My father, who grew up in Glendale, CA went to school at UC Berkeley, and he mentioned to me that it was a big ordeal to drive (presumably a model T Ford) up and make you way to Gorman, and then onward into the central valley. He mentioned that the Ridge Route was an endless set of curves, and that it was a big relief when the 99 was created then the 5 Freeway later. The Santa Clarita historical society people have put up several plaque stands along the way documenting Sandberg (which was a hotel, and later a house of ill repute, then the site of a big fire), and the Tumble Inn, another small hotel, and restaurant serving the people who had tired driving this length of road way. When I drove what I could access of this road, I was astounded that CONCRETE was still evident, showing me that over 100 years has not totally destroyed some of the original concrete road bed. The thing you say "Someone had a house" is the site of the Tumble Inn. Not much is left of it, and most of what we see today is reconstructed by historical types who wanted to rebuild the original inn. There also should be some smattering of evidence of the construction camp, and water holding pond used during construction (but that may be beyond the steel roadway barriers).
The old ruin at the 10:00 is the site of the Tumble Inn. There were many rest stops along the way. You can pick up the lower portion at Templin Highway.
Beautiful. After you turned around I noticed the sun over the horizon of the house you previously stopped at. I thought about the original family living there and them watching the sunset from the same point of view. Love this kind of history. Charlie is a trooper!!! Beautiful dog ❤
I'm thinking the house you mentioned was actually a resort. There's a good deal of information about it and other sites along the route on the Ridge Route website. Can't remember it off-hand, but it comes up easily on a Google search. Nice video! I'm hoping to make this journey in the Fall.
It's actually the Tumble Inn. "Little is written regarding the Tumble Inn. It was a rock structure housing a Richfield Gas Station, garage and cafe at road level. Cement steps lead to cabin type accommodations and restrooms. It was a small resort with a far-reaching vista. In later years the name was changed to "The Mountain View Lodge." Information is not clear as to when it was constructed or demolished. It does appear on the 1926 Topo map and was listed on a 1928 travel guide. All that remains today is a rock wall and the steps that lead to the upper area."
I used to drive the ridge route back in the 1980s in my plymouth Dodge Dart . Back then nobody knew about it because there was no internet . Today it is really rough. You need a 4 wheel drive in some spots . It's been very deteriorated because of all of the traffic today
Before the ridge route it was almost impossible to get from so cal to the great central valley of California. There was no direct road, you had to follow many different disjointed tracks and trails and short roads none were improved you had to pass thru dozens and dozens and dozens of rough canyons to work you way around the mountains as there was NO routes leading over. Once you exited grapevine canyon and got yourself into the valley it was another 112miles to the Kern river, a real popular place to stop. A fellow owned a ranch there and invited all travelers to stop & camp in his field across the road from his ranchhouse, rest a few days, graze your animals and let them too recover their strength. Oh, the name of the rancher? He was Mr Baker and all travelers were welcome to stop at Mr Bakers field. !
My father, who grew up in Glendale, CA went to school at UC Berkeley, and he mentioned to me that it was a big ordeal to drive (presumably a model T Ford) up and make you way to Gorman, and then onward into the central valley. He mentioned that the Ridge Route was an endless set of curves, and that it was a big relief when the 99 was created then the 5 Freeway later.
The Santa Clarita historical society people have put up several plaque stands along the way documenting Sandberg (which was a hotel, and later a house of ill repute, then the site of a big fire), and the Tumble Inn, another small hotel, and restaurant serving the people who had tired driving this length of road way.
When I drove what I could access of this road, I was astounded that CONCRETE was still evident, showing me that over 100 years has not totally destroyed some of the original concrete road bed. The thing you say "Someone had a house" is the site of the Tumble Inn. Not much is left of it, and most of what we see today is reconstructed by historical types who wanted to rebuild the original inn. There also should be some smattering of evidence of the construction camp, and water holding pond used during construction (but that may be beyond the steel roadway barriers).
The old ruin at the 10:00 is the site of the Tumble Inn. There were many rest stops along the way. You can pick up the lower portion at Templin Highway.
Beautiful. After you turned around I noticed the sun over the horizon of the house you previously stopped at. I thought about the original family living there and them watching the sunset from the same point of view. Love this kind of history. Charlie is a trooper!!! Beautiful dog ❤
I'm thinking the house you mentioned was actually a resort. There's a good deal of information about it and other sites along the route on the Ridge Route website. Can't remember it off-hand, but it comes up easily on a Google search. Nice video! I'm hoping to make this journey in the Fall.
It's actually the Tumble Inn.
"Little is written regarding the Tumble Inn. It was a rock structure housing a Richfield Gas Station, garage and cafe at road level. Cement steps lead to cabin type accommodations and restrooms. It was a small resort with a far-reaching vista. In later years the name was changed to "The Mountain View Lodge." Information is not clear as to when it was constructed or demolished. It does appear on the 1926 Topo map and was listed on a 1928 travel guide. All that remains today is a rock wall and the steps that lead to the upper area."
This is a great video😶🌫️
I used to drive the ridge route back in the 1980s in my plymouth Dodge Dart .
Back then nobody knew about it because there was no internet . Today it is really rough. You need a 4 wheel drive in some spots .
It's been very deteriorated because of all of the traffic today
Before the ridge route it was almost impossible to get from so cal to the great central valley of California. There was no direct road, you had to follow many different disjointed tracks and trails and short roads none were improved you had to pass thru dozens and dozens and dozens of rough canyons to work you way around the mountains as there was NO routes leading over. Once you exited grapevine canyon and got yourself into the valley it was another 112miles to the Kern river, a real popular place to stop. A fellow owned a ranch there and invited all travelers to stop & camp in his field across the road from his ranchhouse, rest a few days, graze your animals and let them too recover their strength.
Oh, the name of the rancher? He was Mr Baker and all travelers were welcome to stop at
Mr Bakers field.
!
There's plenty of info. on the ridge route but no info. on what used to be a truck stop, motel and coffee shop underneath pyramid lake.
How was that a two lane road? You can barely get one.
vehicles were a bit narrower back then.
It was known as the Ridge Route.
!