RonnieAdventure #0052 - Mojave Phone Booth, San Bernardino County, California

 Photographer Unknown

 IT’S GONE!!!!

In the 1960s the State of California mandated that a network of phone booths be place in isolated parts of the state to service residents. To comply with the State mandate, a phone booth was located in an isolated area of the Mojave Desert 15 miles from the nearest highway and equipped with a hand-cranked magneto phone. At some time in the 1970s, the phone was updated and replaced with a touch-tone model, but the phone received very little use.

Then, in 1997, a person from Las Angeles spotted a phone icon on a map in a remote part of the Mojave Desert and decided to visit the site. He ended up writing about his adventure to the phone booth in an underground magazine and included the phone number in the article. (The original phone number was (714) 733-9969, but then the area code was change to 619 and later it was changed to 760.) The article was read by a computer geek that started a website dedicated to the Mojave Phone Booth. Soon, people started calling the phone booth from all over the world just to see if they could get a reply. Some people even took camping trips to the phone booth just to answer the phone and they kept records of how many people they visited with while they were at the phone booth. In 1999, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times visited the Phone Booth and met a man that said God had instructed him to come to the Phone Booth and answer calls. In 32 days, the man answered over 500 phone calls, with repeated calls from someone that identified himself as “Sargent Zeno from the Pentagon.”

However, on May 17, 2000, at the request of the National Park Service, Pacific Bell removed and destroyed the Phone Booth. The Park Service said that the removal was done to halt the environmental impact of visitors to the area. A headstone-like plaque was later placed at the site, but it too was removed by the Park Service because it was "unauthorized." On our adventure, we found the site as depicted on the Internet, but the only thing we could locate at the site area were some pieces of iron.

 Pieces of Iron

Over the years, the Phone Booth inspired several books and one full-length movie. In 2006 a movie titled “Mojave Phone Booth” portrayed four dysfunctional  travelers from Las Vegas that were separately drawn to the Phone Booth in hopes that the phone might suddenly ring to resolve their problems, of which they were plagued with in great abundance. I didn’t see the movie and will probably pass on that one!

After driving about 10 miles south of the phone booth site we came over a hill and there was a space ship right by the side of the trail. However, upon closer examination, it was discovered that the "spaceship" was an EarthScope Plate Boundary Observatory Station that was funded by the National Science Foundation and conducted in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA. The unit was installed by UNAVCO.

 The EarthScope is part of a network of over 875 stations installed across western United States to study movement of the Earth's crust to within 1/8 of an inch. (I just hope that they don't find out that I accidentally knocked the EarthScope over when I was backing up -- but I put it back in the same location.) For additional information, you can visit www.pboweb.unavco.org and www.earthscope.org on the Web!

EarthScope

RonnieAdventure #0051 - Mojave Cross, San Bernardino County, California

Mojave Memorial Cross

IT’S BACK!!!!

The Mojave Memorial Cross was originally erected in 1934 on Sunrise Rock in the Mojave Desert by veterans to honor those killed in war. However, when Sunrise Rock became part of Mojave National Preserve, there were separations of church and state constitutional concerns, resulting in various legal actions. So, in 2002 the National Park Service built a wood enclosure around the cross until the legal actions could be resolved.  

The lower courts eventually ruled that the cross was illegal on public lands, so the case was appealed to the Supreme Court. On April 28, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Salazar v. Buono in a 5-4 decision that there was no violation of church and state and writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote: “The goal of avoiding governmental endorsements [of religion] does not require eradication of all religious symbols in the public realm.”

But the story doesn’t end there. The Park Service did not immediately remove the wooden enclosure around the cross, so on the night of May 7, 2010, someone decided to help the Park Service and removed the wooden enclosure around the cross. While the Park Service was trying to figure out what to do about the missing enclosure, on the night of May 10, 2010, the cross itself was stolen.

The Park Service offered a $125,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves and the VFW promised that the memorial would be rebuilt, stating: “This was a legal fight that a vandal just made personal to 50 million veterans, military personnel and their families.” An atheist organization, Atheist Alliance International, then offered $5,000 to go towards replacing the cross with a more inclusive and non-religious veterans’ memorial, but the gesture was declined.

Then, on the morning of May 20, 2010, the Park Rangers found a replica of the cross bolted to the original base. The Park Service said the replica had to come down because the replica was not the original cross from the Supreme Court ruling, stating: “The Park Service has regulations about people putting up memorials. You can’t just go to a park and put up a memorial to a family member.” Back to Washington for the Veterans!

In April 2012, Sunrise Rock was removed from the Mojave National Preserve and transferred to a veteran’s group so that the cross could be rebuilt; then, in November 2012, the original cross was found leaning against a fence along side of a highway in Half Moon Bay, California. The original cross has since been returned to its base on Sunrise Rock, where it was standing the day we visited the area.

RonnieAdventure #0050 - Cima Ghost Town, San Bernardino County, California

Cima is about as close to being abandoned as you can get!

The community of Cima was originally founded in 1906 as a railroad siding and a community center for ranchers and miners in the area; but the community did not ever have a large boom and bust like many of the other town in the Mojave Desert. Even though there are a few people that still live in the area, Cima is now considered to be a ghost town.

The 2000 census listed the population of Cima at 21, but the population appears to have declined since that time. We stopped in Cima on a Saturday and didn't see anyone. The general store was closed and it was unclear if the closure was temporary or permanent. .

Cima is probably best known for its proximity to the steepest part of the railroad grade between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The grade rises about 2,000 feet in 20 miles, so this is a great place to take pictures of slow moving freight trains. Even though the town site has an elevation of 4,175 feet, temperatures in the summer time are still hot; but it’s a dry heat. Annual precipitation is less than 10 inches per year. Even though the highest recorded temperature was 110 degrees Fahrenheit and the lowest temperature recorded was -2 degrees Fahrenheit., the best time to visit Cima is still during the winter or spring months!

General Store

General Store Window

Old House

Old House

Through the Window

Through the Back Door

Through the Front Door

Given Up

About to Give Up

Through the Shed

Abandoned Train Loading Dock



RonnieAdventure #0049 - Ivanpah Ruins & Solar Energy Generating System, San Bernardino Co., California

If you tell someone that you are going to “Ivanpah” in the Mojave Desert, it is easy to conjure up a lot of different locations. Most people probably think of the proposed “Ivanpah” International Airport that is in the planning stages between Las Vegas and the Nevada/California state line; or, the “Ivanpah” Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) located in California just west of the state line.

Construction on the airport is still in the planning stages; but construction started on ISEGS  in October 2010 and ISEGS is currently the largest solar plant under construction in the world. With all of the mirrors and towers glistening in the desert sun, from a distance ISEGS looks like something designed for a science fiction movie.

Located in the same general area is the thirteen square mile “Ivanpah” Dry Lake, which is popular place for land sailing because of its flat, smooth surface. On October 26, 2007, a wind-powered vehicle named Greenbird set a world speed record of 126.1 miles per hour at Ivanpah Dry Lake.   

Then there is the “Old Ivanpah” town site (I later learned that this site is sometimes called “Ivanpah 1.”), which is where I thought I was going to when I looked up “Ivanpah” on the topographical map. As it turns out, “Old Ivenpah” is in the Clark Mountains on the north side of Interstate 15, so when I turned off of the Interstate and headed south I was going 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

Anyway, I succeeded in finding “New Ivanpah,” which is marked on the topographical map as the location where Ivanpah Road crosses the railroad track. I should have known that "Old Ivanpah" wouldn't be that easy to find!

Unfortunately, “New Ivanpah” has been abandoned and the only thing that remains is the old boarded-up general store and some out buildings. Apparently, the site was originally called “Leastalk,” but at some unknown time the site became known as “Ivanpah” because this is where cartographers decided that “Ivanpah” should be located. Now I have to go find “Old Ivanpah!”

  "New Ivanpah" Townsite

General Store

Out Building

Out Building

Ivanpah Dry Lake

Ivanpah Solar Energy Generating System (ISEGS)

RonnieAdventure #0048 - Mojave National Preserve, San Bernardino County, California

If you are looking for solitude, look no further and head for the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California. At 1,538,015 acres, you are not going to see a lot of people, and the number of people you do see drops exponentially with the distance from a paved road.

With the passage of the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, the Preserve lands were created from lands previously managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an Agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).

Spread throughout the Preserve are numerous old wagon trails, ghost towns, homesteads and remnants of mining activities. Elevations in the Preserve vary from 880 feet to 7,929 feet, so visitors to the area need to be prepared for all types of weather conditions because weather conditions change quickly and without a lot of warning. Any off-road travel in the Preserve should only be attempted with a 4-wheel drive vehicle that is in good condition. If stranded, the buzzards may find you before the Park Rangers do. Oh! And by the way, be sure to have a full tank of gas, as there are no gas stations within the 1,538,015 acre Preserve.

Some of the more notable natural features in the area include Cima Dome, Kelso Sand Dunes, Marl Mountains, Hole-in-the-Wall, and Cinder Cone Lave Beds. The old Kelso railroad depot has been restored and is now the Preserve’s Visitor Center. The Preserve is also known for its numerous stands of Joshua Trees, which are some of the largest in the world.

Although surrounded by the Preserve, Providence Mountains State Recreation Area and Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve are both managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Unfortunately, Mitchell Caverns is now indefinitely closed to the public.

Cima Dome is very symmetrical and was formed deep under the Earth’s surface 80-180 million years ago when the Farallon Plate was being subducted beneath the North American Plate. At its widest point, the Dome is a little over 10 miles in diameter and covers about 70-square miles. The total elevation change above the desert floor is about 1,500 feet, but the rise is so symmetrical that the elevation lines on a topographical map resemble the rings of a bull’s eye on a target.

 Looking at West Side of Cima dome

Cima Dome Topographical Map

Joshua Tree forest on north side of Cima Dome

Abandoned Homestead in the Preserve

Cellar at Abandoned Homestead

"Looking for Water"

The below-listed pictures taken in 2003 are from a visit to Mitchell Caverns.

Mojave Yucca at Entrance to Mitchell Caverns

RonnieAdventure #0047- Nipton & Walking Box Ranch, California / Nevada

Situated at the northeast corner of the Mojave National Preserve is the unincorporated metropolis of Nipton, California (population 60).

 

In the 1870s, the only improvements in this area were two wagon trails that crossed in a remote section of the Mojave Desert; then, in 1900 a gold seeker staked a mining claim at the junction and called the mine Nippeno. Other miners took up residence at the crossroads and they soon started calling the community Nippeno Camp. The town became the social center in the area for miners and ranchers and at one time Nippeno Camp had a school, post office, railroad depot, and a number of businesses. Then, in 1910, when the SP, LA & SL rail lines merged with Union Pacific railroad, the town’s name was change to Nipton to sound more sophisticated.

In the 1920s Hollywood celebrities started coming to the area to stay at the Walking Box Ranch that was owned by movie stars Clara Bow and Rex Bell and located just a few miles from Nipton. Clara and Rex loved to throw lavish parties at the ranch and Hollywood celebrities like Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, and Errol Flynn found the Walking Box Ranch a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. 

However, as the mines faded into the sunset, so did Nipton. In 1985 the town of Nipton was sold to a private enterprise in an attempt to retain some of the original buildings. Then, a new type of gold was discovered in Nipton – the California State Lottery. Nipton is located just west of the California/Nevada state line and was the closest location for Las Vegas residents to purchase lottery tickets. Soon, Nipton reached notoriety for the most lottery ticket sales in California. Unfortunately, when a new store that sold lottery ticket opened on the California side of the state line in Primm, Nevada, Nipton lost its number one ranking because Primm was easier and faster to get to for Las Vegas residents.

Nipton is now, however, redeveloping itself as the “Gateway to the Mojave National Preserve,” and the community advertises itself to people from all over the world as an eco-tourism mecca. In 2010 the community installed a solar-powered generator to provide most of the town’s electricity and eco-cabins for overnight accommodations were constructed. Other attractions to Nipton include the original five-room hotel that has been remodeled, a travel-trailer park, the original general store (now called the Nipton Trading Post), free water and free public rest rooms. In the evenings one can sit on the front porch of the hotel and watch the trains go by and enjoy the beautiful front yard between the hotel and the railroad tracks as the sun sits over the mountains. There is even a café in town that advertises they have the best hamburgers in Nipton (when they are open). Wi-Fi is available in the general store for those that want to stay connected! Now is the time to plan your next vacation and beat the rush to Nipton!

 Eco-Cabin (Typical)

 

5-Room Hotel

 

Hotel Front Porch

 

Hotel Front Yard

 

General Store

 

General Store

 

Town Wi-Fi Center

 

Street Sign

 

Town Art on Display

 

Town Art on Display

 

Free Town Water

 

Free Public Restrooms

The last time I visited the Walking Box Ranch was in 2004, and then in 2006 the Ranch was purchased by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to be jointly managed with the University of Nevada. The Ranch is now closed to the public for renovations, but below are some pictures from 2004.

 Main Ranch House

 

Dinning Area

 

Family Room

 

Study

 

Master Bedroom

 

Typical Guest Room