Flying High at the Copper Room

Just a few blocks off of Highway 62, (the highway that takes you to Joshua Tree National Park) is the Yucca Valley Airport, a small, hobbyist style airport catering to those in the high desert. Attached is the quaint, but delightful Copper Room, which was once frequented by one of my favorite musicians, Gram Parsons.

Myself, wearing a brown hat, blue jean jacket, tee featuring a desert landscape, tan corduroy pants, and dark brown boots, standing in front of the Copper Room.

Close-up of the sign reading "The Copper Room est. 1957" in gothic script.

Close-up of the copper door to the Copper Room.

Myself from the back, showing off a large patch featuring Gram Parsons in his white Nudie suit, surrounded by yellow flowers and pills.

Constructed in 1957, the Yucca Valley Airport was not built because of a great number of people traveling by air to the area, instead it was the child of one dedicated physician. When doctor and pilot John Bendall had difficulty driving to a patient in the high desert, he decided to build himself an airport with a little restaurant attached, dubbed The Copper Room.

After Dr. Bendall constructed his little airport, it began to serve other pilots as well as musicians and their friends, including Jimmy Van Heusen, the Honorary Mayor of Yucca Valley, composter, pilot, and best friend of Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, both of whom spent time within the walls of the Copper Room. Eventually the Copper Room was renamed the Red Baron, and pilots could even radio in their orders prior to landing.

It’s during its time as the Red Baron that Gram Parsons spent time here, although he never flew in. Instead Gram would arrive in his Aston-Martin and sit at the bar looking out at the sunset, ordering “pitchers of margaritas for himself.” Today several photographs of Gram hang on a wood paneled wall, and there is even a drink named after him, the Gram-arita Margarita.

The high desert bar got quite a few renames over the years, after the Red Baron era, it was known as Wine & Roses, and later Touchdown Bar & Grill, and then it shuttered, with the only visitor being the breeze through the windsock atop its roof. Eventually it was bought by the same team that revived the Red Dog Saloon and Pioneertown Motel, further investing in the community of the high desert. Today the Copper Room has an overall subtle 70s vibe, including wood paneled walls, red booths, and a mirrored tambour wall, that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed with great food and drinks. During our visit I of course ordered myself the Gram-arita and a steak, which was seriously one of the best steaks I’ve had, and basked in the rich history of this unique high desert watering hole.

Myself, wearing a brown hat, blue jean jacket, tee featuring a desert landscape, tan corduroy pants, and dark brown boots, standing in front of the Copper Room.

Photographs of Gram Parsons hang on a wood paneled wall, below a red leather tufted booth.

Myself seated inside the Copper Room, holding a menu.

A small white stucco building with a green roof, a curved portion features warm rocks along the wall, a small sign reads "The Copper Room est. 1957." Atop the roof is a small orange wind sock.

The bar, which features windows looking west and the sunset.

Myself, wearing a brown hat, blue jean jacket, tee featuring a desert landscape, tan corduroy pants, and dark brown boots, standing in front of the Copper Room.

A cozy fireplace features several chairs around it.

Myself, wearing a brown hat, blue jean jacket, tee featuring a desert landscape, tan corduroy pants, and dark brown boots, standing in front of the Copper Room.

Close-up of my jacket patch, which features an embroidered Gram Parsons, wearing his white Nudie suit of pot leaves, flowers, flames, and pills, surrounded by yellow flowers, and pills, inspired by the Byrds album cover, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, which features a cowgirl in the same pose and surrounded by flowers.

Close-up of a stained glass window of a heart.

Myself, wearing a brown hat, blue jean jacket, tee featuring a desert landscape, tan corduroy pants, and dark brown boots, standing in front of the Copper Room.

Myself drinking a margarita.

Grab yourself a Gram-arita Margarita at the Copper Room at 57360 Aviation Drive in Yucca Valley. Learn more, including hours and menu, on their website.

What’s Nearby?

Beauty Bubble Salon & Museum

Desert Christ Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Pioneertown

Outfit
Hat: Pachuco Supply
Jacket: Buffalo Exchange, Sweetheart of the Rodeo inspired Gram Parsons patch put on by me, but I can’t remember where I got the patch! Someone tagged me on Instagram about it, and I bought it years ago, but only recently found a jacket to sew it onto.
Tee: Palomino Festival
Corduroys: Lee
Boots: Buffalo Exchange
Jewelry: Here and there

Sources
Bullock, Tim. “My Memories of Gram Parsons.” Pioneertown Gazette. Print
“High Flying in the High Desert.” Pioneertown Gazette. Print
History. The Copper Room. Accessed 7 December 2022.
Pardilla, Caroline. “Inside Look: The Copper Room, Yucca Valley.” imbibe, 30 November 2022. Accessed 7 December 2022.

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