Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Blog Update - A time for leaving!

This time of the winter season is always a sad time as we say good bye to our winter friends all heading off towards home or various adventures.

Additionally this year one of our best workers Ashley has decided to move on, so a few of us who are left gathered in the Clubhouse for some "Going Away" Cake and conversation. Ashley was the star of our front desk and did a tremendous job welcoming our guests and helping the winter residents have a wonderful season, she will be missed.

It was a surprise!


Wonderful Cake!


Ashley with our Activity Directors!


A nice crowd with the primary conversation - When are you leaving and where are you headed?


Tonight there will be a few of us diehards in the Clubhouse for Happy Hour and BBQ - feel free to stop in at 4:30 and bring your dinner to throw on the grill...doubt it will be crowded!

Click the link below to view our current activity calendar...



Jim Lucas

Webmaster - 29 Palms RV resort



Monday, March 27, 2017

Blog Update - Busy Saturday and Winding Down

We had a busy Saturday this week with two events.

There was a birthday Lunch for one of our park residents at the Golf Course - well attended!


Our own Ben Hoisington reached the milestone of 29 (80) officially surpassing dirt! Wishing him many more!


Spring Fling - Last dinner in the clubhouse for the season!


Wonderful dinner of tacos and beans and all the fixins! Many thanks for another wonderful year to our dedicated kitchen crew - Lori and Jim Prestwood and Don and Frankie Nobert!



It was the last night for our DJ and as usual kicked off with Elvira to get the dance floor hopping!


Here is a little "History on Elvira" - bet you didn't know it was first done by Kenny Rogers!

The Oak Ridge Boys are music legends…and they owe it all to one song. The 1981 tune “Elvira” catapulted them to another level of stardom, leading to a long career in the business. In March 1981, the Oak Ridge Boys released their version of the 1966 classic song “Elvira,” originally recorded by Dallas Frazier. The rest, they say, is history. Interestingly enough, “Elvira” was not inspired by a woman, but on a street in East Nashville, Tennessee. Also interesting? The Oak Ridge Boys weren’t the first to cover it. But they were the first to cover it with astounding success.

The original version peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, as well as Rodney Crowell, also put their own spin on it before the Oak Ridge Boys made it a total classic after it appeared on their “Fancy Free” album.

The Oak Ridge boys made the song uniquely their own, in part because of Richard Sterban’s deep take of “giddy up ba-oom papa oom papa mow mow.”

The group was by no means struggling when “Elvira” came out, as they were already a successful band, with five gold records and a Greatest Hits collection that was poised to go platinum. Band member William Lee Golden told People magazine in May 1979: “Inevitably our music will cross all borders and labels. Someday we’re going to run across something that everybody will like at the same time. When THAT happens, we’ll have made it.”

When “Elvira” was released in March 1981, it was the group’s fourth number 1 and their biggest crossover pop hit, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1981.

In a phone interview with The Press Enterprise earlier this year, singer Joe Bonsall noted, “I joke that the song is ‘Elviral’ because it went viral before going viral was a thing.”

Bonsall spoke about how “Elvira” came to be, with song plugger Ronnie Gant pitching the tune to them after seeing a band playing it at a Texas bar. Bonsall recalled, “He said a light went off in his head and thought we could do this song,” adding, “So we cut it and maybe ran through it twice and that was it.”

He added, “At the time we recorded ‘Elvira’ we were playing big coliseums with Kenny Rogers and winning all the awards. We were the hot young act.”

When they played “Elvira” live for the first time in January 1981, Bonsall said, “I can still remember. We were in Spokane, Washington, and when we played the song everyone went nuts. I mean bananas.” He added, “You would have thought we gave everyone in the audience a condo in Montserrat.”

The song climbed the country charts and was a huge pop crossover hit. Bonsall said the group owes it all to Sterban’s deep vocal standalone, saying, “I think it was the kids that first loved ‘Elvira.’ Even today, all these year’s later ‘Elvira’ will be one of the first songs kids latch onto.”

He added, “It’s like the whole country was singing ‘Oom papa mow mow’ with Richard and The Oak Ridge Boys. And still after all these years with all of our success, ‘Elvira’ is still our biggest hit and nothing has come close.” The Oak Ridge Boys were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.


Plenty of music on our last night...even our DJ's 2 year old hit the floor (Literally)


Our DJ did a solo number!


Time for some slow dancing!


Welcome back Jim and Anita - just in time to see everyone before they leave!


This week we have about 12 people hitting the road North or off on journeys this week! We wish them all safe travels and can't wait to see them next season!

Activities will be limited during the month of April - but Wednesday BBQ's will still be going on and maybe a pot luck or two...stay tuned!

Click the link below to view our current activity calendar...



Jim Lucas
Webmaster - 29 Palms RV resort



Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Annual Golf Tournament Results and Joshua Tree in Bloom

The Park held it's annual Sponsored Golf Tournament next door at Roadrunner Dunes Golf course. And the results are in:


We had great participation with 10 teams of 4 playing!

When all was said and done - two teams came in at 11 under so a play-off was held!

The team of Don Nobert, Fred Blackman, Jim Yockey and Tom Seaward won the shoot-out to take the tournament!

The team of John McKittrick, Spud Gephart, Tom Ryan and Ken Mapes came in second place.

The tournament contestants enjoyed a nice lunch in the Clubhouse after their golf!

Meanwhile for the non-golfers Joshua Tree National Park is in bloom.


This is the "greenest" I have ever seen the park - the rainy winter was worth it!





Look hard and you will find some cactus blooming!



We have also been blessed with some wonderful sunsets in the RV Park!


Change of schedule info - tomorrow evening at Happy Hour we will be getting the kitchen ready to close down for the season, so FREE MEAL - bring your plates and utensils and enjoy what we have from the freezer!

Still planning things to do through April!

Click the link below to view our current activity calendar...



Jim Lucas

Webmaster - 29 Palms RV resort



Sunday, March 19, 2017

Blog Update - St. Patricks Day Dinner Dance

The clubhouse turned green for our annual St Patty's Day Dinner and Dance. We had a wonderful traditional dinner with corned beef and cabbage with carrots and potatoes, salad and fresh bread and a wonderful dessert.

We had a nice crowd of about 50 people, quite a few will be leaving in the coming week or so, but our activities will continue right on through April for those of us staying longer and the many northbound travelers who pass through.

We had several firsts tonight - lots of pictures and fun on the dance floor!


YMCA Got the dance floor rockin!


Mick Jagger would have been impressed with a little Impromptu Karaoke to Satisfaction!


Tons of great dance music!





Then our DJ rolled out the Soul Train Stroll!








Even Jimmy Stevens hit the dance floor!



The evening ran late and slowed down a little at the end!


As we say goodbye to some of our winter friends, we wish them safe travels and adventures and can't wait to see them again next year!

Stay Tuned still lots of fun left at Twentynine Palms RV Resort this season!

Click the link below to view our current activity calendar...



Jim Lucas

Webmaster - 29 Palms RV resort



Saturday, March 18, 2017

Blog Update - Park Golf Tournament and More

The Annual Golf Tournament sponsored by the RV Park is today - results will be posted in the next update:


In addition to all the scheduled activities at the park, there is so much more. Joshua Tree NP is less then 5 miles away for hiking and exploring. Of course Road Runner Dunes Golf Course is next door within walking distance, enclosed pool, hot tub, Corn Hole Court, BBQ Pit, Tennis Court and most important "Friendly People".

The park hosts every type of RV and Tent Campers that you can imagine, from large Class A Motorhomes to the smallest Teardrop Camper as well as Tent Campers. All types are welcome and will be greeted and welcome to all the activities, regardless of the size of their rig! Don't have an RV - No problem we have several for rent on site and also a variety of fully furnished cottages for long or short term rentals.

And there are always the sunsets to enjoy with your new found Park neighbors!


Evening Socializing!



Small Bumper Pulls!


Tiny Tear Drops!


Expedition Vehicles from Overseas!


And There are always the wonderful desert sunsets!



If you are looking for a fun relaxed Snowbird Location - come see us at Twentynine Palms RV Resort, we only have one requirement - be friendly and willing to pitch in and participate in our fun!

Our winter activities begin in late October and continue through the entire winter season until the end of April...come enjoy the warm desert winter! 

Click the link below to view our current activity calendar...



Jim Lucas

Webmaster - 29 Palms RV resort