Across the tracks to the south of the train station and oasis is downtown Oasis Palms. This business district consists of six all-brick buildings most of which were built in the 1880s by Cameron Smith with bricks sourced from Philander Colton of the Mormon Battalion in San Diego.
The buildings on the west side of Main Street in downtown include a Barbershop/Ice Cream Parlor/Pool Hall mixed-use building, the three-story Hotel California in the middle of the block and a Saloon and package store on the corner.
The statue in the town square was of Wilbur Smith. Wilbur was the eldest son of Cameron and Malika who enlisted in the Union Army. Initially Wilbur served in the 1st California Regiment before being transferred to the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, where he participated and died heroically in the Battle of Gettysburg.
At the end of the Main Street facing the town square and water fountain is the Oasis Palms Metropolis Theater. The theater was constucted in 1929 and featured a dramatic Beaux-Arts and Art-deco exterior. While the theater was small with only 50 seats, the dramatic facade and exterior lighting created an impressive night-time site to visitors.
The east side of Main Street housed the town water tower, Smith’s Hardware store and the Oasis Market which served triple duty as a market, Post Office and Pharmacy. The Market was the defacto hub of all activity in Oasis Palms.
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