For decades, the Sky Village Swap Meet was more than just a marketplace—a vibrant community space where vendors and shoppers came together to find unique treasures, sell a few items for extra money, and connect. Last weekend marked its final chapter as the market opened its gates for the last time.
Amid the aisles of rickety wooden stalls, visitors said their goodbyes, reminiscing about the connections they’d built and the treasures they’d found. Vendors sold everything from furniture, plants, and records to handcrafted jewelry and rare collectibles. The structures that housed the vendors had artfully stained glass windows that twinkled in the sunlight. Towering metal sculptures of dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, and the medieval knight at Hamid’s shop wait for their forever home. Where will they go now?
For longtime vendor Dakota Bob, the swap meet was his lifeblood. Known for his generosity, Bob often helped struggling vendors by buying from them or covering their rent. “He’s been here every weekend for 20 years,” his wife and Owner of Dakota Bob’s, Margo, said. “It gave him purpose and community, something to look forward to every morning. He never thought he’d see it end. He’ll be 91 in February, so it’s been his life, his personality, his identity. But it also just got him up in the morning, something that he looked forward to. Talking and walking around and meeting the people was really, really good. He wasn’t expecting the closure.”
Hamid Moazzam’s long-standing booth, filled with exotic items, was crowded with visitors on the last weekend. He played with a child while the mother searched the gem table and shared stories. It felt like a family reunion. Elka, a resident, brought lentil soup and homemade bread. Willow, who worked with Hamid for the last few years, reorganized the space as items were purchased and sold from her collection. At the end of Sunday, she played the singing bowls as part of a closing ceremony.
Willow said, “This is where people come to keep their memories alive. When we stop connecting… When you don’t have community, you can lose your health.”
Maurice Lewis, who has run a stand at the Swap Meet for 15 years, told me his family’s history dates back to the 1980s when his mother and grandmother worked at the drive-in theater snack bar. After exploring various occupations and jobs over the years, Maurice returned to the Swap, enjoying the freedom it afforded him and the camaraderie of the other sellers and customers. “It feels like a family,” Maurice said.
Maurice sells frames, trunks, gemstones, comic books, and unique items. Where he will go from here is still unknown, but he has plans. Despite the closure, Maurice remains optimistic about the future while downsizing his inventory. He will adapt to the change by leveraging his eBay clientele and exploring new platforms like Whatnot for live auctions.
Damon Robinson, a printmaker, artist, illustrator, and knife maker, stood by his table last weekend. His talent is blending unique art forms, like etching blades, and incorporating materials like mammoth teeth and turquoise into knife handles. He is also a printmaker. He has been selling here for a few years and values the community. For the present, he still has a studio in Pipes Canyon and plans to be on next year’s art tours. When asked what he wanted to say to the community, he added, “Just a farewell, and it sure has been lovely, and we’ll find a new spot.”
I saw Charity and Dan and stopped to talk to them. Dan, who began his search on Saturday, carried a few items. He said he outfitted one of his Airbnbs with quirky, fun oddities. “Guests love it. “Charity added that she once found a really cool boot-shaped mirror. When asked how they felt about the closing, Dan said, “Oh, man, it’s tragic. It’s like losing a piece of the Desert.”
Next, I ran into Simon and Penelope and asked what they thought about the swap meet closing. Simon said, “It’s sad. “I think it’s been such a community hub for so many decades. One of the saddest things is the older folk who just come here to hang out on the weekend and connect with each other. It’s more than just a Swap meet; it’s a gathering place for people. My landlady has come here every weekend for the last 20 years.
On Sunday morning, I saw a man with a small table in front of him. He was selling “Louie’s brittle.” Louie was his father-in-law, and he and his wife made the brittle in Yucca Valley. I asked him if he would continue selling, and he said yes. He plans to move his table to the 29 Palms Farmers Market.
Christina, Avery, and Matt were three young people gathering for Thanksgiving in the Desert. “We’re all vehicle livers,” they said, “and we’re here to have Thanksgiving together on BLM land,” Avery said
She needed a pair of warm boots that were easy to slip on. She found them in her size, and they cost two dollars.
The next group of people I ran into were Ted, Alice, and Thomas.
I asked Thomas how often he went to the swap meet, and he answered that when he moved to the Morongo Basin ten years ago, he came all the time. “It was just a place to meet people, hang out, catch up, and see some quirky stuff you never find anywhere else. You got good deals.” He added, “Of all the swap meets I’ve gone to, this is such a unique one.” His fondest memory is of Bob Carr and the Crystal cave Bob built.
Ted has been in the Morongo Basin for 31 years. When he first arrived, the property was a drive-in movie theater. Ted said the last movie he saw was Jurassic Park, but by the following summer, it was the Swap Meet. He loved talking to Bob Carr and seeing his creations, including the theater (on the other side of the Crystal Cave) he built for his daughter’s wedding.
Alice, one of the vendors at the Meet, said, “I’m just gonna do some pop-ups.” She will store her stuff in an 18-foot container on her property and go through what’s left. Her new focus is upcycling and selling at a Fiber Arts Fair on the 8th of December at Mas O Menas. She will also teach a workshop on making t-shirt yarn out of T-shirts.
Angel, a landscaper selling desert and native plants at the Meet, said he was looking for commercial space. He added how much Elizabeth and her daughter have meant to him.
Working with Hamid, the Swap Meet has been life-changing for Willow. New to the Morongo Basin, it was a chance to meet the community. She felt she had found her heart home and a place to find high-end items at an affordable price.
Tom, from the Astronomy Theater, came to the Swap with his friend Valerie. “For me,” Valerie, a stained glass artist, said, “it’s a place to come for inspiration. I might find a vessel, a table, or a piece of metal here that I would use in my work.”
Tom said he didn’t buy anything anymore because he didn’t want to collect much stuff. For Tom, it’s the people he would meet each weekend. That era is over; now, we must see what’s next.
