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October 30, 1975. The Keys Ranch is the prime example of early settlement in the Joshua Tree National Park area. Bill Keys was the area's leading character, and his ranch is a symbol of the resourcefulness of early settlers. The ranch is an extensive complex of small frame buildings built between 1910 and Keys' death in 1964.
Feb 15, 2023 · Ranch Tour. Join us on a ranger-led tour and learn about the cultural history of Keys Ranch. Topics may include Native American history, mining, ranching, homesteading, the Keys family, and the site’s transition into a protected historical site.
- The Tour
- The Murder Charge
- If You Go
The ranger collected our tickets and had us drive through the gate until we were all in. At 2:00 p.m. promptly, she closed the gate and led us into the ranch proper. About half a mile in, our caravan circled around and we all piled out, right at a weathered wood building that was the original Joshua Tree Elementary School. I suggest you bring water...
In 1943, in an incident straight out of a western dime novel, a former deputy sheriff named Worth Bagley ambushed Keys just outside Keys' ranch. Bill returned fire and shot Bagley to death. The trial was a mockery of justice, with some powerful cattle ranching interests twisting the results against Keys. Bill was found guilty of murder and sent to ...
To reach the Desert Queen Ranch entrance, where the tour begins, turn into the Hidden Valley Campground (one of nine campgrounds in the park), then almost immediately turn right down a dirt road. If you're in the campground proper, you've gone too far. Follow the dirt road until it ends at a "T," then turn left. Shortly, you will come to the closed...
Jan 6, 2020 · The ranch remains a vivid example of the ingenuity, work ethic, and vision necessary to survive in the Mojave desert. Keys’s occupation of the Desert Queen Ranch and his utilization of Cow Camp and Barker Dam established one of the most successful desert settlements in the region.
Our tour guide, Bret, did an excellent job relaying the story of the Keys and how they made a living from the arid desert environment. The site is preserved really well and made me marvel at the Keys' ingenuity in shaping the environment around them to not only make a living, but survive.
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- Attraction
- Keys Ranch Road, California
Located in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, Key’s Ranch (AKA Desert Queen Ranch) is an incredibly well-maintained homestead only accessible via a 90 minute guided tour. It’s one of those spots that I didn’t even know existed in the park and something that I highly recommend you visit if you get the chance.
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Sep 13, 2022 · Days and Times: October to May, Thursdays and Sundays, 9:30 – 11 am. Reservations: Tours can be reserved up to 60 days in advance on Recreation.gov. Fees: $10 for adults and kids 12+, $5 for kids 6-11, seniors and access pass, Under 6 is free. Walking: 1/2 mile. Dogs: No. Notes: Keys Ranch is only open for tours with a guide.
