The Sportsman's Club 6225 Sunburst Avenue Joshua Tree, California 92252 760 366-2915

A community minded service club helping to meet the needs of the Morongo Basin

Located in the heart of the beautiful Morongo Basin since 1947 the Sportsman's Club has raised money through its weekly and annual events to help many worthy causes in our area. In 1945, Commander Jeff Overbay and a group of Legionnaires started building a Legion Hall. Before it was completed, money and donated labor dwindled, and Jeff’s health slowed him down. The Sportsman’s Club had started up at around the same time. So the American Legion offered to turn over the unfinished building to the Sportsman’s club for $1.00. The building was to be used for community affairs. The children’s Christmas plays and town dances were held there. Johnnie Arch and Elinore Fairbanks played music for the dances. The hall was also used to house extra school classrooms when the first school became too small. The hall was also used by the Playhouse Guild as their Cabaret Theatre. The Sportsman’s Club grounds were also the site of the annual Turtle Races, which included the early days of the Gem Jamboree. The Sportsman’s Club hosts the Annual Gem Mineral and Craft Show which is currently celebrating its 37th year.