Ridge Route Preservation Organization
Working to protect and preserve the Scenic and Historic 1915 Ridge Route
A dive into the work happening up on the Old Ridge Route with RRPO board member, Sydney Croasmun and SoCalGas representative, Rob Duchow!
Get a glimpse of the roadwork, learn about the history and significance and see why this project is so important.
Thank you so much KHTS for a great video and report!
We are so excited to announce that SoCal Gas has offered to repair potholes 6 miles of the Old Ridge Route. This includes the stretch off the 138 near Gorman, which is open to the public. This will greatly increase accessibility for the public, make access for pipeline maintenance easier and smoother access for emergency services such as fire and ambulances.
This came to light after SoCal Gas had been doing maintenance on their pipeline. Part of the agreement when it comes to protecting this historic road is to lay heavy rubber mats along the edges of the concrete and areas where the road is crumbling.
- If you would like to send a thank you to the road crew and SoCal Gas, please do so here
I ran into their contracted construction manager while doing a sweep of the road and talked with him about the work they’ve been doing on the road and told him about our volunteer Pothole Project. He proposed that – instead of using the temporary fix – the rubber matting – they could help us with a permanent repair in those crumbling areas.
The history of SoCal Gas and the Old Ridge Route are deeply intertwined. Construction started on their first pipeline through the area in 1912, under the name Midway Gas Company. The pipeline was operational in 1913 – the same year the Old Ridge Route was surveyed, meaning their first pipeline actually predates the road. This first pipeline ran from Taft to Glendale.
I don’t think people fully realize how vital this corridor is when it comes to infrastructure. When the Old Ridge Route was dreamt up, California was on the verge of splitting into two states – this mountain range becoming the border. To get from Bakersfield to LA was nearly 24 hours in travel time, through rough stagecoach roads that often flooded, became muddy and developed ruts. It was a treacherous journey of roughly 180 miles and grades of 30%. That rough road cut off trade from north to south. In central CA, San Francisco merchants were preferred to LA merchants due to unpredictable travel times.
When the Ridge Route opened up in 1915, it changed the course of history. It allowed goods to be delivered from the port in Los Angeles to central California. It brought Central California’s food to Los Angeles, and opened up a much safer route for travel. This road is written into the history of so many Southern California families – just ask your grandparents about it.
And while this road was so influential to the history of California, it is often forgotten. After it was bypassed in 1933, it remained largely unmaintained – left to the elements. When a disastrous rainy season hit in 2005, causing a number of landslides making the road impassable, most of the road running through the Angeles National Forest was closed indefinitely – and still remains that way to this day.
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization worked to have the landslides repaired. We hold regular volunteer work days and have been diligently working towards getting the road in good enough shape to re-open it. That’s where SoCal Gas comes in – to have such a large stretch of the road repaired is a big leap in the road’s preservation and towards getting this road reopened.
If you would like to send a thank you to the road crew and SoCal Gas, please do so here
ARCADIA, Calif., January 23, 2025—The entire Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument are temporarily closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources through Friday, January 31, 2025. This means that the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument will not reopen until Saturday, February 1, 2025. This closure is tied to critical fire danger.
During this time, the following acts are prohibited within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument:
1. Going into or being upon the Angeles National Forest. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e).
2. Being on any National Forest System Road within the Angeles National Forest. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).
3. Being on any National Forest System Trail within the Angeles National Forest. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:
1. Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A. A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months or both 16 U.S.C. § 551, and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581
For more information about Forest Order No. 05-01-25-04, click here.
Editor’s Note: The Old Ridge Route falls within the Angeles National Forest and remains closed to all travel and visitation with the forest.
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.
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.
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.
![Antique Cars and Historic Tales Bring the Old Ridge Route to Life [PHOTOS]](https://ridgeroute.org/wp-content/uploads/9B5A0851-1200x800.jpg)
