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…
What Six Years of Cannabis Tax Data Tell Us About Inyo County’s Legal Market
For all the mystique that still clings to California’s cannabis economy, the financial reality inside Inyo County’s ledgers is far more modest — steady, predictable, and revealing in the spaces where the numbers fall silent. Newly reviewed county financials, spanning six fiscal years in the county’s six-year actuals comparison, trace a trajectory that mirrors the…
Fire Protection District Presses for Millions in Safety Funding as Solar Project Nears Approval
In Southern Inyo County, California, even the most basic lifeline of emergency response has begun to fray. For months, the district’s radios—its only reliable way to summon volunteer firefighters and EMT across 1,200 square miles—have been effectively dead. At the Nov. 20 board meeting of the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District (SIFPD), Fire Chief Bill…
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…
Heard Around Town: Rain, Renewal, and Resilience
It’s been a dramatic start to October in Tecopa, where the desert sky has delivered both a rare soaking and an early taste of winter.On October 9, residents watched dark clouds gather over the Amargosa Basin, bringing a flash flood warning and more than half an inch of rain — the third-largest rainfall in five…
Heard Around Town: Desert Winds and Civic Sparks
Autumn is settling into the desert, and with it comes a sense of motion — the wind picking up, the air sharpening, and the land itself waking after months of heat and stillness. Across Inyo County, that shift is visible everywhere: in the renewed rhythm of community meetings, conservation projects, and events, and in 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…
Sagebrush Sally: The Desert Doesn’t Need a Guest List
Dear Sagebrush Sally, I keep hearing certain folks in town complain about “too many newcomers,” but it seems like what really bothers them isn’t that new people are arriving—it’s that they’re not the ones who invited them. It feels like some residents want to control who counts as “acceptable,” as if belonging in Tecopa requires…
Airbnb and ChatGPT Walk into a Town
The signs along Tecopa Hot Springs Road communicate many things – hot rejuvenating waters! Or our new favorite, $399/night with two night minimum, yikes! So we decided to ask ChatGPT to summarize what our local Airbnbers are peddling on their digital signs – aka their actual listings and visitor reviews. Here is what the AI…
Surviving and Thriving: Best Practices for Camping in the Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert, with its vast expanses of arid landscapes and unique ecosystems, presents both challenges and opportunities for those seeking to camp and connect with nature. As a region known for its extreme temperatures and diverse terrain, proper preparation and adherence to best practices are essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable camping experience.…
A Desert Escape: Easy Road Trips to Tecopa from Los Angeles and Las Vegas
Tucked away in the vast and serene landscapes of the Mojave Desert, Tecopa, California, offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city life. The ease of accessibility from both Los Angeles and Las Vegas makes it a perfect destination for a rejuvenating road trip. Whether you’re seeking the therapeutic embrace of hot springs, the rugged…
