SIGC | Life & Times

“And my brother saw an opportunity with the Pioneertown Motel, which was just behind Pappy and Harriet's. It was not in the best shape, but it was next to this amazing event venue, and situated in this incredibly rich historical context that hadn't been fully exposed or told or explored, at least in the past from our perspective.”

We’re in great company with Mike French, Co-Founder and Partner at Life & Times - a creative design and development company passionate about detail-rich, contextually responsive, culturally driven and responsible placemaking - as realized through their restoration projects in Pioneertown Motel in California and Captain Whidbey in Washington, with a few other community projects on their culture map.

Pioneertown Motel, originally made famous as a backdrop for the world’s best Westerns, today offers a step back in time lodging experience at the nexus of deep nature and quality entertainment. Captain Whidbey is the gateway to beautiful and rugged wilderness, fostering a sense of romance, a longing for adventure and a communion with the natural world.

In this episode, Mike shares how his creative career and open mindset led him to join together with family and friends to create Life & Times, preserving history, ingrained in community, and driven by culture.

Top Takeaways

[3:00] It was a family affair from the beginning for Mike and his brother Matt - and with a little persistence provided by their mom, they found themselves in a new world of hospitality.

[6:30] How the narrative changed and created what would become Life & Times - certainly not a traditional company by the books, but one that is ingrained in every aspect of the community.

[8:25] The history of Pioneertown - built in 1946 by the likes of Hollywood actors, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, as a working movie set to film all of the iconic Western films - transpired into a community of creatives living and working in the film industry.

[12:00] The common thread woven throughout Life & Times is an “exercise in looking into the past, finding these special moments in history, trying to evoke the best of those moments and those feelings and those eras for each venue.”

[14:20] Life & Times and other locals alike are breathing new life into the High Desert with cherished culinary classics, a reimagined release of the original Pioneertown Gazette, and the historic Post Office acting as a curated shop of local makers, artisans and brands.

[24:10] Why Captain Whidbey on Whidbey Island, just outside of Seattle, Washington, is “the gateway to beautiful and rugged wild, fostering a sense of romance, a longing for adventure and a communion with the natural world.”

[25:35] Expect to Dine In Good Company with freshly caught mussels right from within view of The Restaurant while you sip on local Washington wine.

[27:50] How a Japanese Onsen experience, seeing the reverence for bathing culture there, inspired Mike to bring more holistic wellness experiences to the future of Captain Whidbey, beginning with the conception of a spa.