Poste Homestead dedication November 22

MBCA invites you to join us in beautiful Wonder Valley on November 22!

Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area: local groups and the BLM collaborate to protect a special place

(Wonder Valley, California) -- A coalition of community groups have joined with the Barstow Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect an invaluable historical and natural resource in Wonder Valley.

The Poste Homestead Historical and Natural Area contains the adobe ruins of a 1923 homestead occupied by local historical figures David and Anna Poste, owners and operators of the Virginia Dale Mine. In 1952, a commercial hog ranch was built at the site and the area became known as "The Pig Farm." The expanse of sand dunes are home to a variety of desert creatures and is famous for its magnificent displays of wildflowers in the spring.

"The Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office is looking forward to the posting of the interpretive signs at the Post Homestead on November 22nd. This area is of historical importance to many in the 29 Palms and Wonder Valley area. I would like to thank our partners the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Morongo Basin Conservation Association, 29 Palms Historical Society and Community ORV Watch for their work in this endeavor. The Bureau of Land Management places great importance on creating partnerships," said Jim Shearer, Bureau of Land Management
Archaeologist.

A press conference will be held at the site at noon on Saturday, November 22nd and will feature speakers from the BLM and the coalition of organizations formed to protect the area. Speakers include: James Shearer, Archeologist, Bureau of Land Management; Al Gartner from the 29 Palms Historical Society; David Fick from the Morongo Basin Conservation Association; Nancy Karl from the Mojave Desert Land Trust; and, Phil Klasky from Community ORV Watch. Interpretive signs educating the public about the natural and historic features of the area will be unveiled at the press conference.

"The dedication of the Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area is an excellent example of the successful collaboration between federal land use management agencies and the community. This beautiful site is certainly a place worth protecting," said Nancy Karl of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and stewardship of natural areas in the Mojave Desert.

The Poste Homestead site currently suffers from dumping, vandalism and illegal off-road vehicle damage to both the historic ruins and the surrounding vegetation. ORV riders continue to remove signs closing illegal routes and breach barriers placed to protect the sand dunes. Stewardship of the site by the Mojave Desert Land Trust and the community will help ensure its continuing protection, and increased patrol by local and federal law enforcement will help save this invaluable public resource for generations to come.

"We applaud the BLM for their support in establishing this historic and natural resource. Poste Homestead has become an illegal ORV open area with a spider's web of illegal routes through fragile sand dunes. Riders have even damaged the adobe ruins, an invaluable historic resource that should be preserved for everyone," said Phil Klasky from Community ORV Watch, a local group of residents and businesses working to stop ORV abuse of private and public lands.

The Poste Homestead has been selected by the Bureau of Land Management as the next site for a massive clean-up, closure of illegal routes and repair of off-road vehicle damage as part of the 2009 National Public Lands Day.

Driving Directions to the Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area:

From downtown Twentynine Palms (Hwy 62 and Adobe Road) drive 7 miles East on Hwy 62 to Godwin Road. Turn left on Godwin, drive 2 miles to Amboy Road. Turn Right on Amboy and continue for 5 miles to the Palms Bar & Restaurant (look for the buffalo on the sign). The last mile of travel to the Poste Homestead is on an unpaved road with loose sand, so drivers without four wheel drive capabilities are encouraged to park at the Palms and car pool to the site in four wheel drive vehicles.

From the Palms Bar & Restaurant, continue east 4.3 miles to Chadwick Road. The county may not have replaced the missing street sign, so watch for a yellow flag. You will pass Midway Road a mile before you reach Chadwick. Turn right on Chadwick Road (this is where the sand starts) and drive almost a mile to a smaller road branching to the right. Follow this road about 1/4 mile to the grove of trees.