. Maybe she saw our bowties and thought we were odd enough to fit into the rad hipster world of Hicksville Trailer Palace. We actually had a nice chat.

Entertainment Options

We had a little time before our desert oasis would be chilly and dark. 

There were lots of options for entertainment. There was a teepee beside us, with seating and fire pit.

There was pingpong, in a shady little game room area. 

There was even an odd putt putt golf area.

We didn't have enough time to get into a good book, inside the cabin library.

We didn't have the energy (or desire) to climb into the covered ball pit. 

We could have lounged on the surfboard style loungers, next to the old lifeguard tower from Huntington Beach... also used as Vape Room.

Don and I were already happy and relaxed enough. We did not need any vaping entertainment. I did of course peek through the glass.

I was kind of curious about the archery and shuffleboard!

Food?

​I never found out what was with the Dr. Wiggles Weiner Wagon. I guess wiener can be spelled weiner. ??

We didn't bring our own frankfurters, but the Pool Girls grilled burgers, later that evening. They invited Jessica to join them. We got no invites!

They were sitting around the table, on little swings when I passed by to get some ice.

Communal Bathing

Just steps from the funny table and swings, I found the door to the ice machine.

Right beside the ice machine there was a cowboy bathtub. Actually that was a sink.

Behind the flamingo curtain was the community shower. This was an awfully intimate set up.  

Next to the ice/shower room, there was a separate door to a toilet. It actually had a lock and a heated toilet seat. I never made use of the outhouse with the moon.

There was also an open air shower near our trailer. It had a small metal wall and stool. Made no use of that either.

​Almost Dark

We didn't make use of all the entertainment options. Instead we moved to a different spot and pulled out the fried chicken dinner we'd purchased earlier.

Grilled burgers would have been better, but the scenery was perfect!

Our little glowing wagon looked mighty sweet, after sunset.

The sweet trailer's "face" seemed to be telling me something as I headed inside. "Paint me" ??

Morning at the Trailer Palace

I was up nice and early, since we Geezers were in bed by 9:30.

I climbed up to the roof deck/hot tub, for a nice view before 7.

There was lots of sky drama.

The property was still, so we had to be quiet. But it was time to play.

Before Hitting the Road

The sun seemed blistering hot in the afternoon, but the "resort games" looked inviting in the early morning light.

I was pretty awful with archery. My BB gun skills were equally bad, but shuffle board was a hoot!
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Nearby Fun

We tiptoed off the property before 9. We wanted to explore the area before   getting to our hotel (and shower) in Laguna Beach.

A Notable Night always ranks higher if there are fun things within walking distance. In desert country, I have to share the fun places that are within a close drive. The photos above show the nearby fun!

What's Notable?

Even though it took a bit of time to warm up to our host and this oddball Trailer Palace, I'm glad we stayed in Pee-wee's trailer. I'm glad we oldsters found a way to have fun at a place that caters to the party crowd.

$160. is a lot for an overnight in a trailer, which requires a dark walk through the sand to reach the restroom. Staying in the fall on a Thursday was probably wise. But I have a feeling we would have a lot more stories to tell if we'd stayed over a 3-day weekend!