Newberry Springs Tour

[@higherresolution4490]

Wow, that was extremely interesting and very well explained. I love the way you used a map to show the viewers where everything is in relationship to freeways, highways and roads. Actually, I just watched this episode twice in a row.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Awesome, glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting.

[@IRONJUNK625]

Your content and production is second to none! Thank you for your efforts.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you for the great comment! I really appreciate it.

[@jimcarter4929]

There was a mine on the mountain you saw in the beginning, it was around the mountain and high up. They mined ballast rock for the railroad which was shipped quite far as I understand. They used a long conveyor belt to bring it down the mountain to the train tracks on the other side of the highway. I worked for a company in San Diego that owned the mine and they would send me out there to work on the Caterpillars. Used to stay in Barstow over night when working there.

[@milo6373]

Should of figured, the rich history of Newberry Springs didn't realize how much water came from the Mojave river to this area , nice seeing the flow actually making it to soda dry lake past afton canyon...hot work in the summer, must've started early to beat the heat..🤔 I'm in Vegas , finally normal summers plenty of snow and water 91° F today actually quite nice...✌️🙏💪☝️🤔☯️

[@IEchuckie]

Vegas normal summers?😅​@@milo6373

[@davestevens4263]

Wow that info is great ! I’ve driven by all of this for 40 yrs & never knew this was all here . I only live 45 miles away. Gonna have to check this history out. . I used to see one lake from I - 40 that was it .

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting.

[@MCW1955]

Who knew there was so much around Newberry Springs!! Thanks for this video, and thank you for mentioning Huell.

[@adamalbert]

Thank you. I have enjoyed your videos. I like the amount of research you do on the landmarks and history. I like that you focus on the area and not on a close up of a face/or over excited commentary(like some other people's tour videos) I like the amount of detail you provide, including maps to help if we also want to visit the area.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome Adam! Glad you really appreciate them. Thanks for commenting.

[@BPlus-oz7cm]

Awesome tour, I love the Mojave Desert and its many treasures.

[@residentpotato6023]

And I love Tony for hookin’ up all those Truckers with the hitchhiking hoes.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Tony must have been the man! Then there was Mrs. Orcutt...

[@milo6373]

Man needs more than just bread and water , 🤔😸🍑🎯🐓

[@lauriechristmas5494]

BEST EVER VIDEO …. SO MUCH MEANING INTO IT FOR ME … MANY THANKS ❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏💯🌹💕😀

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome and thank you for commenting

[@safepetproducts]

Excellent tour. Much appreciated.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

My pleasure! Thanks for commenting.

[@bryanv4081]

THANK YOU! Amazing! Wow! I've been to Newberry Springs quite a few times and I like it, but I knew almost none of this info. I'm VERY much looking forward to returning with this knowledge in mind. Thank you again for this fantastic tour!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome, glad it peaked your interest. Thanks for commenting!

[@Infinitygaming670]

My family owned the garage across the street from Bagdad cafe for years

[@higherresolution4490]

I hope the garage is still open today. Such a fascinating area from my perspective.

[@bearmcquade2846]

Very enjoyable 😊

[@ScottArmas107]

You can see that Lennon head on valley center road too by one of those lakes.

[@markshietze4783]

a very goodepisode ! well done ... thanx & keep up your good work

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome and thanks for commenting!

[@OspreyFlyer]

I stopped there by happenstance in 2005 (gas, food, break). I was completely surprised by what a nice place it was!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Good to hear!

[@johnslagboom1836]

Really Cool! I have been a Mojave National Preserve enthusiast for decades. I have hosted dozens of backpacking adventures for various Scouting organizations in the Preserve. Obviously, I have traveled by these sites many times and have visited some of them. The pinnacle of these adventurers was to hike the length of the Mojave Road over eight days and 138 miles from the Colorado river to just outside Ironwood. In fact, the camp security came out to ask why we were on their property waiting for our pickup!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Yea, that Ironwood Camp security is pervasive. But I'm sure they've had their share of vandals and intruders.

[@milo6373]

Sounds cool in the early spring, where on the Colorado does it meet , mobiletec did it with jeeps , wasn't specific on location...???,🤔✌️🙏👍☯️

[@johnslagboom1836]

@@milo6373 It has been a long time since. We actually had to hike three miles to the Colorado to start and then back track to be official, i.e. say we started from the beginning of the Mojave Road!

[@TroutWest]

Nice job as always

[@freedomworks3976]

Southern California desert is very magical … One of the reason the band U2 talks about it so much.

[@geraldine4220]

Such a fun video! I spent a lot of time in Newberry Springs and still have a house there. Not much going on. The highlight of my day would be going to a thrift shop called "Treasures" which is next to the Post Office. And it was a huge deal in town when Subway was built inside the Shell Gas Station, lol. And one time in spite of the horrific dust storm, the city continued on with their 4th of July celebration. That was wild! Fireworks being deployed in super dangerous conditions. They didn't let anything stop their party 😂.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the tour!

[@gordn24555]

great video an content i hope everyone enjoys. i love the desert

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you and thanks for commenting!

[@TrustedSilver1987]

Very cool man. I've driven by many times but never knew there was anything there really.

[@robertdavis5714]

Well done Sir. Big fan of Hwy 66 (always get Gas at that Shell station) and all the little towns along it, especially Newberry Springs. Live in So. Cal and 1 of my favorite loops, 66 to Amboy.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you and thanks for commenting!

[@cyberhard]

Excellent tour! Thank you.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome! Thanks for commenting

[@brookesusanne8390]

Really cool! Thank you!

[@a73drdodge]

Just drove through there didn’t know all the great looking things to see … next time . And thank you for the info

[@davestevens4263]

Ive been down that 4 1/2 mile driveway yrs ago when we rode off road buggies from apple valley to state line & I was thinking this is a long weird stretch , been to Alton canyon & on the Mojave trail . Very cool drives . I think the Mojave trail was the first trail to discover the west/ ca .

[@BackRoadsWest1]

The Mojave Trail, which it wasn't called back then, was originally a supply route from Santa Fe NM to L.A. Trails that first discovered the west mainly followed various springs across the desert.

[@ayedee6681]

I just drove Mrs. Orcutt's driveway, got about 60mph on it :) I'm sure an off road racing truck could do 150!

[@sourdoughisdelicious2055]

I used to buy ammo at that Cliff house in the 70's. Nuggets of silver could be found in the spring area by the little hill. That place had a lot going on back in the day.. Now illegal underground pot farms on the news.

[@larrypeplinski593]

Loved watching this. I hope to see it all in person some day.

[@TeslaTales59]

Very cool!

[@davidb2206]

I don't think the pistachios were there in the 1980's when I spent years in Daggett. Never heard of such a festival in those years.

[@kingdavidmaryamtheprophet1811]

I live here its very hot and lots of flies and pestilence no stores but 2 expensive gas stations.

[@patriciagrandmapatdean3370]

Newberry was fun when I lived in the cliff house and swam in the cement pool in 1950.mostly chicken ranches and drop off of sheep.but thanks for your video !

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome and thanks for watching!

[@harlandeke]

These kind of videos always make me feel like I was born 30-50 years too late, I was born in 68 so way too late for the early years of the highway system...a man out of time.

[@ATI_Reiki_Healing_Sounds]

Just have found your channel today and subscribed!✨ Love your work: informative, interesting, inspiring and detail oriented- perfect guide for anyone!👍Have you ever been in Trona, CA? ... Searles valley ..Trona Pinnacles ....- might be in interesting place to visit.... I live in Pioneer Point - just 5 miles from Trona.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you! Yes, very familiar with Trona. The folks at Newberry Springs worked with us on producing this particular video. Thanks for commenting.

[@sardu55]

Huell Howser used to live in the Volcano House. I'm not sure if that's where he lived when he died, but he did live there for a while. We ran into him outside of there at the community center, where he was attending some sort of function. From what I heard he was a big fan of NS and the entire Salton Sea area.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

What I've heard/read is that his primary residence was in 29 Palms, but had homes in Palm Springs and the Volcano House, which he visited occasionally and discovered it when he shot a California's Gold episode of Newberry.

[@mkashay]

I would really like to know why the swamp is no longer there. my assumption is all the water is being pumped out and used.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Like everywhere else, human development is a factor. However, an earthquake occurred in the 1950s which shifted something and Newberry Spring stopped flowing. There's also a lot of reduced flow from the Mojave River due to consumption upriver, even though that has been getting replenished over the past 20 years or so from an aqueduct built about that time. Long story, probably the makings of another video!

[@mkashay]

@@BackRoadsWest1 Thanks!

[@almi3767]

Yes, that would be very interesting! I remember driving out in places like Victorville, and it was just me and the tumbleweeds...now every franchise known to man, cookie cutter suburbia, interstates, packed highways, everyone going 80mph etc....

[@BackRoadsWest1]

​@@almi3767 LOL - we lived in the Victor Valley from 1983 until 2015 and saw it go from a population of 80K to 420K. Time to leave. Now when we go back, we try to drive 70-75, but most maniacs wiz by well over 80. Too dangerous south of Barstow!! If you interested in the water issues of the Mojave Desert, check out this video I created for the Mojave Water Agency over 10 years ago: backroadswest.com/content/project/public-outreach-mojave-water-agency/

[@geic99]

Glad you stopped at Deel’s. Had the honor of being taught HVAC and Plumbing by Mr Deel at Victor Valley College. To this day I still tell young apprentices something Mr Deel told us in class “when you work sitting on your butt, work stops.”

[@josephmartinez8803]

Mrs. Orcutt "driveway" was a public road that was maintained by the government until the passing of Mrs. Orcutt. So there police jurisdiction and the CHP would stop speeding cars on Mrs. Orcutt's "driveway". Also, it was Mrs. Orcutt who added the word "Springs" to the town of Newberry.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks for the additional info!

[@Ducky69247]

I know you mentioned Mohave National Preserve, but you were talking about Pisgah Crater, so it's a bit confusing seeing pictures of the Mohave Lava Tubes almost 100 miles away. Pictures of Pisgah Crater's lava tubes (and the Lavic Lake lava field) would have been better, as even though they aren't as big, are still impressive. I'm planning on visiting the Mohave Lava Tubes this weekend, and I definitely need to see the stuff you mentioned in Rodman Mountains. I'm loving visiting all the volcano activity in the Mohave Desert.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Here's our latest tour of the Mojave National Preserve: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYCbaKl8jNKel6M There are many more lava tubes at Pisgah (MNP has just one). What was in the video was from Pisgah. But if you really like lava tubes, Craters of the Moon NM in Idaho are the best.

[@Ducky69247]

@@BackRoadsWest1 yes, I've hiked Amboy, Pisgah and Hole in the Wall so far, and occasionally have to drive out into the preserve via Lanfair/Cedar Cyn/New York Mtn for work, but still have a lot of exploring to do in California (I don't like to leave the desert unless I have to). I was sure that picture was of a tube too big to be a Pisgah tube, but I must have been wrong. I hope to be able to compare after visiting the Mohave Lava Tubes this weekend. Off topic, I was sure I passed by your van as I was going the other way in Needles sometime last week after you uploaded the Mohave National Preserve video, but I see you have a 4wd that you drive too, so maybe not

[@BackRoadsWest1]

@@Ducky69247 LOL - no we have a Toyota 4Runner. We were last in the area in April. We live in Utah. Some of the Pisgah lava tube pics are from our client, so I'm not sure exactly where they are in Pisgah's lava field. All pics of Cima Cave, the lava tube in the MNP, were taken by me.

[@Ducky69247]

@@BackRoadsWest1 Cima Cave, huh? I had to Google that. Cima Dome, right? I'll have to add that to my list. I guess I should go actually watch the Mohave Preserve video lol. I'm amazed how many more volcanic sites there are in the Mohave Desert. I may never have to venture outside of it!

[@Ducky69247]

Maybe it was similar road trip youtuber I watched who has a van. I found out about the Copper Basin Dunes in Parker Dam from that one, and took my buggy out there to explore, for about 15 minutes before it sprung a huge oil leak and we had to go home

[@erickramer9291]

We used to go to a lake there that held barefoot tournaments. A private airstrip was next to it. This was in the nineties

[@redrocklead]

How far a hike from last drivable pavement to the buried houses? I want to bring a wagon.

[@redrocklead]

Never mind I went less then 1/4 mile walk in deep sand to get good photos.

[@gorrdd]

Great coverage, Cliff... I was also wondering why the Mohave River seemed dry. You indicated that it was responsible for feeding all the lakes in the Newbury Springs area. Then you referenced something about a viaduct. How does that work? Thanks. Gord

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks Gorrdd. Yes, the Mojave River is mostly "dry" from Hesperia until it ends near Baker. But it's not really dry - the water flows underground. This unusual river merits its own video! Occasionally during a wet season, like 2023, water will flow above ground, as we saw on our last visit to do a lot of the photography you saw. The story about the aqueduct is complex and involved a big lawsuit and judgment between towns in the 1990s. The Mojave Water Agency oversaw the judgement and built the aqueduct that uses water from the California Aqueduct in response. You can watch this video I created for the MWA almost 15 years ago: backroadswest.com/content/project/public-outreach-mojave-water-agency/

[@gorrdd]

@@BackRoadsWest1 Thanks for that additional info, Cliff. I guess those roads that cross the river are under water during a wet season. Gord

[@gorrdd]

@@BackRoadsWest1 I just watched the MWA presentation you did 15 years ago and it was great. If the Mohave River flows underground in places, does it have an underground tunnel or large piping that carries it? Gord

[@harlandeke]

I'm pretty sure Huell would be ticked off that they sold that house to a private jerk.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

First of all, Huell probably never got mad. We actually thought the same thing that you did when we first heard the story and we wanted to tell the story that Chapman went against Huell’s wishes. But after doing more research, it was clear that Chapman wouldn’t be able to operate the property economically, unlike the nearby Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx, which was willed to the UC system in the 1980s and is now in high-demand by students studying the desert. For Huell’s property to succeed, Chapman would have had to at least improve the road, which would have cost millions and then there’s the other infrastructure. Huell would be happy to know that Chapman received funds from the sale of the house.

[@rosebeardshear6728]

I completely agree with you. He had hopes that it would be used much like the facility at Zyzzx as a Desert Studies Center. Sad.

[@Pedro-bel-Abel]

I live in one of the houses now

[@davidb2206]

Were those lakes there in 1988?

[@davidb2206]

The 2000 census population is given as 2895 (google), but I believe it was a lot lower in the 1980's. It seemed sparsely populated back then and there was no publicity at all about a chamber of commerce, nor pistachios, nor a water skiing school, nor lakes. We never even heard about that monastery, but it must have been there.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Pistachio festival is 25 years old, there were actually more lakes in the '80s and '90s (probably the same amount of waterski communities), and I believe there's been a Chamber there for a few decades. I didn't know much about Newberry Springs either, other than driving by it on I-40, until I did this project.

[@davidb2206]

@@BackRoadsWest1 We in the Army flew high above Daggett Airport every day (to Fort Irwin) and never saw one single lake over there to the east, though we could see for hundreds of miles. How is that possible? There were lots of alfalfa circles, though, and already a backlash of heavy criticism for THAT use of water from the aquifer of the underground Mohave River.

[@davidb2206]

@@BackRoadsWest1 I noticed that Koi Farm sign had 1991 on it. That is after I left in 1988.

[@davidb2206]

@@BackRoadsWest1 I don't think there were any pistachios in 1988 or I would have sought them out and made a special trip to the festival. I lived in Yermo for four years and bought the Barstow newspaper often; never heard of any of this but that bar. I did go buy drinks there once.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

@@davidb2206 I did this project for the Newberry Springs Chamber as referenced on the video. These people have lived there since the 1960s and everything on the video is from their information. I'd take up your questions with them. When I lived in Apple Valley in the 1980s, we heard about all the waterski lakes in Newberry all the time. I've seen them back then too. Not sure why you missed them.

[@josephmills7861]

Between Newberry Spring &!Silver lake Helen-dale which is better? Thank you

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You can't compare the two. Silver Lakes is similar to Spring Valley Lake. Both are communities with around 10,000 people and are like small cities. The waterski lakes in Newberry Springs have less than 100 people each (one has maybe 300) and I'm sure are expensive to maintain. But you won't have to share your little lake with many people.

[@carlc5748]

If I was in congress I would want to author a bill (hopefully in a team effort across political lines) for a Route 66 enterprise zone to encourage investments in the old crumbling towns, all along Route 66. It is such an iconic part of America! I think that this idea would be supported by the majority of Americans. I think tourism to these newly renovated areas would boom, and be popular for overseas people that visit here, as well. What do you think?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

I think you're spot on! I forwarded your reply to a few Route 66 promoters and one said he replied but it looks like he didn't. He actually used your comment as motivation to call the local assemblyman there to start such an idea. He's been thinking the same thing as you. We'll see what happens. It's amazing how many people from all over the World and the USA are interested in Route 66. Thanks for commenting!

[@r.pres.4121]

Also recommission US Route 66 along its entire corridor in California and Arizona.

[@MaggieG121]

California is a very strange state. Ghost towns replicating the Old West and Kaiser's 400 empty homes at Eagle Mtn. and the vast Mohave Desert plus so many other odd and unusual places make CA a VERY strange place indeed.

[@Juancheros]

Well, a lot of strange people live here in CA too.

[@RustyJeepHole]

You got rid of the gold 4Runner?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

LOL! No. We have a "fleet" of 2 4Runners, "old gold" and "young silver". Old gold stays near home in Utah and we use her for more rough off-road trips. She just got everything re-done and hopefully good for another 100K miles.

[@Pushyhog]

let me guess. California?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

yes

[@samfuller6273]

Those plaques are ECV plaques at camp Cady. What's saith the brethren?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Don't know what you mean.

[@HammerHed13]

@@BackRoadsWest1 Clampers

[@larrywilliams6069]

Isn't 3;04 a carboniferous fossil of a Lepidodendron tree rather than a human artifact?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

At 3:04 is a pictograph inside or near Newberry Cave. The other pictures are pottery shards and lithic scatter, not near Newberry Cave.

[@patrickturner8247]

Tony was a pimp. Not an entrepreneur.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

LOL - anyone that took advantage of business opportunities in the 'ol West, I would call an entrepreneur, especially those opportunities addressing "oldest profession on Earth".

[@calidude5116]

Is there alot of water under the ground there? Can you dig a well if you buy property?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Don't know. It's complicated - just like any other water issue in California. The water in this area is managed and overseen by the Mojave Water Agency. See their website to learn more.

[@peterwaroblak166]

I had some friends out at lake Jody about 30 years ago, they said that no more lakes would be allowed, maybe just a small well to new home but I would check the agency.