Still Here, Still Home: Timbisha Shoshone Mark 25 Years of the Homeland Act in Death Valley
On a clear late-January morning at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park, the visitor center felt less like a museum lobby than a civic hall. The packed auditorium seating, usually for visitors watching an interpretive film, faced a ring of seats, filled with the leaders and elders of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. Upon arrival…
Southern Inyo Fire Board Weighs Cell Tower Deal, Reggae Fest, and the True Cost of “Free” Land
The Southern Inyo Fire Protection District’s February 19 board meeting gave a few headlines among the slow work of keeping a rural district stitched together: a proposed cell tower above Shoshone, a first-time reggae festival on private land, a possible future tax assessment, and the true cost of a parcel for Charleston View’s forthcoming substation.…
At the Crowbar in Shoshone, Inyo County’s judge race comes into view
“Can I do this?” Civil Deputy Robin Henry said, taking the petition for Inyo County Superior Court Judge into his hands as he glanced over at his boss, Inyo County Sheriff Stephanie J. Rennie, seated at the back table of the Crowbar Cafe & Saloon in Shoshone. “As long as you’re off duty,” Rennie advised…
Death Valley Park: No Exhibit Removals Planned by Friday Ahead of Timbisha Shoshone Homeland Act March
Death Valley National Park officials say the Timbisha Shoshone exhibit at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center is not being removed or altered by Friday, as the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe promotes a Jan. 30 commemorative march and public ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Homeland Act. “We will not be adding to the Timbisha exhibit…
TecopaCabana: Year in Review 2025
Dear TecopaCabana readers, As we close out our first year of reporting, I keep coming back to the same thought: in a place as small and far-flung as the Amargosa Basin, the stories that matter most are rarely the ones that travel far. They are the ones that change how we understand our own roads,…
Food Commodity Distributions to Resume in Southeast Inyo After Federal Cuts
Food commodity distributions will resume in Southeast Inyo County on Jan. 15, restoring a critical source of supplemental groceries for residents in Shoshone, Tecopa, and Charleston View after federal funding cutbacks forced Inyo-Mono Community Advocates for Community Action (IMACA) to suspend deliveries to some of the county’s most remote communities. For Tecopa residents—and for neighbors in Shoshone and…
Heard Around Town: Best in Show
After a week of relentless desert wind that sent dust across the valley floor and rattled every loose screen door in Tecopa, the Amargosa Basin is sliding into the familiar rhythm of late winter in the Mojave: warm days, restless gusts, and the steady arrival of visitors chasing the first signs of spring. Temperatures are…
Heard Around Town: Chasing Dreams
Wind and rain have tormented the region since Monday, shaking up travel plans just as Death Valley edges toward peak season. Southern California Edison has, in recent months, scheduled—and then canceled—equipment-upgrade outages more than once, and so far these storms haven’t knocked anything down. It did, however, offer a rare reward: the “snowpahs”—a fleeting, snow-bright…
Heard Around Town: Rain and Flowers on the Horizon
Death Valley is sliding back into the spotlight, and you can feel it in the small signals locals trade like currency—photos of fresh blooms tucked into washes, roadside petals cataloged like evidence, and “proof” shots posted the moment something new breaks open. With a superbloom widely anticipated over the next two months due to heavy rains…
Heard Around Town: Seasonal Traditions
Free holiday dinner doubles as fundraiser as SIFPD brings Amargosa Basin communities together in ShoshoneA winter evening at the Flower Building in Shoshone became something more than a seasonal gathering on Dec. 17, as the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District (SIFPD) hosted a free community holiday dinner and party that blended celebration with a practical…
Heard Around Town: Make it Rain
After a big weekend of music, art, and community at Tecopa Takeover — plus a successful SIFPD fundraiser that brought in $5,500 — the desert wasted no time shifting gears. The celebrations faded straight into four days of miserable weather: cold winds, low clouds, and a storm that dropped nearly two inches of rain across the Amargosa Basin. Last weekend made…
Heard Around Town: Desert Mornings and Mountain Snow
Autumn has arrived in the Amargosa Basin, bringing crisp mornings, clear skies, and — for the first time this season — snow on Telescope Peak. On October 14, residents spotted a fresh white cap dusting the summit of the Panamint Range, a sure sign that winter is edging closer to Death Valley.Down in Tecopa, the…
Sagebrush Sally: Stay Kind Without Getting Caught in the Drama
Dear Sagebrush Sally, I have a question that feels a little delicate. I have a neighbor here in Tecopa whose behavior has me genuinely concerned and a bit worn out. They seem to need constant attention, turn every situation into a dramatic scene, and often retell events in ways that make them look like the…
Sagebrush Sally: Calling a Truce
Dear Sagebrush Sally, After the last couple of years in Tecopa, I feel like I’m living in the aftermath of several small wars. There’ve been public feuds, private fallouts, social media blowups, and more than a few friendships that quietly died without anyone naming why. I’m not innocent in all this—I’ve picked sides, spoken sharply,…
Sagebrush Sally: Talk Like You’ll See Them Tomorrow
Dear Sagebrush Sally, I’m struggling with the gap between how people in Tecopa act online and how they act in person. On the internet, a simple comment can turn into a misunderstanding or a full-blown argument—people assume tone, read things into words that weren’t meant, or pile on based on half a screenshot. But then…
Sagebrush Sally: A Good Neighbor Knows When to Rest
Dear Sagebrush Sally, I care a lot about Tecopa, maybe too much for my own good. I’ve gone to meetings, spoken up, helped with projects, and tried to support neighbors when things get rough. But lately I feel completely burned out. Every week there’s a new conflict, a new crisis, or a new situation where…
Sagebrush Sally: Don’t Get Drafted Into Someone Else’s Desert Drama
Dear Sagebrush Sally, It feels like no matter what happens in Tecopa, someone expects you to pick a side. Even when you don’t want to be involved in a feud, people assume your silence is support for the “other” side. How do you stay neutral and kind in a town that treats every disagreement like…
Sagebrush Sally: Stewardship Isn’t Ownership—Especially at the Springs
Dear Sagebrush Sally, The new stewards of the Tecopa Hot Springs Pools and Campground have barely settled in, but a lot of us are already uneasy. Not only did they fire a longtime local worker recently, but they also seem to be alienating the very visitor base that has kept the place running for years…
County Orders Airbnb Operator to Cease Unpermitted Rentals at Lake Tecopa
The Inyo County Planning Department has issued a formal notice ordering the operator of the Lake Tecopa Airbnb to stop all short-term rental activity, citing violations of county code that prohibit unpermitted vacation rentals in unincorporated communities such as Tecopa.In a letter dated June 23, 2025, Planning Director Cathreen Richards informed Adrian Wilton, owner of…
Dumont Dunes Ramps Up for the 2025 OHV Season
As the summer heat fades and the desert winds begin to cool, the familiar sound of engines returns to Dumont Dunes. Riders from across the Southwest are tuning up for another off-highway vehicle (OHV) season at this vast 7,620-acre sand dune system, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).Located about 40 miles north of Baker on…
New Concessionaire Recommended for Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools
Inyo County has recommended awarding the concession agreement for the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools to Flippin Happy Campers & Lance Hamrick LLC, opening the door to the next chapter in the stewardship of one of the Mojave Desert’s crown jewels.The County, which issued a request for proposals earlier this year following the termination…
Death Valley and Inyo County Expand Partnership in Face of Shrinking Federal Resources
In the sun-scorched expanse of eastern California, Inyo County and Death Valley National Park are tightening their coordination in the face of extreme weather, federal staffing cuts, and aging infrastructure. Together, they are managing a uniquely challenging intersection of rural resilience and world-renowned tourism.Death Valley National Park’s Superintendent Mike Reynolds and Management Analyst Abby Wines…
A Desert Oasis or a Destination in Decline? TripAdvisor Reviews Reveal Mixed Experiences in Tecopa Hot Springs
Nestled in the vast Mojave Desert, Tecopa, California, has long been known for its natural hot springs, remote beauty, and star-studded night skies. Once a well-kept secret among desert wanderers and hot spring enthusiasts, Tecopa has drawn visitors seeking tranquility, rejuvenation, and a break from the modern world. However, traveler reviews paint a more complex picture…
Exploring Dumont Dunes: An Off-Road Enthusiast’s Paradise
Nestled just over 20 miles south of Tecopa, the Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area is a sanctuary for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. Spanning an impressive 7,620 acres of public land, this Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) offers an unparalleled blend of heart-pounding OHV experiences, breathtaking desert landscapes, and opportunities for primitive camping…
