Adelanto’s history can be explored through its founding, former agriculture, and aviation history. The area also offers landmarks to help plan your visit: the Adelanto Branch Library, a park with a splash pad, the Adelanto Plaza & Event Center, and the El Mirage OHV Area west of Adelanto. If you’re considering Adelanto as a place to stay, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: local history, an event date, or the drive to the OHV Area each call for different practical checks.
Founding Plans and Aviation History
Adelanto was founded in 1915 by E. H. Richardson. Richardson invented what later became the Hotpoint Electric Iron. He planned to develop one of the first planned communities in Southern California and divided his land into one-acre parcels. Richardson hoped to sell the parcels to veterans with respiratory illnesses resulting from World War I. He also hoped to establish a respiratory hospital.
A later milestone in aviation history came in early 1941, when an Army Air Field was established within Adelanto’s sphere of influence. In September 1950, the Army Air Field was named George Air Force Base.
From Fruit Growing to Poultry Farms
Adelanto’s former agriculture was shaped by fruit growing. Extensive stands of deciduous fruit trees once grew here, and the city was known throughout the state for fresh fruit and cider. The orchards flourished until the Great Depression, after which they were replaced by poultry farms.
Local Places and Activities
The Adelanto Branch Library is located at 11497 Bartlett Ave. in Adelanto. Check the branch’s current information before setting out. A park at the intersection of Chamberlaine Way and Jonathan Street in Adelanto has a splash pad. If you plan to visit the park, check the facility’s current condition before your visit.
The El Mirage OHV Area is west of Adelanto, between US Highway 395 and the Los Angeles County boundary. Access is via Chamberlaine Way—formerly Crippen Avenue—from US Highway 395 near Adelanto, heading west to Koala Road. Access and closures can change, so check current road and area conditions before setting out.
The Adelanto Plaza & Event Center has spacious indoor and outdoor areas and hosts cultural festivals and motorsports celebrations. Detour SoCal has also been held there. Event dates vary; check specific dates if an event is a deciding factor in your trip.
Transit and Stay Planning
The Victor Valley Transit Authority lists routes 31, 32, and 33 for Adelanto in a schedule effective June 1, 2025. Since this schedule information is date-specific, check current service before traveling.
When choosing where to stay, consider how it matches your reason for traveling: local history and former fruit growing lend themselves to a cultural and historical focus; for events, specific dates matter, while for the El Mirage OHV Area, consider access and the area’s current condition.
Discover more destinations: Twin Peaks, Fort Irwin, Chino, Ontario, Rialto, Victorville, Apple Valley, Needles.
Return to the main travel overview: San Bernardino.
