Explore Historic California

14/11/2024

ATTN DRIVERS: Northbound U.S. 395 traffic will switch onto the new northbound lanes of the Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project on Tuesday, November 19.

• Northbound traffic will connect to the new lanes of U.S. 395 at the project’s southern end. Both northbound lanes will be open until drivers reach the temporary traffic switch south of Crystal Geyser Road.

• Through traffic will use the lefthand lane to access the traffic switch that will move northbound vehicles to the inside lane of the new southbound alignment. Vehicles will remain in this lane through the remainder of the project area before reconnecting with the existing lanes of U.S. 395 at the project’s northern end, approximately two miles north of Cartago.

• Northbound vehicles traveling to Olancha, Cartago, or State Route 190 and Death Valley National Park will use the righthand lane to stay on the new northbound alignment until they reach Crystal Geyser Road.

Traffic will remain in this configuration until next year.

For more information about the northbound traffic switch, visit https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-9/district-9-news/2024_11_12-nb-traffic-switch-olancha-cartago.

06/11/2024

Stay safe out there and recreate responsibly!

02/11/2024

Alabama Gates 2024 is a weekend of free community events in Lone Pine, California, November 15 – 17, 2024, commemorating the centennial of the Alabama Gates Occupation. This significant historical event occurred when the people of Owens Valley non-violently seized the Los Angeles Aqueduct’s control gates just north of Lone Pine on November 16, 1924, diverting the entire flow of the aqueduct into the historic Owens River channel in protest of the City of Los Angeles’ aggressive land acquisition and water harvesting activities within the valley that began with the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913. The 1924 Alabama Gates occupation evolved into a multi-day community picnic as 700 Owens Valley residents gathered in solidarity with the occupiers over four days.

Our November 15 – 17, 2024, program includes roundtable discussions at Lone Pine’s Statham Hall, a no-host community picnic at Lone Pine’s Spainhower Park featuring local food truck concessionaires, film screenings at the Museum of Western Film History, and an interpretive walking tour with a local naturalist at Patsiata (Owens Lake). Full program schedule is available at alabamagates2024.org. Pre-registration is required for all events.

This event is produced by There It Is—Take It! in partnership with Sierra Forever (formerly ESIA). Our program is supported by a 2024 Humanities for All Quick Grant through California Humanities.

FOR UP-TO-DATE INFO LOG IN ON TO https://alabamagates2024.org/

03/10/2024

Links to support Cerro Gordo Mines and purchase items.
Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3UY0EF0PQDSGT?ref+=wl+share&fbclid=IwY2xjawFrtOtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHY4UKUi5RzTWPwvaCv_6j41ZlFbnjn9z6NZJYgg3fJ2kcIXQYXW_ss30QQ_aem_QaODGULFguu19Ubi0yC0yw

American Hotel GoFundMe Link:
https://bit.ly/39bVoUW

Fan Mail/Packages can be sent to:
Brent Underwood
c/o Cerro Gordo Mines
PO Box 490
Lone Pine, CA 93545

Cerro Gordo Store (merch, game kickstarter link, 3rd annual silver run sign up)
https://store.cerrogordomines.com/

Friends of Cerro Gordo (non profit donations towards hotel, town, and historic restoration and preservation etc.)
P.O. Box 426
Tujunga, CA 91042

Friends of Cerro Gordo Ebay Bookstore
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?item=403829166270&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211&_ssn=friendsofcerrogordo

General information: town manager [email protected]

01/10/2024

These funds are used to preserve the town of Cerro Gordo for future generations.

27/09/2024

21/09/2024

U.S. 395 has reopened between Burcham Flat Road and State Route 108 north of Bridgeport after crews installed two wildlife crossings as part of the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project.

TRAFFIC IMPACT: Drivers are advised that they no longer need to use the detour along State Route 182 and Nevada Routes 338 and 208 in Smith Valley, NV. U.S. 395 through the project area is once again open to traffic. Travelers can drive between Bridgeport and the towns of Walker, Coleville, and Topaz using U.S. 395 again. Those traveling over Sonora Pass and Monitor Pass are now able to turn south on U.S. 395 instead of using the detour.

Before the project enters winter suspension in October, one-way traffic control will go back into effect Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and drivers may experience 20-minute delays.

Travelers are asked to be attentive to workers on the highway, slow for the cone zone, and move over whenever possible to give additional clearance. Be Safe and Be Work Zone Alert! And remember to .

Please visit Caltrans District 9 for more information.

18/09/2024

A Newsletter from the Protect Conglomerate Mesa Coalition - Summer 2024

08/09/2024

31/08/2024

Only 3 weeks away! We are so excited!

27/08/2024

This answers the question, "does a bear...?"

RESTROOM SITE IMPROVEMENTS RESUME AUGUST 26 THROUGH MID-OCTOBER

Today, construction resumed on the vault restrooms at Aerie Crag Picnic Area, Rush Creek Trailhead, and Silver Lake Picnic Area.
Although these new restrooms were installed in 2022, the contractor hadn't been able to complete the work until this summer, due to contract awarding delays.

There will be new sidewalks in front of the restrooms to make them wheelchair-accessible, and aggregate will be placed on the sides of the restrooms.

The schedule for these restrooms and the rest on the contract are as follows:
1. Aerie Crag Picnic Area (8/26 – 9/5)
2. Rush Creek Trailhead (8/26 – 9/5)
3. Silver Lake Picnic Area (8/26 – 9/5)
4. Horseshoe Lake (9/6 - 9/13)
5. Emerald Lake Trailhead (9/9 - 9/13)
6. Duck Pass Trailhead (9/9 - 9/13)
7. Convict Lake North (9/16 – 9/30)
8. Convict Lake South (10/1 – 10/18)
9. Big Pine Creek (10/11 – 10/15)

The contractor expects to take about 3 days at each site, except for Horseshoe and Convict Lake, which will require more time. The contractor will also be demolishing the wooden kiosk at Rush Creek Trailhead.

The public will still be allowed to use the restrooms while they do their site prepping, however they will need to close them for 1 day to allow the new concrete to set. Therefore, they will be closed intermittently during the dates above.

Please ensure that you have a backup plan for a restroom stop before you head to these locations on the given dates above.

27/08/2024

Temporary Highway 395 closure north of Bridgeport

If you are traveling to Bodie in early September, please be aware of this road closure. Here is the information on the closure and detour from Caltrans:

Beginning Wednesday, September 4, 2024, U.S. 395 will fully close just south of Burcham Flat Road to just south of Sonora Junction for 15 days while crews install two wildlife crossings underneath the roadway as part of the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project.

Drivers are advised that the only detours available around the closure are as follows: northbound motorists can take State Route 182 at the south end of Bridgeport and connect with Nevada Route 338. Southbound traffic coming from Nevada can connect with Nevada Route 208 at Holbrook Junction and take the 338 south.

Those traveling over Sonora Pass and Monitor Pass can head north on U.S. 395 through the communities of Walker, Coleville, and Topaz to reach Holbrook Junction. These communities will be accessible during the road closure, and local businesses will be open.

dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-9/district-9-projects-list/sonora-junction-shoulder-widening-project?

11/08/2024

Roger Vargo doesn't just dabble in ghost town and California back country history...he went to school with the most famous cat in Los Angeles and the documentary he has been working on is now available on Amazon Prime:

In 1952, a skinny gray tabby cat wandered into Elysian Heights Elementary School. He scarcely missed a day of school for the next 15 years, graduating into a rather plump cat. During his time at school, the cat called Room 8 would become world-famous, receiving thousands of fan letters and appearing...

27/10/2023

Jawbone Canyon Store is looking for Security Officers to work for holiday events.

*California Guard card
*Qualified applicants will possess a valid CA license
*Ability to access and conceptualize the security needs of the store and act accordingly, specially in emergency situations
*Good people skills, good communication skills and interpersonal skills
*Must be able to work six hours per event

For more information please contact Letty @323-707-5153 or Mark @323-707-3478

21/08/2023

In addition to our connection with Cerro Gordo... Roger Vargo and I are also involved with our sister ghost town, Bodie, which is California Historic State Park supported by the non profit Bodie Foundation. I personally volunteered one summer and worked in Bodie two summers in a row. The Methodist Church is in need of stabilization and donations of items for a silent auction to help raise funds are needed. The Friends of Cerro Gordo will be donating books. Here is the information for anyone who might be interesting in donating as well:

21/08/2023

25/07/2023

A link to this article showed up in my newsfeed this morning. I thought it was worth sharing since so many are coming from out of state and out of the country and planning visits. This is a perfect example why you should carefully research your trip plans and not rely on everything you read. These are all beautiful places but at least two of them are NOT anywhere near the Sierra Nevada unless there has been some major geological event that has displaced the whole state that I am not aware of LOL The Sierra's are also very large, so if you are planning a road trip be sure to check sources like Google maps to understand exact location and driving times.
https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/11-of-the-friendliest-towns-in-california-s-sierra-nevada.html?fbclid=IwAR0Gt2_Hk4Z7QqoDaeDQ4-ViS_65-9zGDNMuBP5QXUKECZCL884iTQaePhk

Discover California's High Sierra through its many small towns, dispersing tourists around the world-famous, magnificent range.

29/06/2023