Lone Pine CA

A beautiful community located in the Owens Valley along US Hwy 395. It has a history that goes back to the 1860s. Nestled between the High Sierras and the White Mountains just north of the dry lake of Owens. It is home to approximately 2,000 residences and is the portal to Mount Whitney the tallest mountain in the lower 48 with an elevation of 14,505 ft. The famous Alabama Hills is located just west to the town and is known for movie sets for western films, tv shows, commercials and some modern films. The westerns start in 1920s and feature such stars as John Wayne, Tom Mix, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers to name a few. Long standing tv shows include the Lone Ranger.

[@TUCOtheratt]

Thanks for creating this in depth documentary of Lone Pine CA and the valley. I never heard about the water right battle before.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikej6544]

Great job, bringing Lone Pine Ca. to us all. Thank you.🙏

[@daciefusjones8128]

I went to high school in shoshone, ca at death valley high school and we played football games against lonepine. that was in 1968 and 69. I still remember what a long day it was to go there on the bus after school practice and play the game and go back to shoshone and then drive home to pahrump,nevada where me and two of the other players lived. we only had 13 players on the team so we had to play offense and defense. most of the teams in that division had to do the same. those were good times and I would do it all over again if I had the chance. at 72 I don't play much football anymore.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for sharing your story

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

The water rights fiasco from up there sounds just like a scene out of bonanza

[@Elemarth]

I thought nothing could calm me down tonight (unbelievably bad week at work), but your drive through town actually did it. I genuinely feel better now.

[@glorifyhymn]

Clearly a lot of work and research went into making this video. Really appreciate! Well done!

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you liked it!

[@philo5096]

Great vid, fun to watch. Filming the downtown area then the neighborhoods with nice background music and no talking. What a treat, thanx.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@billgannon7690]

Thank you for this interesting and informative video. I driven through Lone Pine more than a few hundred times as I live north of there but worked out of central California. Lone Pine is one of the busiest small towns along this stretch of 395 and is populated by many of the kindest people you’ll ever meet.

[@김춘기목사]

Thank you so much for your video. It was so impressed that we will visit there sooner or later.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Have fun! Thanks for watching.

[@williamschoemann4209]

I enjoyed your calm demeanor, your sharing the history, and of course the stunningly beautiful views. I especially appreciated your taking the time (and video) to show the town as it is. Main street all the way to the end, and then the side streets. The town as it is, lived-in, humble and beautiful in its own way. Thank you.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnportilla4978]

I just rediscovered the Alabama hills since I retired the whole Owens valley is gorgeous. We are truly blessed! 👍

[@GhostTownWonders]

We agree!

[@1949ala]

This is one of the best videos of lone Pine I have ever seen, great job.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@coryamoroso8864]

wonderful job

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thank you very much!

[@kimpeter7934]

A well thought out and very informative video.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you liked it!

[@judyfoxfur]

Lived there in the 70’s. Thanks for the tour. Brought back a lot of memories.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@danmartin2235]

Born in Lone Pine. Haven’t been there in many a years. Thank You for a very nice Video!

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@JerryWeber-r6d]

Another great history lesson and video, been through there a number of times on motorcycle camping trips thank you so much for doing these😮😊

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@richardrichard9953]

Love 395. Alabama hills are awsome

[@thomas5714]

If you went up Whitney Portal Road from 395 you would have come across a "priority" continuation of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power over the town. The last two winter's experienced a large snow pack in the Eastern Sierra's; and the successive spring thaws, particularly the thaw of 2023, realized devastating flash flooding that took out a major portion of Whitney Portal Road, the ventures of Lone Pine Creek at the aqueduct, and the road over the LA aqueduct. Only about 200' of the road has been repaired, and thats the portion that runs over the aqueduct, and of course the spillway of the creek to the aqueduct. But from Tuttle Creek Road to Movie Flat Road remains closed to automobile traffic. The devastation is far beyond the Towns financial ability to repair; it's a major reconstruction and re-engineering project that's in the hands of the State. Good luck Lone Pine - the detours may wind up being permanent work around.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Yes, I saw the damage and the detours. I did not attempt to take the Whitney portal detour. Thanks for sharing your information.

[@thomas5714]

@@GhostTownWonders Thanks for awesome history lesson. I lived there and learned more history here than from the museums. If you go back in cooler temps, have good knees & legs, hike along Whitney Portal from end to end of the closures; it's tens of millions of $ to restore - even more to make it so it doesn't happen again - which is why I don't see that road being fixed - ever - not in the current political climate of the State - which is somewhat in perpetual motion towards the crime of it's own demise. Great job on the video - a capstone compliment lending more clarity to having lived there. Well done.

[@richardbeee]

Beautiful area. I enjoyed the background and past history. Living in Arizona, I can relate to water wars with California. On going. Keep up the good work. Love your passion.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@augustwest8559]

My wife and I used to stop at a coffee shop in lone pine. Delicious coffee the best around. I remember seeing a old guy walking down the street with a cowboy pistol and leather holster.

[@CordeliaDS]

Thank you for the respectful way in which you get to know these towns! My dad told me that his grandparents saw Los Angeles play political hardball, lots of dirty tricks and just plain illegal power moves to prevent the area from fighting back. He said that bank regulators watched the banks very closely, and once figured out that the reserve cash on hand was below the federally required minimum and had the bank immediately shut down so that everybody’s money was impounded for an extended period. Was that Mark Watson‘s bank? I don’t know, but I can certainly understand why they were so angry.

[@GhostTownWonders]

I am not sure about the bank thing. But this sounds like it could very well have been the case. Thanks for sharing the information.

[@norieh1216]

The only thing I would have added to your lovely commentary is a visual bit on Mt. Whitney. In the early ‘90’s I hiked a little at the portal (in sandals!). Unfortunately, I did not know or appreciate the town’s history so I didn’t really look at my surroundings. So thanks for filling me in decades later.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for the tips!

[@user-Rcflyer67]

My wife and I love going to Lone Pine. We bring our trailer up and stay at Boulder Creek RV Resort and then we go exploring the area > Thank you for sharing your trip there .

[@GhostTownWonders]

I agree Lone Pine and the surrounding area is beautiful. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

Thanks for the tour. I stayed there August 2021 to go backpacking into the Cottonwood Lakes

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Thank you for the video and history lesson. We travel up and down 395 at least once a year. Always stop at the cafe and check out all the pictures of the western movies made there. I find the whole area from Indian Wells to Bridgeport fascinating. (We live in Palmdale)

[@GhostTownWonders]

The area and the 395 corridor is truly beautiful

[@gregoryfarris4801]

Like the town. Met Henry and Ethel Olivas in Monanche Meadows in the early 70's

[@GBrianBenson]

Nice job. I always enjoy going through Line Pine. ☀️ you forgot to mention the amazing western museum. 🤠

[@GhostTownWonders]

Good call!

[@RandomGuy-qm3mg]

Great video! Amazing views of the Easter Sierra from Lone Pine. Have stopped there several times over the years for gas and the market and even the hardware store, everyone has always been very friendly.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@TheRunningFatGuy]

I can remember when the Bonanza Family Restaurant (14:51) was called Bobo's Burger Bonanza (early 1970's). We'd come out of Kings Canyon after a week of backpacking to some wonderful burgers and chocolate milkshakes!

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for sharing your story

[@skitown11]

What a well researched video. I've traveled through Lone Pine dozens of times but never stopped. Next time I surely will. Thank you for this.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@short-fuse]

Satisfactory from a clamper 💪

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for watching!

[@SpaceInTime1885]

Old man Peabody had this crazy idea of breeding pine trees, but one of his breeding pines was mysteriously run over, which left only one pine, hence the town 'Lone Pine'. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@SpaceInTime1885]

... So then old man Peabody moved away and started a new community called 'Twin Pines', in memory of his beloved twin pines. Well, that's how I heard it.

[@SpaceInTime1885]

I think a few folks here have no idea what I'm talking about. Well, ok then, time to go back to the future... 😎

[@stealth1fighter]

Great Documentary!

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HisRoyalHiNees]

Interesting terrain and snowcapped backdrop

[@cobraferrariwars]

My brother's best friend, Ernie Perez, lived in Lone Pine. Ernie was the funniest guy I ever knew. We shared growing up in the wilderness. He died in Vietnam in a useless war pushed on us by crooked politicians and our sick intel orgs. Same thing happening today.

[@i.p.freely3561]

Have you seen the movie The Post

[@cobraferrariwars]

@@i.p.freely3561 No but I just looked it up on wiki. Thanks.

[@RobertSmith-bu1gq]

Excellent video and information, thanks for sharing.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@andyerwin3535]

My grandpa was the curator of the musium in independence, from about 1970 to about 1978 ish? Came down to lone pine occasionally. Didn’t realize all the history there

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for sharing your story Andy. Hope you like the video.

[@richardrichard9953]

We were just there last month and according to the Locals. LA County owns 94% of the local properties

[@jimh598]

Thanks for your work. I do enjoy it!

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@cheycasters]

Whoo Hoo my old stomping grounds!!! Grat info again and thank you buddy

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@darren8739]

Very nicely done , I enjoyed the time you paused to let me read the monument erected by the slim princess ECV. I will look for more of your videos.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@UniusPoenitentis]

Looks like a nice town with beautiful views. I have never heard the story of the great earthquake there nor the "water war" between Lone Pine and L.A.! Very interesting history. I appreciate the time and work you put in to making the video. Great job!

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@CordeliaDS]

I can’t imagine experiencing a 15 foot drop and a 40 foot slide in an earthquake! My God that must’ve been terrifying

[@jeeprod1]

Thanks!

[@stevewoods293]

Nice area i like the detail this gives😅

[@GhostTownWonders]

Glad you like it

[@stephenmoore2749]

you are just wonderfull

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@arremsea]

Nicely done.

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks!

[@johndiaz7240]

Sorry you didn’t mention Manzanar Internment Camp north of town, that definitely part of Lone Pine’s history.

[@GhostTownWonders]

John, I did not overlook Manzanar. This will be a video unto itself as it is worthy of a proper story.

[@johndiaz7240]

@@GhostTownWonders Good to hear my wife’s family were all in Relocation Camps during the war , her sister was born in one. Look forward to your video.

[@GhostTownWonders]

John, giving you an update on my video of Manzanar. I shot the video and took photos and spent all day at the Manzanar site on 5/18-19. Fascinating and troubling history. It is going take me a few weeks to edit and publish

[@johndiaz7240]

@@GhostTownWonders Looking forward to the episode, thanks for the update.

[@beepsarieaniIwee]

Is there a book that gives directions to these ghost towns while road tripping or along the way? Like a guide book? Thanks 😊

[@GhostTownWonders]

I can’t think of any one book that would cover all of these places. I usually search many sources. Many of these places I visited when I was a young kid.

[@charlielaudico3523]

It is a shame that big cities took the water from the local communities! Show how big money rules all

[@scottpartlow8912]

Good video. I like Lone Pine. I ate pine nuts growing along the hike to Mt Whitney, never made it the place is huge, miles I couldn't walk, I was just about one of those dumbasses you hear about missing

[@GhostTownWonders]

Thanks for sharing your story

[@richardrichard9953]

Mulholland stole their Water