I'm 25 years old and have always been curious about the old route compared to the 99/I-5 so its really great to hear history and see video footage of it. I'm living in Bakersfield as of right now and really really hope that one day I get to step foot on the old roads seen here. Really interesting stuff.
My grandfather used to drive the Ridge Route from L.A. selling his burlwood tables in the western and southwestern u.s. He had an old yellow chevy with a camper shell, and a placard on back with Wiley Coyote that said "Ridge Runner". I heard so many stories about the Ridge Route
I wish that gate was open, I’d love to pass through there. I take the grapevine every day, twice a day (I’m a truck driver) and old roads fascinate me. We REALLY have it easy nowadays. I’m part of this ‘younger generation’ that this man mentions and I fully appreciate history like this. I would like to explore the old Cajon Pass wagon route as well.
Unfortunately some truckers tried to drive Ridge Route when I-5 was closed due to snow. They got stuck & did significant damage to the road’s foundation. (It was built for Model Ts and other light vehicles, not modern equipment.)
@@electrictroy2010 lol. Hilarious but sad for the road. Typical trucker just following the GPS and not using common sense… I hope they reopen the road and preserve it as a piece of history.
When there was an accident on the grapevine a month ago, Google Maps routed me on part of this road that is still open. Some people were smarty pants and tried to further bypass the accident and continued on through the Forest Service portion and found the road gated and turned back.
BEFORE the 1915 ridge route road, the only way into the central valley from the south one had to transverse a couple of dozen rough canyon trails until you made your way out of grapevine canyon and into the valley. From here it was 110 miles from to the Kern river. There was a ranch on the banks of the river and the rancher would come out and invite people to stop across the road from his ranch house and make camp in his pasture. Graze their horses make repairs rest up bath in the river before continuing on. Word spread far and wide about this mans hospitality and the place became a regular stop for all. The mans name was Mr Baker and all were welcome to stop off at Mr Bakers Field. !
There is an episode with Huell Howser that I'm trying to find where he rides with an antique car club on the old ridge route that was made before they closed it off to the public. In it there is an old man with them who delivered newspapers in the early mornings from L.A. to Bakersfield in the 1920's or 30's and knew exactly how long it took. Of course, he was speeding all the way!
I started watching that episode on a used DVD... The DVD was bad, and I almost couldn't get it to eject... Not saying the episode was bad...as I wanted to see it... Here's what's on the DVD case : Road trip with Huell Howser ... "Ridge Route" Show # 122 ... 120 minutes ... Sure hope I can find a 'good DVD' of this, as I live in central California, and always loved watching Huell's shows back in the day ... Hope this helps ... 🤗 ...
I drove on old hwy99 through there several times in the early '70's. Could see I-5 being built and I couldn't wait! 99 was 4 lanes, but like he says, if I got behind a slow climbing truck with an underpowered car like my '63 Plymouth I couldn't get around due to the fast cars in the fast lane! One of my great grandfathers had a trucking business in the '20's and '30's and drove from Bakersfield to L.A. and back several times a week.
My step Grandfather drove truck for his friend Sam Perricone (of Perricone juices). He said it would take 8 hrs to haul citrus to Bakersfield from Los Angeles back in the 30s.
It is best that these videos be made now while as much of the road as possible is still there and there are people still alive who can describe it in it's original form.
What a bummer, I rode that route many times on my duel sport motorbike back in the 90s when I lived in Stevenson Ranch, I even drove my pick up there and camped out one night and watched the freeway traffic below. Its a tragedy they have to close it, Its a great piece of state history. Im glad I was able to ride it a few times :0(
The road is now closed down and has been for years. i have drove it over 200 times deer and quail hunting with my son and grandson. i wish the state would fix it so
It makes me very sad to see the Old Ridge Route in this condition. I lived on Bald Mountain up to age 13 and have very fond memories. We moved away in 1977 and only visited once in 2007. They need to get interns from universities to help spread awareness through social media
Parts of the old Ridge Route can still be found in front of El Tejon School near Fort Tejon. The original concrete road serves as a frontage road for school's parking lot. Additionally just south of the school, the old concrete road deviates from Lebec Road, crosses a little creek and ends at northbound I-5.
I have a great story about getting to ride my bicycle up a completely closed Grapevine a couple of years ago because of a big rig fire, but it would be awesome if the Ridge Route were made available as a route for hikers and cyclists to get safely up the Grapevine.
Doesn’t seem like my question but I don’t lose anything. How long did it take to go from14/5 intersection to the bottom of the grapevine, north side when the 1915 road was opened? Thanks
You don’t want to repave that concrete anymore. Anyone who lives near it knows it was a mistake to try and put tar over the original road. The tar deteriorates way worse than the original roads base and makes you want to drive on what remains of the original Ridge Route. Whatever they used for concrete was second to none.
I saw you open a gate -- does one need a key or a permit? Can I just come down from Sacramento and get on this wonderful historic road? What do I shoot for -- Lebec?
Was thinking the same way. I live right near this whole area. Those original concrete road platforms lasted much better than the tar that was used to patch them. And these Mountains where the old portion of Road runs are the Sierra Pelona’s, not the San Gabriels.
@@davarph sounds like you live in a nice area...not me..i'm out here in P.A..and all we have here is a portion of the abandoned P,A turnpike and tunnels..but i do live very close to the town with a famous mine fire known as centralia pa
There is another UA-cam video where someone drives the entire old Ridge Route hiway nonstop. It shows that there are actually two gates, one on each end but they were both open the day he filmed his drive. He mention something about when the gates are open. It is a longer video but quit interesting to watch if you really want to get a sense of what they had to go through back in the old days.
What a shame the road is falling apart and the people who could have the most impact don't seem to care. It would be awesome as a National Scenic Byway.
It is a Deadly road that is only a single lane in many places. It needs to preserved, but closed off to tourists. Like the central portion of Mulholland Highway, it should restricted to walkers & bicycles only .
I'm 25 years old and have always been curious about the old route compared to the 99/I-5 so its really great to hear history and see video footage of it. I'm living in Bakersfield as of right now and really really hope that one day I get to step foot on the old roads seen here. Really interesting stuff.
I live on the Ridge Route Rd 1.5 miles below Templin Highway. Nice and quiet up here. The road was recently repaved just after the Route fire🔥
Thanks for posting this, Old Ridge Route is an important and historic in California.
Just came back from riding a scooter on it. What a beautiful and an amazing piece of history. Thanks Mr. Scott for preserving it.
thank you for making this video. I grew up hearing trucker stories about the ridge route.
My grandfather used to drive the Ridge Route from L.A. selling his burlwood tables in the western and southwestern u.s. He had an old yellow chevy with a camper shell, and a placard on back with Wiley Coyote that said "Ridge Runner". I heard so many stories about the Ridge Route
I wish that gate was open, I’d love to pass through there. I take the grapevine every day, twice a day (I’m a truck driver) and old roads fascinate me. We REALLY have it easy nowadays.
I’m part of this ‘younger generation’ that this man mentions and I fully appreciate history like this. I would like to explore the old Cajon Pass wagon route as well.
It's not as closed as they want you to believe.
Unfortunately some truckers tried to drive Ridge Route when I-5 was closed due to snow. They got stuck & did significant damage to the road’s foundation. (It was built for Model Ts and other light vehicles, not modern equipment.)
@@electrictroy2010 lol. Hilarious but sad for the road. Typical trucker just following the GPS and not using common sense… I hope they reopen the road and preserve it as a piece of history.
When there was an accident on the grapevine a month ago, Google Maps routed me on part of this road that is still open. Some people were smarty pants and tried to further bypass the accident and continued on through the Forest Service portion and found the road gated and turned back.
BEFORE the 1915 ridge route road, the only way into the central valley from the south
one had to transverse a couple of dozen rough canyon trails until you made your way out
of grapevine canyon and into the valley. From here it was 110 miles from to the Kern river. There was a ranch on the banks of the river and the rancher would come out and invite people to stop across the road from his ranch house and make camp in his pasture. Graze their horses make repairs rest up bath in the river before continuing on. Word spread far and wide about this mans hospitality and the place became a regular stop for all. The mans name was Mr Baker and all were welcome to stop off at Mr Bakers Field.
!
There is an episode with Huell Howser that I'm trying to find where he rides with an antique car club on the old ridge route that was made before they closed it off to the public. In it there is an old man with them who delivered newspapers in the early mornings from L.A. to Bakersfield in the 1920's or 30's and knew exactly how long it took. Of course, he was speeding all the way!
I started watching that episode on a used DVD... The DVD was bad, and I almost couldn't get it to eject... Not saying the episode was bad...as I wanted to see it... Here's what's on the DVD case : Road trip with Huell Howser ... "Ridge Route" Show # 122 ... 120 minutes ...
Sure hope I can find a 'good DVD' of this, as I live in central California, and always loved watching Huell's shows back in the day ...
Hope this helps ... 🤗 ...
I drove on old hwy99 through there several times in the early '70's. Could see I-5 being built and I couldn't wait! 99 was 4 lanes, but like he says, if I got behind a slow climbing truck with an underpowered car like my '63 Plymouth I couldn't get around due to the fast cars in the fast lane! One of my great grandfathers had a trucking business in the '20's and '30's and drove from Bakersfield to L.A. and back several times a week.
Isn't that Harrison Scott, author of "Ridge Route: The Road That United California"?
My step Grandfather drove truck for his friend Sam Perricone (of Perricone juices). He said it would take 8 hrs to haul citrus to Bakersfield from Los Angeles back in the 30s.
15 mph speed limit!
On the curbs you can see wear marks caused by the solid rubber tires of trucks, using the curbs to slow down.
It is best that these videos be made now while as much of the road as possible is still there and there are people still alive who can describe it in it's original form.
I saw a clue on Jeopardy asking about this and wanted to learn more!
Thanks for the video and further explanation! 😃
What a bummer, I rode that route many times on my duel sport motorbike back in the 90s when I lived in Stevenson Ranch, I even drove my pick up there and camped out one night and watched the freeway traffic below. Its a tragedy they have to close it, Its a great piece of state history. Im glad I was able to ride it a few times :0(
I live on the Ridge Route Rd and thank you for this Video. I also have your book that you signed 👍🏻🤠👍🏻
Thank you for this video, it helped me with information.
Love this stuff, thanks guys
The road is now closed down and has been for years. i have drove it over 200 times deer and quail hunting with my son and grandson. i wish the state would fix it so
Wish I could meet this man. I've been studying the old 99 since I was a kid
It makes me very sad to see the Old Ridge Route in this condition. I lived on Bald Mountain up to age 13 and have very fond memories. We moved away in 1977 and only visited once in 2007. They need to get interns from universities to help spread awareness through social media
I remember as a kid they were talking about eliminating the last of those middle lanes called “suicide lanes” down on 101 .
Thank you!
Parts of the old Ridge Route can still be found in front of El Tejon School near Fort Tejon. The original concrete road serves as a frontage road for school's parking lot. Additionally just south of the school, the old concrete road deviates from Lebec Road, crosses a little creek and ends at northbound I-5.
Nice presentation thank you
Do you know of any movies that were filmed on the 1933 to1951 alignment of US Highway 99 ?
nice sharing friend
Are those locked gates ever open to the public to transverse the route or is there a process by which to do this route ? Many thanks.
I have a great story about getting to ride my bicycle up a completely closed Grapevine a couple of years ago because of a big rig fire, but it would be awesome if the Ridge Route were made available as a route for hikers and cyclists to get safely up the Grapevine.
That's awesome
cool history
The map which shows a locked gate is incorrect. That gate is seasonally open and you can usually drive all the way from Castaic to Highway 138.
Doesn’t seem like my question but I don’t lose anything. How long did it take to go from14/5 intersection to the bottom of the grapevine, north side when the 1915 road was opened? Thanks
I really wish and hope the state of California would repave the road. I would love to take my kids there for a drive.
You don’t want to repave that concrete anymore. Anyone who lives near it knows it was a mistake to try and put tar over the original road. The tar deteriorates way worse than the original roads base and makes you want to drive on what remains of the original Ridge Route. Whatever they used for concrete was second to none.
I saw you open a gate -- does one need a key or a permit? Can I just come down from Sacramento and get on this wonderful historic road? What do I shoot for -- Lebec?
the camera person needs to show what the man is pointing out...not keep the camera on him as he talks
Was thinking the same way. I live right near this whole area. Those original concrete road platforms lasted much better than the tar that was used to patch them. And these Mountains where the old portion of Road runs are the Sierra Pelona’s, not the San Gabriels.
@@davarph sounds like you live in a nice area...not me..i'm out here in P.A..and all we have here is a portion of the abandoned P,A turnpike and tunnels..but i do live very close to the town with a famous mine fire known as centralia pa
The microphone is mounted to the camera. If they turned away from him we wouldn't be able to hear him.
Use a second camera then to capture the scenery shots
I see you had to unlock a gate. The road is closed somewhere along?
There is another UA-cam video where someone drives the entire old Ridge Route hiway nonstop. It shows that there are actually two gates, one on each end but they were both open the day he filmed his drive. He mention something about when the gates are open. It is a longer video but quit interesting to watch if you really want to get a sense of what they had to go through back in the old days.
Can you walk along dead man's curve, or is it on private property?
What a shame the road is falling apart and the people who could have the most impact don't seem to care. It would be awesome as a National Scenic Byway.
It is a Deadly road that is only a single lane in many places. It needs to preserved, but closed off to tourists. Like the central portion of Mulholland Highway, it should restricted to walkers & bicycles only
.
Many roads are dangerous but still open, it could be widened and improved. It would be a pretty dull road if it's closed off to tourists.
wow , a ' sidewalk" highway" .
Today people have no idea what they have now in historical areas If it doesn’t suit thier ideas get rid of it.