15 months after the historic original Desert Trail building (dedicated in 1937) at 5770 Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms was nearly destroyed by a suspicious fire, a reopening will be held this Sunday (5/19) from 3:00-6:00 PM. Reporter Gary Daigneault covered the breaking story February 12, 2023, and has an invitation to its rebirth.
San Bernardino County Battalion Chief Bob Evans said at the time that the fire was reported at about 7:00pm and quickly became an inferno which saw response from multiple local fire stations and the Marine Corps Base Fire Department. Owners Mike and Anne Congdon said the iconic structure, called a “Community Heirloom” had been plagued by squatters.
The stubborn fire had moved into a space between the roof and the attic, standard at time as a cooling space. After extensive restoration, the “Rehabilitation Celebration” open house will feature Janet Braley mosaics and the names of the locals scratched into the cement doorway at the original 1937 opening.
