Jackrabbit Homesteads

Out in the middle of nowhere, you'll spot a few abandoned structures scattered in an area known as the Morongo Basin, near Twentynine Palms in Wonder Valley.

These structures -- known as jackrabbit homesteads -- are part of the historical backdrop left behind during the American West.

As Artbound's Kim Stringfellow writes, most of the structures are reflective of owners who were some of the last to receive land through the Small Tract Act of 1938.

The act provided U.S. citizens the opportunity to lease up to five acres of public land for different uses, whether for recreational, home, or business purposes.

Today, many jackrabbit homesteads are marked with an almost ghost-like appearance after falling into disrepair. But in recent years, homesteads have also been commonly used as an inspiration point for artists and musicians looking to escape the plight of rising housing prices and city life.

Find out why some people are redefining, reclaiming, and transforming historic homesteads in this segment of "SoCal Connected."

Featuring Interviews With:

• Pat Rimmington, writer
• Chris Carraher, artist
• Kim Stringfellow, artist/author