A Journey on Cima Road

[@barstowsteve]

Confirmation of the Cima gas station story has been found in East Mojave Diary written by Bob Ausmus and published by Dennis Casebier According to their account Gibson used watch people pump gas and then they would come to him to pay. He sat on the porch of the station during nice weather inside when it was cold. Pat Schoffstall of the Mojave River Valley Museum and author of the Mojave Desert Dictionary found this. She thanks you for pointing her to this.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That's awesome. It was certainly a great story either way. Nice to find out it's true.

[@michaelberger8137]

My wife and i recently moved from Washington State to Iowa. I work a 130 mile rural mail route with 110 of those miles being gravel roads. I am oftentimes having to stop to move a turtle out of the road. It's a real thing out here.

[@davidb3271]

Really sad seeing all the burned Joshua Trees. I was in this area back in 2011 and I remember the Joshua Tree forests being very beautiful.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah, it's such a shame.

[@jefferydickelm130]

As a former OTR truck driver, I spent many nights sleeping across from the Shell station. All ways wondered what was down Cima road. Thanks for the video.

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

I not only enjoyed this trip, I enjoy every one of your Sidetrack Adventures! As I've said before, you take me places I'm too old to go anymore! Thanks for making this old man happy!!

[@andyinsdca]

Palm Springs to Amboy to Kelso to Cima to Las Vegas. Now that was a heck of a ride...many years ago. We'd stopped in Amboy trying to decide how to get to the 15 and someone told us to take Cima (left-right-left!) from Amboy up to the 15.

[@Porsche996driver]

Another nugget - thanks! Man they try so hard to protect the Joshua trees and so crazy the fire whipped through there.

[@stevenkaskus6173]

Thanks for the tour, so sad to see all those burnt Joshua Trees 😢. I know I've been to a store that sells Date Shakes and lot's of date snacks plus other things but it's called or was called Charlie Brown's just along The Pear Blossom hwy. You can go to the Devil's Punch Bowl from that hwy I believe. Have you ever been there?

[@jerroldkazynski5480]

Another great story! I was at the Goffs Schoolhouse in early October. That's another RR town where steamer era pushers on ATSF/BNSF from Needles turned around.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Awesome. I haven't been to Goffs in years. Last few times we were in the area everything was closed so didn't stop by. Definitely want to get back out there soon.

[@kmath50]

I have always wondered what there was at that exit. My father told me what it was like driving the old US 91 through that area in the 1950's. One would always get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle while climbing that grade.

[@aristocrat_000G]

always the Desert places, was so curious about~ yay Steve~ my buddy~

[@Once800-]

I enjoy watching your videos.

[@rsturkey]

I had hiked the Teutonic Peak Trail prior to the fires. I was not aware that it was effected by the fires! I hike the Mojave Desert a lot and the Trail was just beautiful!-Ron

[@rockyracoon3233]

Sounds awesome!

[@karenbochinski]

Thanks for this video. I passed this way but never realized what jewels are on Cima Road

[@richardweaver9682]

The building where the Cima gas station is currently housed was once a Stucky's resturant and snack shop. There were several Stucky's along I-15 back in the 60's and 70's and they were all the same building design. I belive this is the last one standing although there used to be one out near Yermo that I remeber.

[@elizabethbogle3533]

We always stop at the little station on the way to and from the Las Vegas Airport which offers a much nicer and cheaper way to fly anywhere in the US. I love the souvenirs and snacks.

[@davidmclaughlin2796]

Good video!

[@Knaeben]

Do a video on Kelso area and the sand dunes, and Camp Rock Springs

[@donnamusick159]

I've been down that road Many times but I never knew the history or the sights other than at the Cima mining company gas station. Going to take a better look next time. Thanks for the information!

[@dwellyryder3553]

Very nice video I enjoyed it very much

[@cindystrachan8566]

The building at the gas station in Cima Road reminds me of the Stuckey’s that used to dot tourist routes. Fill up your tank and your got a five-count box of chocolates for free.

[@kevinnoble6320]

U forgot to mention the amazing Kelso Dunes.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

They aren't on Cima Rd. or I would have. Definitely a top spot in the park.

[@nealxl6256]

I stopped at the gas station on the way back fork the Las Vegas. I got some good English toffee there

[@stevewhalen6973]

Thanks!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I appreciate it as always.

[@domosautomotive1929]

Been through Kelso and Cima many times on way to Vegas.

[@barrygreenstein2816]

I’ve been to the Mojave national preserve three times and in 2015 I stated at the Nipton hotel which is no longer in service. In my opinion, in Mojave national preserve is just as if not more interesting than death Valley well worth the trip out there

[@shirleycedillo1589]

Love your video's

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. We appreciate it.

[@taylor-ug5rt]

In 1992 Cima had the pay phone installed. It was one of the last places in California to receive telephone service.

[@robinraywriter]

Yes if you want to know how and why the phone booth was put in you can order the book Quest for Success. It tells the true story of a miner and his famiy who where there in the mid 20th Century. YOu can get the book at the Cima Store .

[@taylor-ug5rt]

I don't know what the book says but it was installed after the death of a local resident. I worked for Assemblyman Paul Woodruff at the time. I went to a PUC meeting to testify on the Assemblyman' s behalf. I also spoke to a gathering of about 30 Cima residents to update them on the effort. I left the Assemblyman's office soon afterwards to take a position in Washington DC. I only knew of the efforts success when I took a Cima Road/ Vegas side trip. I'm unfamiliar with the book.

[@Corgis175]

Too bad about all the joshua trees. Glad they have a paved road going thru the preserve.

[@mikefitchNYC1971]

Awesome video!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you!

[@briansteilen8960]

My ranch is actually cima and my grand parents own it and the store has been closed for a loooog time.

[@dougtodd305]

I haven't seen Cima store open in years

[@larryaldrich4351]

Bought some beer there back in the day.

[@steves7896]

I think, if I'm not mistaken, the Cima Road Shell Station is a former Stuckey's. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuckey%27s

[@MrJuvefrank]

I was wondering if the railroad track goes far, or if the trains have to turn around and come back.

[@janblake9468]

Cima store has been closed for a long time. Same for the attached Post Office.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks for the info. I couldn't recall if it had been open the last time we went through there or not either. Unlike the rest of the town the building still looked to be in good shape.

[@jonmacdonald5345]

They only closed up because they saw you coming!!!!

[@manley1979]

Any info about Arnold Hermann and his Xeno Park property right off Cima Road? Always been so curious about that place lol

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I don't know a lot about it. It's been awhile since I heard anything. The website has been down for awhile and I'm not sure if anything is still in the works.

[@manley1979]

@@SidetrackAdventures even from satellite views it's amazing to see what he built out there.

[@manley1979]

@@SidetrackAdventures I saw the property sold for 5M, I guess Hermann finally gave up lol

[@KimU15]

I'm really curious as to when that phone was painted pink. I'm almost certain it wasn't when I was last through there in late 2019 not long after Big Boy 4014.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I'm not sure when it was painted pink, but we found out that the artist who did is @poetwastaken on Instagram.

[@robinraywriter]

For more historical and adventurous readers, go in the Cima Store and get the Love and Legacy books about the orginal family that operated the Cima Mine and more fun history about the famous Mojave Phone Booth

[@nomdeguerre7265]

When I had a post office box there back in the late 80s the population of Cima was 1. Yes, 1. Only the post-mistress, who ran the store, lived there. According to what folks told me she was the window of the former post-master. When the post-office was open she would open the store for those who wanted to buy something. The California library truck used to stop there too, so one could check out a few books until they returned. Glad to see the old store is still there. While on the subject of the East Mojave, maybe someone might do something on one local mystery from back in the day: "Who shot Carl Faber?" Carl was a long-time resident of the Mohave (when I met him he was living in his second place, having moved from 'the Rock House' where he'd been shot, in the head I'd heard, one evening). The whole 'who shot Carl Faber' thing was kind of a running story or fable in the area. The Carl I met seemed a quite decent, friendly, fellow, who was teaching Jim Smith "to read", or so he said. Jim Jim was a very young 'biker' type in the area. What he was doing in the Mohave I have no idea, but he was a good kid and quite a character at the time.

[@drewed1781]

This would all make a good movie plot.

[@kirbycairo]

Date Shakes?? OMG, that sounds terrible, LOL. Thanks for another interesting video. I spent much of my life in California but haven't been back for 20 years, it's nice to see the old scenes I enjoyed so much.

[@johnirby493]

Rocks don't burn too good.

[@allenwand5577]

Oh no! No footage of the waterfall urinal? I'm so disappointed!!😁

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Sorry! It was still there on my last visit though.

[@allenwand5577]

@@SidetrackAdventures haha. Thanks for your great video’s!!

[@hazcat640]

STEVE!

[@babydriver8134]

Wow, an ad.

[@larryaldrich4351]

We used to camp in this area and shoot silhouette targets but had to go elsewhere when Sen. DiFi made it a preserve. No firearms.

[@kjhenriksen9967]

steve, the road from la yo las vegas there is a turn off i think to the south, it leads to a railroad ststion about 16 miles to the station. i drove my 56 chevy down to that station in the year of 1958. i was suppopesto call the station before driving there. the supposed road was only fit for the jeeps that exist today. it took 2 hours in 100 degrees and a 1 yr old baby and wife. a friend of mine from oklahoma was visiting his bro. the 56 chevy made it okay. also on that trip the la cement rivers were dry and i enjoyed dtiving 100 mpr in those dry beds. also i drrove the car a quarter mile inside the tunnels and hag to back out. no,i have hever been drunk. all this with no AC. kj

[@barstowsteve]

I am surprised you didn't see the Cima angel

[@SidetrackAdventures]

We didn't. Do you have more info on it?

[@barstowsteve]

It is a small angel statue across the road from the town. People leave offerings when they visit Cima. flic.kr/p/2jFYUqp

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Going to look for it next time we go through.

[@KimU15]

@@SidetrackAdventures It's not too far from the intersection of Cima Road and Morning Star Mine Road. It would be on your left side just under a tree when coming from where you started at the Shell station. If you pass the remnants of the old wood building you've gone too far.

[@dennisworkmansr.714]

This video was 3+ years ago, how does it look in today's world?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Pretty much the same.

[@jackwebster6802]

Ugh. So I googled if Cima had the first self serve gas station. Some station owner by the name of Ulrich started it in Los Angeles in 1947. All articles seemed to mention him.

[@justrick48]

Where does the road go north of I-15 ??

[@SidetrackAdventures]

It turns into a dirt road that uses a different name that was used for mines in the area. I've never gone down it, but can actually look pretty far down it on Google Street View.

[@AbandonedMines11]

@@SidetrackAdventures The road to the north is Excelsior Mine Road. I’ve been down it many times. There is a BLM campground right before Horse Thief Springs that you can camp at for free. There are about five or six camping spots there. If you keep on going down the road, you eventually come out to Tecopa. Lots of abandoned mines along the road. It is paved for the first several miles but then turns into a well-graded dirt road that any passenger car can travel over.

[@paul9156c]

I think your content it top notch. I think you might consider a longer introduction to yourself, and your show's name, before your presentation, for publicity, and name recognition. 😉

[@ACEDIAMOND666]

The Cima Road exit from I-15 is in the town of Baker, California.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

The Cima Rd. exit is about 26 miles north of Baker. I included a map at the beginning of the video.

[@wersmills]

I never knew that was out there

[@h.p.oliver8666]

Helper ENGINES, not "helper cars." Otherwise, nice work! I think I'm becoming addicted. BTW, I am a native Californian, a writer, and a historian.

[@officerzarius9958]

Isint skinwalker ranch located in that area too?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That's in Utah.

[@lilys4960]

😀

[@Novadude1969]

You failed to mention the lava domes, a active volcanic site located off cima road.

[@kurtweiand7086]

It is so tragic that some people are offended by the ✝️ cross. When in fact it is there only hope of salvation!

[@55cax]

Oh yeah? Fact? That's a stretch.

[@thebiggrouch]

I had an idea for a female version of that waterfall urinal in the Men's restroom but sadly Women rejected it

[@patmcrotch8420]

I've heard that the store with the pink phone is haunted and the phone rings at night