Month: December 2024

TOMORROW – Last Volunteer Day of the Year!

Saturday, December 7th is our last Clean Up the Ridge Route volunteer day of 2024!

We will be meeting in Gorman at the Carls Jr at 9AM. RSVP here so we know to look for you!

There are a handful of culverts between Liebre Maintenance Camp and Tumble Inn that are in need of attention. This area is always a rough one when it comes to rain and tends to get super muddy.

We will be working on the following culverts/drainage in the Liebre MC-Tumble Inn section:

19, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29

If you plan on attending, please bring closed toed shoes, gloves and warm clothes as it is currently supposed to be 65 degrees with wind up to 15mph. Snacks or a packed lunch and water are also musts!

We are planning to take a drive through the road to check conditions as well. Anyone who is volunteering is welcome to join! Expecting 2-3hrs of work and another 2 to drive through the road to Castaic.

RSVP HERE

Antique Cars and Historic Tales Bring the Old Ridge Route to Life [PHOTOS]

  • Model A at Fort Tejon
  • Jamie Crawford leads Model As down Ralphs Ranch Rd
  • Jamie Crawford stands next to a Model A
  • Bakersfield Model A Club members
  • Driving down Gorman Post Rd
  • Tumble Inn
  • Sandberg’s Summit Hotel
  • Sandberg’s Summit Hotel
  • Tumble Inn
  • Sandberg’s Summit Hotel
  • Tumble Inn
  • Ridge Route Communities Musem tour meets up with ours
  • Driving down the Old Ridge Route
  • Leaving Tumble Inn
  • Driving down the Old Ridge Route
  • Details of a Ford Model A
  • Details of a Ford Model A
  • Jamie Crawford gives a talk about Sandberg’s Summit Hotel
  • Model A Club members arrive at the Tumble Inn
  • Details of a Ford Model A
  • Details of a Ford Model A
  • Driving down Gorman Post Rd
  • Jamie Crawford greets Bakersfield Model A Club members
  • Driving down Gorman Post Rd
  • Details of a Ford Model A
  • Details of a Ford Model A
  • Driving down the Old Ridge Route
  • Sandberg’s Summit Hotel
  • Model A Club members take photos at Tumble Inn
  • Tumble Inn
  • Tumble Inn
  • Tumble Inn
  • Driving down the Old Ridge Route
  • Bakersfield Model A Club members
  • Bakersfield Model A Club members
  • Details of a Ford Model A
  • Bakersfield Model A Club members
  • Bakersfield Model A Club members
  • Driving down Gorman Post Rd
  • Driving down Gorman Post Rd
  • Tumble Inn
  • Liebre Maitenence Camp
  • Kevin and Bethel of the Museum give a talk at Liebre Summit
  • Model A at Fort Tejon

History came alive on November 2, 2024, as the Ridge Route Preservation Organization (RRPO) partnered with the Ridge Route Communities Museum (RRCM) and the Model A Club of Bakersfield for a unique guided tour along the historic 1915 Old Ridge Route.

The event began at Fort Tejon State Historic Park, where participants gathered to set off in a convoy of seven antique Ford Model A cars. These vintage vehicles, dating back to the road’s heyday from 1915 to 1933, added an authentic and nostalgic touch to the day’s journey.

The tour followed a scenic route that included stops at iconic landmarks along the Old Ridge Route. Participants explored the history of Sandberg’s Summit Hotel, once a three story log cabin hotel catering to high end travelers, and Liebre Summit, the road’s highest point with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. They also visited the Liebre Maintenance Camp, where workers lived during construction and maintained during its prime, and ended the journey at the Tumble Inn, a stone arch where cabins, a restaurant and garage once stood.

Guides from the Ridge Route Communities Museum, Kevin and Bethel, captivated attendees with tales of the road’s construction in 1915, the region’s Native American history, and the vibrant stories of early travelers and truckers. Meanwhile, Jamie and Sydney from the RRPO shared insights into the ongoing preservation efforts to restore the road and plans to protect it for future generations.

It was truly special to see these antique cars driving on the road they were built for. The connection between the vehicles, the history, and the landscape made this experience unforgettable.

The Ridge Route Preservation Organization and its partners are committed to preserving the Old Ridge Route, ensuring its historical significance and natural beauty endure. Events like this not only celebrate the past but also inspire efforts to protect the road for years to come.

For more information about the Ridge Route Preservation Organization and its upcoming events, visit our events page.

About the Ridge Route Preservation Organization

The Ridge Route Preservation Organization is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the historic 1915 Ridge Route, one of California’s most significant early highways. Through advocacy, restoration projects, and educational events, RRPO works to ensure the road’s legacy lives on.