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.
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.
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization hosted a successful “Clean Up the Ridge Route” volunteer day on November 16, 2024, focused on enhancing the safety and accessibility of the historic Old Ridge Route. Volunteers worked tirelessly to complete three impactful projects: relocating a landslide warning sign, installing delineators at a landslide site, and repairing a hazardous road issue known as the “sinkhole” on the north end.
These efforts are part of ongoing commitments to preserving this iconic roadway while ensuring its safety for all users, including hikers, cyclists, and utility workers maintaining nearby infrastructure.
The landslide, located in a section closed to motorized vehicles, has been a longstanding challenge. While the full repair is a complex and lengthy process, the installation of warning signs and delineators is an immediate step to alert travelers to the potential dangers in the area.
The so-called “sinkhole,” located on an open section of the road, turned out to be the exposed header of an old culvert, likely eroded by heavy rains. Volunteers worked to fill the 18-inch gap with gravel and concrete, finishing the repair with an asphalt cold patch to prevent damage to vehicles and further degradation of the road.
We are actively taking steps to make the Old Ridge Route safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Our volunteers did the hard, hands-on work that makes a real difference in protecting this historic road!
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who spent their Saturday shoveling dirt, hauling materials, and contributing to the repair and restoration efforts.
So you’re interested in the Old Ridge Route? We’re so happy to have you along for the ride!
The best location to see the Old Ridge Route by vehicle is from the north end. Exit the 5 (North from LA, South from Bakersfield) at the 138, continue just past Quail Lake and on the right will be the Old Ridge Route. Here you can experience the ruins of Sandberg’s Summit Hotel, Granite Gate, Liebre Summit, and the iconic arch of the Tumble Inn.
If you are a cyclist, the road is a great ride with incredible views. The most common route is climbing up the Old Ridge Route from Castaic, cutting across at Pine Canyon Road and then completing the circle with Lake Hughes Road.
How to get involved
We hold volunteer days about once a month, weather permitting. Dates can be found on the Events page. If you live far or are not physically able to be there, no fear! We are always looking for donations, help with grants, social media, and planning. Memberships are also a great way to support as the membership fees go towards road repairs.
The RRPO can arrange for guided viewing of the road for members and groups. Scouts, vintage car clubs, historians and geological groups have all given the road a visit and taken in the beauty and history. This is of no cost but we greatly appreciate donations.
This is the first of its kind… we will be thanking our Gold Members for their support by opening up one of our regular road surveys! This is usually a board members only experience.
We will drive from Castaic to Gorman through the Old Ridge Route, looking a different impacted areas, planning out future work days and talking about the history of the road – Like a Ridge Route Open House! We want our supporters to have a say in the road and experience it firsthand. If you are not currently a Gold Member but would like to become one, you can join here! Gold Membership is $70/person and dues go towards road repairs.
Meeting at the site of Sandberg’s Summit Hotel at 8AM. This is the last Pothole Project date of the season before we switch gears to winter prep.
We will be filling potholes in the Horseshoe Bend area. Expect to work for about 2 hours. Sweeping, use of a leaf blower, shoveling, raking and moving bags of cold patch. Then we will take an optional drive down the Old Ridge Route to Castaic and looking at the various historic locations and clearing any obstacles along the way.
We welcome anyone who would like to learn about the road, even if you might be unable to do physical labor. Photographers (even on an iPhone) are always helpful as well as spotters to keep watch for cars coming.
![Antique Cars and Historic Tales Bring the Old Ridge Route to Life [PHOTOS]](https://ridgeroute.org/wp-content/uploads/9B5A0851-1200x800.jpg)
![Volunteers Take Action to Preserve and Improve the Historic Old Ridge Route [PHOTOS]](https://ridgeroute.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0991-Michael-removing-signs-for-relocation-1-1200x900.jpg)
