Sky Valley was "discovered" during the Colorado River Aqueduct construction by the Metropolitan Water District of Los Angeles in the early 1900s. Many of the early residents were MWD employees who settled in the Wide Canyon area. Dillon Road (allegedly named for an MWD project engineer) was constructed for access to the various tunneling sites. Foundations of one such site, Berdoo Camp, can still be seen off Berdoo Canyon Road.
Most of the tracts in Sky Valley were created by the so-called Jackrabbit Homestead Act of 1938, which offered 5-acre tracts of "worthless land" to those who would build tiny "claim shacks." After World War II, people flocked to buy these parcels, but the realities of desert living and the lack of any utilities meant that many claims were abandoned, and only a few hardy souls actually set up permanent homes.
Over the next few decades those few families formed a community. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors first recognized the boundaries of Sky Valley on April 27, 1970. At that time, the boundaries were Ford Avenue on the west, Thousand Palms Canyon Road on the east, Joshua Tree National Park on the north, and on the south, the northern boundaries of the Thousand Palms area. In 2009 the boundaries were extended westward from Ford to Bennett Road. In total, this amounts to 37 square miles. See the current map HERE.
As air-conditioning became common, as desert living became popular, and as low-desert land became scarcer, developers cast their eyes on Sky Valley. The Sky Valley Homeowners Association was formed in 1982 to oppose a proposed high-density development, and we have continued to oppose such developments. Sky Valley residents have a well earned reputation for mobilizing against forces that threaten the low density, rural life style they cherish.
In October, 2003, the Riverside Board of Supervisors approved a 5 acre minimum for single family residences in Sky Valley as part of their Comprehensive General Plan. This plan is amended every five years, and there will always be those who see Sky Valley as a subdivision waiting to be built, so residents have to be vigilant to keep the 5-acre minimum in force.
In 1993 the Riverside County board of supervisors created the Sky Valley Community Council to hear citizens' concerns. Below you will read about some of the threats that Sky Valley residents battled before the Council was formed. Also you'll see projects the Homeowners Association has worked on since then.
Early Accomplishments:
Before Riverside County formed the Sky Valley Community Council in 1992, Sky Valley Homeowners Association and the Sky Valley Chamber were the only guardians of our rural lifestyle. Here are some of the things that these two organizations, sometimes with other assistance, accomplished before1993:
The Sky Valley Community Council was formed in 1993, and that Council now hears discussion on new developments. Homeowners continues to act as the "watchdog" of Sky Valley, and along with the Chamber, other organizations, and residents and friends of Sky Valley, we have contributed to these accomplishments:
Most of the tracts in Sky Valley were created by the so-called Jackrabbit Homestead Act of 1938, which offered 5-acre tracts of "worthless land" to those who would build tiny "claim shacks." After World War II, people flocked to buy these parcels, but the realities of desert living and the lack of any utilities meant that many claims were abandoned, and only a few hardy souls actually set up permanent homes.
Over the next few decades those few families formed a community. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors first recognized the boundaries of Sky Valley on April 27, 1970. At that time, the boundaries were Ford Avenue on the west, Thousand Palms Canyon Road on the east, Joshua Tree National Park on the north, and on the south, the northern boundaries of the Thousand Palms area. In 2009 the boundaries were extended westward from Ford to Bennett Road. In total, this amounts to 37 square miles. See the current map HERE.
As air-conditioning became common, as desert living became popular, and as low-desert land became scarcer, developers cast their eyes on Sky Valley. The Sky Valley Homeowners Association was formed in 1982 to oppose a proposed high-density development, and we have continued to oppose such developments. Sky Valley residents have a well earned reputation for mobilizing against forces that threaten the low density, rural life style they cherish.
In October, 2003, the Riverside Board of Supervisors approved a 5 acre minimum for single family residences in Sky Valley as part of their Comprehensive General Plan. This plan is amended every five years, and there will always be those who see Sky Valley as a subdivision waiting to be built, so residents have to be vigilant to keep the 5-acre minimum in force.
In 1993 the Riverside County board of supervisors created the Sky Valley Community Council to hear citizens' concerns. Below you will read about some of the threats that Sky Valley residents battled before the Council was formed. Also you'll see projects the Homeowners Association has worked on since then.
Early Accomplishments:
Before Riverside County formed the Sky Valley Community Council in 1992, Sky Valley Homeowners Association and the Sky Valley Chamber were the only guardians of our rural lifestyle. Here are some of the things that these two organizations, sometimes with other assistance, accomplished before1993:
- We effectively resisted the proposed 298-acre Naum-Healy development, which included 1200 homes, accommodations for mobile homes, a Club House, and commercial ventures.
- We successfully opposed the 40-acre Morrison RV Park.
- We opposed the Riverside County Transportation Department Maintenance Yard planned for Terry and Dillon. It was placed more remotely, on Bennett Road.
- We were successful in opposing the Potter Development project, which planned to build 46 houses on 32 acres across Ford Avenue from the Sky Valley boundary. In 2009 this property was added to the Sky Valley Community Council sphere of influence.
- We, with many other concerned citizens, opposed the 258-foot KPSI tower proposed for our skyline. Instead, KPSI built a 50 foot tower that was within the then applicable zoning regulations.
- We encouraged the County Board of Supervisors to reconsider the automatic grant of such projects as the KPSI tower and pushed successfully for passage of an interim zoning measure to protect our area until the main zoning ordinance was changed.
- We helped convince the BLM and Southern California Sunbelt Developers not to place wind turbines on the Sky Valley side of the Edom Hill/Bennett Road area.
- We published six editions of a Community Phone Book, the last in February 2005.
The Sky Valley Community Council was formed in 1993, and that Council now hears discussion on new developments. Homeowners continues to act as the "watchdog" of Sky Valley, and along with the Chamber, other organizations, and residents and friends of Sky Valley, we have contributed to these accomplishments:
- We helped to establish the Sky Valley Community Council. We assisted the establishment of Community Councils in nearby Indio Hills and Desert Edge.
- We supported Citizens on Patrol (COP) with proceeds from the Community Phone Book sales.
- We started and continue the monthly Chamber Clean-Up and Improvement.
- Two of our members have been 4th District Senior Inspiration honorees: in 1998 the late Hallock Hoffman, and in 2009 Vera Ballen.
- We supported the SVET Open House at the Sky Valley Fire Station each year that it was held. We served cake and coffee for donations that went to specified organizations.
- Many Homeowners members have attended CERT classes and have earned certificates.
- HOA members welcomed property owners in the newly attached area west of Ford, east of Bennett, south of Dillon to the Indio Hills.
- HOA continued to help defeat high-density developments, most notably the Habitat and Joshua Hills developments, both partially in Sky Valley and Indio HIlls.
- In 2002, we were instrumental in having the property between Sky Valley and Indio Hills, both north and south of Dillon, purchased by various agencies and set aside for preservation.
- In 2006, we banded together with several mobile-home parks and private parties to purchase an emergency generator for Sky Valley Fire Station #56.
- In 2013, our testimony before the Riverside County Board of Supervisors was instrumental in defeating Anka Behavioral Health, Inc.'s plan to convert a Sky Valley residence into a 15-bed facility. That plan would have seriously compromised our low-density housing policy.
- Now, we are poised to help defeat CalPortland's bid to create a huge gravel pit in the southeasternmost section of Sky Valley.
"To preserve our rural, peaceful way of life, and to prevent urbanization"