RIDGE ROUTE PRESERVATION ORGANIZATION
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization (RRPO) is a 501(c)(3) California non-profit corporation committed to educating the public to the importance of California’s historic 1915 Ridge Route Highway, an engineering marvel that prevented California from separating into two separate states. Seventeen point six miles of the original road were recorded onto the National Register of Historic Places on September 25, 1997.
Our intent is to solicit federal, state, and private support to restore the road that has been almost completely void of maintenance since 1933. Some of this maintenance is being done by the RRPO through our CUTRR events. We also are working toward getting the road back open to regular vehicular travel from near Templin Highway to the Tumble Inn site.
We will accomplish these goals through advocacy, public relations, legislation, fund raising events, and our web site.
Principle Officers:
Michael F Ballard, President
Samuel J. Huff, Secretary
Samuel is ardent about Kern County history as well as his home town of Bakersfield. He is also Vice President of the Bakersfield Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America. To him, the Ridge Route is an extremely important part of California’s history and must be preserved so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Sydney Croasmun, Public Relations Director
Sydney is a professional photographer and amateur historian. She is passionate about the Old Ridge Route and sharing it’s history. Her favorite location on the road is Reservoir Summit.
Hugh James Crawford, Director
Jamie is a retired history teacher living in Ventura. He has been interested in automotive history his entire life, and discovered the Old Ridge Route for himself about 10 years ago. He is looking forward to helping to preserve this amazing piece of history.
Harrison I. Scott, Director
Founder of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization, the man who literally rote the book on the Old Ridge Route. His endless work resulted in the Old Ridge Route being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His passion for the road brought his on the journey of a lifetime tracking down the history and campaigning for the repair and protection of the road.
Evan Decker, Treasurer
Evan Decker is a lifelong resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, just south of the Ridge Route. He is a local Historian that has served on the Board for the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, as well as President of Mentryville, California Inc. He is honored to serve on the Board of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization!
