Historical Timeline
Pre-1776: Long before towns or ranches, the Serrano people lived along the Mojave River, using the land for hunting, gathering, and seasonal migration.
1776: Spanish missionary Francisco Garcés passed through the area following the river, likely making contact with local Serrano groups.
1826: Explorer Jedediah Smith made his way through the High Desert on his westward journey, becoming one of the first Americans to cross into California overland.
1849–1859: Thousands of travelers — trappers, miners, and Mormon settlers — moved along the Mojave River Trail. It became a busy corridor of westward movement.
1860: Silas Cox built what’s believed to be the first settler’s cabin in what would become Apple Valley.
1861: A rough wagon road was cut through the valley, helping new settlers move goods and livestock through the region.
Late 1800s: Ranching took hold. Paiute families moved into the area, and a few hardy settlers ran cattle across the desert range.
Early 1900s: The name “Apple Valley” started appearing, possibly linked to the Appleton Land Company. Ursula M. Poates is sometimes credited with popularizing it.
1920s: Apple orchards lined the riverbanks. The valley earned a reputation for producing crisp, sweet apples — for a time, it lived up to its name.
1926: Nolie and Lela Murray opened Murray’s Dude Ranch — one of the few vacation spots in the West that welcomed Black guests during segregation.
1930s: The orchards began to fade. The cost of irrigation and the harsh economy of the Great Depression made farming harder to sustain.
1946: Newton T. Bass and Bernard “Bud” Westlund launched Apple Valley Ranchos, marketing the area as a sunny, relaxed alternative to city life.
1948: The Apple Valley Inn opened on Thanksgiving Day. A swanky hotel, it was built to impress land buyers and draw in celebrities.
1949: The first official post office opened, making the name “Apple Valley” permanent.
1950s: Growth kicked into high gear. Schools, churches, banks, and a golf course popped up. Apple Valley became a small but thriving community.
1965: Roy Rogers and Dale Evans moved to town. Roy leased the Apple Valley Inn and put his name on it, giving the town a little Hollywood sparkle.
1967: The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum opened, full of cowboy hats, saddles, and movie memorabilia. Fans flocked to see it.
1976: The museum moved to nearby Victorville to reach more visitors.
1988: Apple Valley became an official town on November 14. By then, over 41,000 people called it home.
2003: The museum packed up again, this time heading to Branson, Missouri, chasing a bigger audience.
2009: Sadly, the Branson museum closed. But the legacy of Roy and Dale still lives on in Apple Valley.
Present Day: Apple Valley continues to grow, with new homes and businesses rising up where orchards once stood. But it still holds onto its Western roots, desert charm, and small-town spirit.