Harriet

The sun had just begun its descent when the Mane Street Band took the stage for their weekly Honky Tonk Sunday set at Pioneertown’s Red Dog Saloon. Young adults in hiking gear sipped beers beneath chandeliers shaped like wagon wheels as old timers with gray ponytails and cowboy hats chatted with a tattooed bartender. Outside, a group of parents sat around long picnic tables, ignoring their kids who were messing around in the dirt.

It wasn’t easy to tell who was local and who was just visiting the high desert town founded nearly 80 years ago as a permanent movie set for western films. The warm, neighborly scene felt like further proof of what locals had been telling me all weekend: The fake western town that Hollywood built has finally morphed into an actual western town with an identity of its own.

The Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

(Simone Lueck / For Time Times)

“This is not Knott’s Berry Farm,” said JoAnne Gosen, a local shopkeeper and goat farmer who moved to the area 21 years ago. “This is a real town and it’s our town.”

After years of upheaval that included skyrocketing home prices, a pandemic-fueled Airbnb boom, a failed proposal for a multi-use event space and a false claim by a reality TV star that she singlehandedly owned the town, residents of this small unincorporated community say Pioneertown is settling into a new equilibrium. The tumultuous era at the town’s landmark roadhouse and concert venue Pappy and Harriet’s appears to have ended as new management repairs relations with the surrounding community. Established businesses like the Red Dog Saloon and the Pioneertown Motel are offering stable employment to locals and transplants alike and more buildings on Pioneertown’s western-themed “Mane St.” are being converted to small, locally run shops.

Locals dance at the Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown.

(Simone Lueck / For The Times)

Pioneer Bowl in Pioneertown, California. (Simone Lueck / For The Times)

Visitors will also find there’s much more to do than wait two hours for a table at Pappy and Harriet’s. Weekend tourists can grab a taco at the Red Dog Saloon, browse locally made natural bath products at Xeba Botanica, bowl in a historic bowling alley or explore the Berber-meets-cowboy store Soukie Modern. If you’re there on a Sunday morning, you can even pick up a dozen hand-boiled New York-style bagels if you order ahead.

“It can be difficult for us old-timers to see all the changes,” said Gosen, who spins goat fiber into yarn outside her soap shop on Mane Street most weekends. “I don’t love all the Airbnbs and the residents who can’t afford housing. But at the same time, we’re here on the farm by ourselves most of the week and on the weekend we’re fortunate enough to go into town and meet the most amazing people from all over the world.”

Hey bales are scattered on the main street in Pioneertown, cheekily known as “Mane Street.”

(Simone Lueck / For The Times)

Developers, beware of the ‘Curtis Curse’

Pioneertown has always been a strange, hybrid place: half fake, half real.

The community was founded in the mid-1940s by a consortium of entertainers that included Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and the Sons of the Pioneers, a popular singing group at the time that lent the town their name. It was conceived and led in its early years by Dick Curtis, a 6-foot-3 actor who appeared in more than 230 movies and television shows in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Curtis dreamed of creating a permanent western movie set against the rugged backdrop of the Sawtooth Mountains that would also function as a working town with businesses that catered to film crews and residents. The Pioneertown Corp. broke ground in 1946. Among its first buildings were a land office, a beauty parlor, a motel, two restaurants and a feed store — all with Old West facades.

Filming in town mostly stopped in the 1950s, but the area continues to offer visitors and residents a unique mix of fantasy and function decades later. Some buildings like the General Store, the Saddlery and the Post Office house businesses. Others, like the jail, the livery and a barber shop are just facades — great for selfies but little else.

Over the years, people with big dreams and limited understanding of the challenges of building in this particular stretch of desert have tried and failed to bring major developments to the town, which today has about 600 residents. In the ‘60s, a car salesman from Ohio bought the Pioneertown Corp. and proposed plans to create a massive desert resort with townhomes, apartments, lakes and golf courses. He predicted it would eventually draw a population of 35,000. (The business went bankrupt instead.) During the pandemic, a mountain guide and supervising producer for Red Bull Media scared locals with a plan to convert 350 acres into an event space with residences, a recording studio, and an amphitheater that would hold up to 3,000 people. The project was eventually downgraded to a pricey Airbnb and by the time it was completed, he was no longer part of it.

The Film Museum in Pioneertown offers a curated look at the movies and films shot on the Hollywood set turned Western town.

(Simone Lueck / For The Times)

Curt Sautter, who helps curate Pioneertown’s small film history museum, believes the town has been protected from major development by what he calls the Curtis Curse. “You can be successful in Pioneertown, but if you get greedy or you try to do something that messes with the environment or the community itself you will fail,” he said.

Locals know that growth in Pioneertown is inevitable, but they also point to its limitations: the meager local water supply, the lack of a fire department and that there is only one road into and out of town.

“The community wants slow growth that preserves the western character of the town and is compatible with the desert environment,” said Ben Loescher, an architect and president of Friends of Pioneertown, a nonprofit that supports the community.

Richard Lee of 29 Loaves sells freshly baked bagels outside the Pioneertown Motel on Sunday mornings.

(Simone Lueck / For The Times)

What to do in Pioneertown: Bowling, bagels, bingo and more

Today you’ll find signs of measured growth everywhere you look in Pioneertown, making now a great time to visit. Pioneer Bowl, a perfectly preserved 1946 vintage bowling alley with the original murals by a Hollywood set designer on its walls, has just resurfaced its lanes and extended its hours. It’s now open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. A game will cost you $25 and is first come, first served. It used to be impossible to find breakfast in town, but now you’ll find breakfast burritos, tacos and quesadillas at the Red Dog Saloon, which opens everyday at 10 a.m. On Sundays from 8:30 am to 9:30 a.m., Richard Lee of 29 Loaves delivers his fresh baked bagels to those who ordered them in advance outside the Pioneertown Motel. (The cinnamon-date bagels are especially recommended).

Locals at the Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown, California. (Simone Lueck / For The Times)

Kids and selfie seekers will enjoy the Pioneertown Petting Zoo where $10 will buy you 20 minutes with chickens, turkeys and a small horse. There is also a little history museum to explore and two old western reenactment groups — Mane Street Stampede and Gunfighters for Hire — who seem to be entertaining themselves as much as they are the audience. (Check their websites for up to date show times.) If you plan ahead, you can also book a hike with goats with Yogi Goats Farm for $95 a person.

Visitors might also consider subscribing to the Pioneertown Gazette, a free weekly newsletter that Pioneertown Motel co-owner Matt French began publishing online in 2023. In it he compiles listings for dozens of concerts, performances, yoga classes and other events happening across the high desert. A personal favorite is Desert Bingo at the Red Dog Saloon 6:30 p.m. on Monday nights, where locals, visitors and transplants gather for a good-natured, foul-mouthed bingo game with a live DJ. One bingo board will cost you $10 and the proceeds benefit a local charity.

Pioneer Bowl in Pioneertown was built in 1946 to entertain film crews. It has recently expanded its hours.

(Simone Lueck / For The Times)

Whether you’re planning to visit for an afternoon or considering moving to the area, you’ll find that this Hollywood movie set, turned ghost town, turned tourist curiosity, turned actual western town offers more to entertain locals and visitors than it has in decades, without sacrificing the western vibe that drew its founders to the area nearly 80 years ago.

“It’s the landscape, and that weird western mythology,” said Loescher. “It’s always been full of individuals who are a little iconoclastic and don’t do things the normal way.”

And no matter how many people come along who dream of changing Pioneertown, the challenging desert environment — and the Curtis Curse — will likely keep it that way.

A sign on Mane St. in Pioneertown.

(Simone Lueck / For The Times)

Harriet Cowan has been a huge hit with fans of Clarkson’s Farm, with many praising the 24-year-old’s passion for farming and her dedication to show how women can thrive in male-dominant industries

Harriet Cowan, the fresh face on ‘Clarkson’s Farm’, has spilled the beans on her romantic life. People have been curious about the 24-year-old’s life off-screen ever since she appeared on the Amazon Prime show.

Joining the latest series, Harriet has been a major help to ex-‘Top Gear’ host Jeremy Clarkson at Diddly Squat Farm, particularly when fan-favourite Kaleb Cooper headed off to work on various projects across the UK.

Viewers have been cheering for nurse turned farm worker, marvelling at her passion for rural living and ambition to demonstrate that ‘girly girls’ like her can handle tractors and livestock as competently as her male counterparts.

Nevertheless, her time on the programme was short-lived because of Kaleb’s return, which left her new-found fans yearning for more. Yet, her online video shares let followers stay tuned into her daily adventures, drawing in millions of views.

Then, last night [June 19], Harriet dropped a bit of personal news on her TikTok page as she introduced her beau James Booth to followers. A recent cosy snapshot was shared alongside a throwback pic from their teen days at 18.

Harriet expressed: “From party teenagers in 2018, to mid-to-late 20s in 2025 and like to be in bed before 10. I hope I get to this life with you forever.”

Harriet and her beau James, who is said to be a third-generation farmer, first crossed paths at a Young Farmer’s meeting. Harriet often gives her followers a peek into their life together via social media.

In one of her recent posts, she shared a clip of James behind the wheel of a tractor, hinting that he is four years her senior. In another post, she mused: “The ‘butterfly effect’ is crazy because if I didn’t join Young Farmers we’d never have met.”

She continued: “YFC gave me my whole life and for that I will be forever grateful!” Harriet also urged others to consider joining community groups, promising they will “meet the greatest people”.

Her followers were delighted to see the couple together. One commented: “Wishing you both eternal happiness,” while another added: “You two are so cute,”.

One follower, who has been in a relationship for a similar duration, shared: “Me and my partner begun our relationship in 2018 too! 7 years, 1 dog, 2 kids and two homes later, we made it.”

Some fans hinted at wedding bells, too. One joked: “Buddy needs to put a ring on your finger.” And another cheekily asked: “When’s the wedding?.”

Aside from her love life, Harriet has been concentrating on her own business since her stint on the show. Recently, she directed her 493,000 Instagram followers to her new contracting page, Cowan Contracting.

The description of the page reads: “Cowan Contracting ~ family business. Eddy Cowan / Harriet Cowan. Contracting needs over Derbyshire. Based in Belper.”

However, fans hope she’ll leave some time to come back to our screens. After the new Clarkson’s Farm episodes aired, one fan begged: “Harriet was amazing, brought so much to the show, please bring her back.”

Another commented: “Please bring Harriet back, she was a fantastic addition.” And a third chimed in with praise, saying: “Thought she was such a hard worker, bless her.”

Glamorous farmhand Harriet Cowan has said goodbye to Jeremy Clarkson and the Diddly Squat farm after stepping in to provide much-needed cover – but she quickly became a fan favourite

New farmhand Harriet Cowan, 24, has said her goodbyes to the Diddly Squat farm after stepping in to provide some help to Jeremy Clarkson in series four – and a little dash of glamour.

The TikTok star was brought in as cover for manager Kaleb Cooper, 26, whilst he went on tour with his one-man show across the country, but on his return to the Chipping Norton farm, Harriet returned to her normal day-to-day life. In the sweet moment, she said goodbye to Jeremy Clarkson, the former Top Gear presenter, and said she had been a lifesaver.

“You saved my life. So, if we get stuck again, can we give you a call?” He asked the trained nurse. However, as it stands, there are “no plans” that she will appear again in this series of Clarkson’s Farm, or any potential future ones – sources close to the show have previously revealed.

Whilst Harriet has left the show for now, the social media star quickly became a fan favourite – and boasts over 448,700 followers on her TikTok account and 159,000 on Instagram – with many calling for her to be brought back to the show.

Harriet comes from a farming family and grew up on her grandad’s livestock farm, which her dad has now taken over. Most of the content centres around life in agriculture and her unbelievably sweet brown collie dog, Sky. The Mirror takes a look at just what Harriet gets up to off-screen.

Girls’ holiday and nights out

Since finishing her time on Clarkson’s Farm, Harriet has jetted off with her friends to Spain to enjoy a break in the sunshine. She ditched the wellies, grabbed a bucket hat and a blue bikini, and spent some much-needed time away from the farm relaxing poolside – and shared a few snaps from her time away.

Harriet was seen getting dolled up for a night out with the girls and shared a picture of her hard at work blowing up a pink lido so they could lounge in the pool. She’s also reported to have tried on a few accessories at a local store.

Whilst Harriet spends a lot of her time hard at work on the farm and nursing – as well as reportedly working as an advocate for the mental health of farmers – she also likes to let her hair down, and often posts snaps on her socials of glamorous nights out with her pals and partner James Booth.

Boyfriend James

Harriet has been with her boyfriend James – who is also reported to be a third-generation farmer – for “some time,” according to one of her step sisters. The Clarkson’s Farm star regularly posts pictures and sweet videos with her partner, who she seems to have met at the Young Farmers Club (YFC), writing over one video post of the couple: “The ‘butterfly effect’ is crazy because if I didn’t join young farmers we’d of never of met.”

The pair obviously have a lot in common with their farming backgrounds, with Harriet writing in one joking post last year: “Your bf brings you presents to unwrap … Mine brings me bales to unwrap. We’re not the same.”

She joked in another post about lambing season, which saw her holding a seriously cute lamb “I’ve been covered head to toe in bodily fluids. But at the end of it all I expect my bf to take the bins out cause it’s gross”.

Nursing career

Whilst Harriet seems to be pretty busy helping out with the cows and sheep on the farm – she also has a full-time job as a nurse. She graduated from the University of Derby in 2023 and is now fully qualified, working for the NHS, so needless to say she has a pretty packed schedule.

In one post she joked about her packed calendar and the financial difficulties that can come with farming, writing over one video on her TikTok: “Thinking I could quit my job and farm full time… but then I remember I have a mortgage to pay.” She captioned the lighthearted post, “Suppose I would miss nursing a bit too”.

Family feud

Unfortunately, Harriet seems to be embroiled in some family tensions – with her stepsister speaking out about her publicly since her rise to fame on Clarkson’s Farm. Elina Clifford, a professional chiropodist, opened up about her feelings on her estranged step-sister Harriet, and she certainly didn’t hold back when it came to diving into the subject.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Elina dubbed her step-sister “fake” and “self-absorbed”, adding, “She loves to be the centre of attention, often at others’ expense”.

She also issued a blunt warning to Clarkson’s Farm: “She is fake in the way she behaves, so Jeremy Clarkson, beware!”. According to The Express, Elina and her elder sister Maddie – a teacher – blame the origins of the “family feud” on Harriet’s behaviour towards their mother Vicky, who is in a relationship with Harriet’s dad Eddy.

The sisters claim that Harriet isn’t nice to their mother, which has caused serious tension. “We don’t have a good relationship with her. Our mum is with her dad now, and there was a lot of drama a couple of years ago. There is a family feud, and Harriet was not being very nice to mum, and it was very upsetting,” said Maddie.

The siblings went as far as to say that Harriet was only taking part in Clarkson’s Farm in an attempt to grow her already massive social media following – calling it “sad and desperate” and claiming the TV star is “obsessed with herself”.

Clarkson’s Farm is now streaming on Prime Video.

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.