Oasis Palms

The Lost Pearl of the Mojave Desert

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Home » History » 1959 – Harold “Happy” Higgins Adds to the Lore

1959 – Harold “Happy” Higgins Adds to the Lore

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Harold “Happy” Higgins was a jovial and outgoing character living in Oasis Palms from the 1940s to the late 1950s. Known for his infectious laughter and love for practical jokes, Happy was the life of the party in the small desert community. Daily, Happy would hold court at the local diner, where he entertained customers with his colorful stories of life in the desert.

One fateful evening in October of 1959, Happy decided to play a prank on the town folk by dressing up as a ghost and jumping out from behind a palm tree to scare them. However, in the darkness of the desert night, Happy accidentally stumbled into a pit dug by a rock hunter searching for hidden treasure. Startled, he tripped and fell headfirst into the pit, knocking himself unconscious.

The next morning, when Happy’s friends found him, they were shocked to discover him lying at the bottom of the pit, dressed in his ghost costume. Despite their efforts to revive him, Happy had already passed away, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and lightheartedness.

Since Happy’s untimely demise, the friendly ghost of Happy Higgins has been known to haunt Oasis Palms, spreading joy and laughter wherever he goes. His ghostly antics include rearranging furniture in the diner, playing pranks on unsuspecting visitors, and even occasionally appearing as a misty figure dressed in his signature ghost costume.

Word of the friendly ghost of Oasis Palms quickly spread, drawing tourists from far and wide who hoped to catch a glimpse of the playful spirit. The local diner, now known by locals as “Happy’s Haunt,” became a popular destination for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers, all eager to meet the legendary ghost of Harold “Happy” Higgins.

As the sun sets over the Mojave Desert, the laughter of Happy Higgins can still be heard echoing through the hills of the Ship Mountains, ensuring that his spirit lives on in the hearts of all who visit.

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  • 1838 – Cameron Smith Heads West in Search of Adventure
  • 1840 – Smith Strikes Gold while Searching for the Lost Pearl Boat of the Mojave
  • 1842 – The Smiths Settle the Oasis
  • 1845 – Mexican Land Grant for Rancho Barco is Issued
  • 1859 – The U.S. Land Patent is Issued
  • 1860 – Barco Mining Company and the Civil War
  • 1883 – The Railroad & Gold Mining arrive in the Mojave Desert
  • 1885 – The Town of Oasis Palms is Established
  • 1892 – Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Launch the California Limited
  • 1898 – Oasis Palms Spur is Completed and the Barco Mine Goes Bust
  • 1901 – Scooters California Rye Whisky Begins Production
  • 1905 – Oasis Palms Hot Spring Resort is Established
  • 1915 – The Santa Fe Begins Mojave Limited Daily Service
  • 1925 – Daily Train Visitors, Desert Tourism Bring Prosperity to Oasis Palms
  • 1927 – Prohibition and Hollywood Give Birth to the “Midnight Limited”
  • 1932 – Oasis Palms a Getaway from the Depression
  • 1941 – Oasis Palms Benefits from WWII Population Growth in California
  • 1953 – Lefty’s Folly the Oasis Palms Scenic Railroad
  • 1955 – Family Friendly Attractions Come to Oasis Palms
  • 1957 – The California Desert Resorts are Booming
  • 1958 – The Atomic Jackalope Gains Worldwide Notoriety
  • 1959 – Harold “Happy” Higgins Adds to the Lore
  • 1960 – Steinbeck writes about Survival in the Mojave
  • 1961 – The Winds of Change in the Desert
  • 1962 – Twin Brothers Floyd and Lloyd Smith
  • 1963 – Floyd Smith and the Texas Chicken Farmer Go Racing
  • 1965 – Lloyd Smith Turns On, Tunes In, and Drops Out
  • 1972 – I-40 Opens and Oasis Palms becomes a Ghost Town
  • 1979 – An Earthquake Brings the End to Oasis Palms
  • 1980 – The Last Residents Move Out of Oasis Palms
  • 1992 – Oasis Palms is Gone Forever
  • 2023 – Epilogue Oasis Palms the Ghost Town in the Mojave Desert

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