Selling Sunset is no stranger to a lively and chaotic girls’ trip disguised as a “business excursion,” and in season eight, the team took a trip to Pioneertown.
This town, visited by Alanna Gold, is a unique location with an intriguing history.
Originally an old movie set, Pioneertown now serves as a real town where Alanna and her husband own several properties.
During episode five, the girls from Selling Sunset visited Pioneertown and fully embraced the desert lifestyle, complete with mandatory mechanical bull riding.
What is Pioneertown?
Pioneertown, established in 1946 as a former film set, is situated in the Morongo Basin region of the High Desert in San Bernardino County, California.
This unique location was crafted to mirror an 1880s wild west style town, allowing the community to reside and work on film productions all in one place.
Even today, Pioneertown continues to operate as a film set, having hosted over 200 productions.
Additionally, it has transformed into a tourist attraction where visitors can enjoy its historical charm and even celebrate weddings amidst its picturesque setting.
Does Alanna own Pioneertown?
In Selling Sunset season eight, the group visits the town Alanna mentioned she co-owns with her husband.
Alanna shared that while she hasn’t disclosed the town’s price, she and her husband possess a significant stake in it.
Alanna expressed to People magazine the significance of Pioneertown, stating, “In 2020, when we learned that a large portion of Pioneertown was for sale, we saw an incredible opportunity not only to strengthen our ties to the community but also to preserve a piece of history.”
Together with their partner, David Corso, they established Pioneertown Land Management with the goal of restoring the town to its original purpose.
Pioneertown holds a special place in Alanna’s heart as it was the setting for her first date with her husband, Adam Gold, and where they later tied the knot in 2022.
Since the show aired, the residents of Pioneertown have released a statement refuting Alanna’s ownership claim.
In their statement, they clarified, “Selling Sunset’s Alanna Gold does not ‘own Pioneertown’.”
The people of Pioneertown has requested an apology from both Selling Sunset and Alanna Gold for the misunderstanding.
“The baseless claims by Selling Sunset’s Alanna Gold that she ‘owns Pioneertown’ undermines 78 years of internationally celebrated film, arts and cultural history.
“These claims belittle generations of artists, neighbours, nature lovers, community members, musicians, small business owners and otherwise magnificent people of Pioneertown”.
The residents further explained that Alanna and her husband’s ownership stake in Pioneertown amounts to less than one percent of the town’s total 640 acres.
Following the release of the statement, Alanna issued an apology for the misunderstanding regarding the town’s ownership.
She clarified that her enthusiasm for the town led to her exaggeration and expressed regret for any confusion caused.
In a letter written to Pioneertown residents Alanna said the following: “I want to reach out to personally say I am so deeply sorry for the confusion I have caused. I certainly do not own Pioneertown, I never should have said that and I apologise for doing so. I want you to know that I did not mean any harm, I absolutely love Pioneertown and I simply got too excited talking about it.
“My first date with my husband was there and our wedding was at the Soundstage. We wanted to become part of the community so we invested in a home and other properties there.
“We are contacting any and all reporters to make sure they update their stories and correct the record. Again, I am so sorry to the people of Pioneertown, I would never want to disrespect the town’s history or any of the people who make it such a wonderful place.”
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.