The Ghost Town of Buckman Springs

[@tee4truth541]

I grew up on Buckman Springs and know that road like the back of my hand. My grandma still lives there on her 15 acres. My grandma has a cistern old like that on her property

[@livingandlovingit4206]

Funny I just remembered I learned to drive on Buckman Springs Rd , I was 11 yrs old , now I'm 72

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That's really cool. I bet aside from the buildings, the area probably looks pretty much the same.

[@livingandlovingit4206]

@@SidetrackAdventures Yes I was there in 2014 retracing my childhood looks much the same , tore down our house in lake marina build a new house. Also where we lived in La Posta was tore down and replaced with a border patrol station

[@isaiasgonzales5692]

I went to school off buckman

[@princessunicorn669]

@@SidetrackAdventures, it looks the same as when I visited it as a little kid back in the mid 70’s...

[@livingandlovingit4206]

@@isaiasgonzales5692 I did as well , would have been 1958-1960

[@ChrisW-17]

I photographed this site and several other abandoned sites along 80 in 1996, for one of my class's final project at UCSD. This was long before I knew anything about Amos Buckman and the bottling plant nearby. Had no idea his gravesite was there too! Thanks for these informative videos! Sad to hear that chimney is now no more. So iconic.

[@charlietrece7958]

Great ambience music. Some you tubers don’t pay attention to this detail but it makes a world of difference to your job.

[@senthilnathanviswanathan4924]

yes

[@jimhollenbeck4088]

My grandparents lived in Campo for most of their lives, my parents would take Hwy. 8 from El Cajon to Campo at least once a month to visit them. The small foundations you found at Buckman Springs may actually be cabins that Buckman rented out to visitors who came to soak in the springs, that would also explain the large rectangular cement structure you showed in this video, it may have been a inside pool for visitors, I was told that Old Man Buckman hanged himself , I have no idea if that is true. These videos bring back so many memories. I left San Diego in 1984, I miss the San Diego I grew up in.

[@waynevetrone]

I left San Diego in 1987. I agree I miss that SD

[@princessunicorn669]

I left SD in 2008 to move to Nevada...sadly my old home county of San Diego after growing up and living there for 42 years was just not the same anymore. Nightmarish traffic conditions to commute to work among other things. I visited the Buckman Springs area as a little kid around the mid 70s with my Uncle, it looks pretty much the same now as it did back then.

[@jameslanglois5741]

I too left good ol SD in '93. Tried to go back in 97. What a disaster it turned into! Was so infuriated that I moved to beautiful Chiang Rai, and NEVER LOOKED BACK!!

[@semperfi6288]

Wow! My wife's family has ties to Campo CA. Her family lived there during WWII, when the last of the Buffalo soldiers were protecting the Mexican border there, not from Mexicans, but from Japanese invading the U.S. mainland through Mexico. Interesting....

[@jimhollenbeck4088]

@@semperfi6288 I'll bet they knew my grandparents, it was a great place to live in those days

[@lesliecarr312]

US HIGHWAY 80 is lined with all kinds of little historical treasures. This was known as The Coast to Coast Highway in its early days. The western end begins at Washington Street and Pacific Highway in San Diego, and finishes in Savannah Georgia. Some of the original road built as early as 1919 is still visible beside the 2-lane road built in the late 1920s and early 1930s between El Cajon and Alpine. At the eastern end of Boulevard there is a little cement road which was part of the original road before the 2-lane road was built and this section is still drivable. If you're not in a hurry, there is an abundance of very interesting tidbits along the path of US HIGHWAY 80 from El Cajon all the way to the Desert View Tower at Inkopah County Park where the freeway begins it's steep descent to Mountain Springs Grade.

[@22lyric]

Lived in SD, Santee and El Cajon 1958-2005 and saw the Buckman Springs sign but never knew anything about the buildings! REALLY interesting. I bet Amos isn't the ONLY person buried there!

[@senthilnathanviswanathan4924]

Your videos are classic - high definition, methodic narration, soothing music going with bygone history, all these things, wake me up....every abandoned place in ruins tell histrocial tales of how people managed, survived, even flourished in those harsh environs. The entire area gives an errie feel. I really don't know how these people survived all alone for long time. Sitting in the far corner of India, I can never visit such far off places. Thanks to your videos, I literally walked with you. Already I deveoped a kind of bonding and friendship with you !!

[@plutoplatters]

been here so many times.... 1971 worked for then CDF in Potrero.... have a pic of his Headstone before it was moved

[@mm-qm9zh]

Thank you for sharing this! I found it very interesting! It’s nice to know that the highway workers respected Mr. Buckman’s grave. 👍✝️ Meline

[@jasoncaley6648]

Thanks for showcasing the history of California.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you for checking out the video.

[@generay6807]

I’ve driven by there on the 80 for work a few times and been through Buckman Springs on motorcycles for fun. Sure appreciate the history lesson. Great videos. Oceanside High. Class of ‘81.

[@superintelligentapefromthe121]

O-SIDE

[@jamesgrettenberger2493]

Thank you for all the history along old hwy 80. I spent much time in the different areas you cover. Hitchiking and camping in those areas 50 yrs ago. Still to this day, love to go and explore. Could tell some pretty intesting stories myself. I'm 65 now. Thanks again!

[@mikelang8020]

Cool Story I live in the area of Boulevard California

[@parcadv419]

I grew up in lakeside east county of san diego.and i worked at the juvenile ranch camp in campo. thanks for the trip down memory lane , good stuff

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@waynevetrone]

I lived in Lakeside 40 years ago on Marilla Road

[@PACbelltech1]

The facility is still there and in really bad shape I believe border patrol is using it

[@oldmanfromoc7684]

Russell Lozier died on Dec.13. 1977 Before the rest area was there. Russ was going eastbound in a 18 wheeler, the wind was clocked 120 MPH ! Other trucks were blown over that day. R.I.P. Brother Russ. I was in Vietnam with him 1969 and 1970 l cane home Russ did one more year in Nam. Peace my brother!

[@livingandlovingit4206]

I also was in Vietnam 69 -70 Central highlands, Once we were strangers Now Forever Brothers , Peace be with you !

[@SparkyWaxAll]

Sad

[@deegee2920]

I was child and saw that wreck... I was confused at how a big truck like that could be knocked over by the wind but it sure did... if I remember correctly it was right at Buckman overpass .

[@senthilnathanviswanathan4924]

sad to know about Russ

[@mom4apc]

I drove past it this afternoon, and noticed the chimney blew over in the last wind storm! I drive by it most days, and was so sad to see it gone.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Whoa, that's terrible to hear. I drove past on the 8 earlier today heading east but didn't notice. Definitely going to stop by on the way back to San Diego next week and check it out.

[@kelmothescambaiter6208]

I'm from around there and the winds get pretty intense. It's not unusual for trees to snap and power lines to get damaged. I have not seen the creek run in years!

[@kelmothescambaiter6208]

@sidetrack Adventures Then there's the Lake Morena village. There's not much of a lake now but when I moved up there in 94 you could see the lake from Oak Drive as you're entering the village. We had a north shore where the locals would swim. Presently speaking, the lake is not really much of a lake anymore. The city keeps draining it. 😞

[@slworking2]

@@kelmothescambaiter6208 I was out here today and the creek by the bottling plant was flowing quite well - after all that rain we got during the past week. There was no flow in the portion of the creek closer to the freeway, however.

[@kelmothescambaiter6208]

@@slworking2 It's going to take a hell of a lot of rain to make the creek start running.

[@tuffturner3296]

Pass by here all the time going to work so it’s cool to see these videos of history of my local areas, always loved seeing what was down these old roads 🙌

[@johntrough2660]

Love the videos. I’m a native Californian, but have lived elsewhere in the US for many years now. So cool to learn the history of my native state. Thank you!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you like them! Thank you for watching.

[@thegarz1963]

Thanks for making these awesome videos. My wife and I are from El Centro and enjoy driving around East County back roads like Hwy 80. We will definitely stop to check this out next time we drive to SD.

[@Last_one_before_I_go]

A great story, thanks for your work and time in bringing a little piece of California history to us all.

[@railriderron7550]

I can only live vicariously through these videos you and others provide (got old), just found you, good job telling about another persons life, so interesting.

[@ThePabloBarlow]

What a unique place for Buckmans grave site. I enjoyed watching!

[@aquilifergroup]

Great info never knew that about buckman. I’ve been seeing the ruins of his homestead fro twenty years now. Thanks

[@kokosnood]

Ouch! Falling on a cactus is no joke!!! Interesting video,, thanks

[@felipericketts]

Love the local history you provide. Next time I am out that way I will take a closer look. It makes the area we live in come to life. Thanks! :-)

[@joseleswopes1400]

I know of a place in Colorado that was a small mining community. It's called Iron Clad, there are ruins of a Barber Shop and a few other buildings. There is only one person buried on a hill across from the community. It was the owner of Iron Clad. My dad back in the 50's hauled for Iron Clad. Basalt and Sulphur was mined, we found a Core Sample one time when we were there. It's by Gunnison Colorado.😎

[@CrazyforTrouble]

I was out there well over a year ago. I had left a laminated picture of what the Buckman house looked like back in the day inside the fireplace for all to see. By the looks of it someone swiped it, lol.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Its too bad someone took it, leaving it there is a cool idea that could really give perspective to people checking it out.

[@mm-qm9zh]

It’s so sad to see how much of the ruins were defaced by graffiti...😕 hard to understand such behavior. @Crazyfor Trouble I appreciate your efforts to show others what the Buckman house looked like...such a shame that it got stolen. Thank you! 🙏 Meline

[@5frogfrenzy]

High winds are common in the area

[@donnasmith2720]

I miss home and only knew of this page from a friend who shared you Facebook. This is really wonderful to see and thank you.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks for checking it out. Love exploring east county.

[@Texscripter]

As always, we really appreciate you going out of your way to cover things like this. No matter how little they may seem, they were the dreams of a few, and it's really nice to be a part of that. And sorry for your cactus injury, but we do appreciate you putting yourself in harm's way like that. It can be difficult to watch your footing and capture a good shot at the same time. Great work as always!

[@elizabethbell1735]

I've been to this area several times, but never knew the history and am really happy to learn more about it. Great video! It's also amazing how quickly human structures crumble after abandonment, this has only been 120-odd years.

[@steves7896]

Great stuff, fascinating. The graffiti hurts. WATCH FOR RATTLERS!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@livingandlovingit4206]

You keep taking me back in time , Thanks

[@debbeleigh1930]

That was very interesting. Been out that way many times and never knew it excited. You inspire me to do more exploring ❤️

[@slworking2]

Nice video. I was out here exploring again today. Sadly the chimney has fallen. It apparently got blown down by strong winds a couple months ago.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah, i have an update video on it filmed a few days after it fell. There was a storm in February where the winds got up to about 70 mph that knocked it down.

[@PACbelltech1]

I was just out there within the last 2 years and can't remember if the chimney was still there but I remember thinking how dangerous it was to be walking around those walls I would imagine it's just a matter of time before everything collapses and crumbles

[@melodymerritt8419]

We look forward to visiting the Buckman Springs Rest Area....it is more than nice! It is a great place to catch your breath before descending in to San Diego!!!!!

[@lawrencesavoy8033]

Thank you! I'm a native San Diegan and never new the Buckman Springs story. Great job! Love your history lessons....

[@sondrajoyce8810]

Thank you - really enjoying your historical videos...

[@artarvizu6603]

The pool you found reminded me of similar historical ruins along the bay near the Living Coast Nature Center. There used to be a company there that made a chemical used for gunpowder for World War I. You may want to explore that someday.

[@bonnieknudsen5289]

Thank you. I live so close and pass by all the time yet had no knowledge of the area's history.

[@peterhodgkins6985]

All those years I traveled through there and stopped at the rest area, I never knew the history of the place. Thanks for the fascinating video!

[@jackbodenmann7379]

Hello My Friends Another cool video Steve. You are a great story teller, and I appreciate the research you do for these stories. Places like this create a powerful sense of melancholy and conjure up thoughts of the people that lived and visited these places in their heyday, sadly all gone now. Jack🚂

[@UniusPoenitentis]

I'm glad I discovered your channel! I love visiting old ghost towns like this! I hope I can visit Buckman sometime!

[@cowboygeologist7772]

Great adventure; thanks for posting.

[@dw908]

Great video. Have driven by wondering about Buckman for years. Now I know. Thanks!

[@scottpearce8772]

... Time well spent with Steve, thanks...

[@kennethchristensen7]

Very interesting and well presented.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, we appreciate it.

[@Me97202]

Thanks for the video. It would have been cool to have shown us some of the old photos of this place.

[@allenatkins2263]

Great video. I won't needle you about falling into the cactus, that would make me a prick.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

haha Thanks. It wasn't the first and likely not the last time I fell in cactus.

[@aprilhaney4969]

🤣

[@conniewojahn6445]

ha ha ha really good one!

[@Boneyard24]

I love your show Steve. My wife and I watch as much as we can.

[@Boneyard24]

I sent you a little info about Roseburg Oregon.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

If you sent it recently I didn't get it yet. Unfortunately due to a death in the family I may be heading back up to that area sooner than I expected.

[@Boneyard24]

@@SidetrackAdventures I'm sorry,..it is inevitable . The story that I wanted to share, was the old 99 club. If you go south from the Winchester bridge, less than a mile,...the road will make 2 90 degree turns. If you look to your right, right before you take the first 90 to the left,...you will see the fireplace of the Old 99 Club. Poker games went on for months. My mother dated a Portland musician by the name of Kenny Whitson, who said he played there. Kenny was originally from Coon Hollow, in Dillard Ore. You can google Kenny. Kenny had a drummer named Pepper Neely. Pepper wrote the song, Kansas City. Wilbert Harrison version. Not Beatles. Supposedly, if Pepper walked in to a club in Portland,...the band would stop playing what ever they were playing,...and start playing Kansas City. My mother rented my bedroom to Pepper, while I was living with my dad. Pepper sold the song to Lieber and Stoller, for $100. And they acted like,...well which one of us wrote that. I have more Roseburg history, but I'm tired,...Ill chime in soon. Sorry about your loss Steve. It's never easy. I'm 67

[@Knaeben]

I wish there were pictures of the original buildings in their hey day.

[@plutoplatters]

at 4:12 there was once a lithia spring bubbling up there... maybe 20 years ago... caught a rattlesnake in that wall ....

[@svjim1]

When I was a kid in the late 60s I remember seeing a pipe there with spring water coming out of the ground.

[@reubenmarchant2229]

An historical marker would be nice. I've wondered what those ruins were ever since I first them. This is interesting.

[@LearnwithJanice]

Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸

[@johnsmart964]

Thank you very much for this most interesting and informative video. It is certainly has an important role in preserving the history of the area. Thank you for bringing this to the people and the work that you have done.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. We appreciate the kind words.

[@pat8988]

I live about three miles from there and always just drove by because I didn’t know anything about the place. Now I will have to go take a good look at it.

[@Rawshella]

I GOT TIRED AT BUCKMAN SPRINGS! Sounds like a T-SHIRT promo. Glad I found your site Mr. Sidetrack. (I don't know your name yet.) Was Buckman springs a cool or hot springs?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

It was a cold spring.

[@davidbrown4620]

used to go out there in the 1980's, cool spot.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Did it look the same as it does now?

[@davidtaylor8688]

I've been going out there my entire life, and I didn't know half what was there, especially Amos' grave. Who installed the new headstone? Was there a headstone before that? When you say they discovered his grave and reburied him, they accidentally dug him up? If you ever go back, walk west and cross the highway. There's a road that is sometimes blocked to wheeled vehicles. If you go down to where it ends, there's a set of mine tunnels to the north, and across the creek, if you hunt around, there's a stump in the ground that I'm told was where the blacksmith had his shop, his anvil mounted on the stump. More mines further west, although they're really quite a bit along, up in the hills.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yes, they dug him up. I'm not sure if they paid for it themselves, but the descendants put the new one in in 2008. I'm not sure what was there from 1979-2008 when the current headstone was placed. I'll have to check out the mines. Thanks for the tip. It's a great area to explore.

[@tieoneon1614]

U talking bout the road that goes up behind the rest area? I went and looked at the grave today. I read that CalTrans was responsible on putting the new headstone in after digging up the grave, and put it back in the exact location thats why the fence is angled there

[@davidtaylor8688]

@@tieoneon1614 South, Across Olde Hiway 80.

[@alberthendershot1702]

@@SidetrackAdventures if you go in any mines please be careful old mines can be dangerous

[@keithhilterbrant3117]

Yes there was an original headstone it was smaller my father used to take us hunting there as kids back in the sixties and I saw it many times with the expansion of the highway they took it out

[@armandolopez8983]

Another great video. THX

[@haroldhumerickhouse7904]

I remember wandering around these ruins when I was a teenager living in El Cajon many, many years ago. There are quite a few areas of interest throughout the back country of San Diego County.

[@vickidelaguerra5250]

We live in Lakemorena. We pass there almost every day. Part of the springs would come up there next to the house. Kinda dried up due to our drought. If the rains return so will the spring

[@stevenkaskus6173]

Thanks for the tour and history lesson

[@Corgis175]

Learning more each time.

[@paul9156c]

I appreciate your content. Well done. 👍

[@Randsel]

@9:40 He couldn't resist, folks :D LOL! Awesome

[@Pushyhog]

stayed at the truck stop/casino 8 years hauling cars near there. l love the 8.

[@awizardalso]

I did a Google search for Buckman Springs, CA and found the site on Google Maps and saw the aerial view.

[@bledgerwoodSD]

I was following along with the video on Google maps.

[@MichaelTitera]

You'll get tired on your way to his grave... You crack me up, San Diego Steve!

[@sandystrickland9950]

I live out here and enjoy learning about what's around me 🤗😊 thanks ❤️

[@donaldcarter1206]

My wife and i would drive around out in that area but did not realize the connection between here and her home. She lived on soda springs road in napa about 4 miles from the old castle resort. I was looking at this on google earth and it appears the chimney is no longer standing as of 2/21.

[@sallylea1]

I love your videos!!

[@Eskey__]

That’s really interesting and I had know idea that it was a cabin and a business. I drive by it going to work every day. I think I’ll have to stop and explore. Thanks.

[@bkip20002]

I recall finding the Geocache, GC4KK0Y, at the bottling plant back in 2013, it' still there.

[@YahshuaLovesMe]

loads of forgotten memories...

[@joerogers4227]

I remember driving on that section of Highway 80

[@SidetrackAdventures]

It's still a nice drive and if the customs checkpoint is open on the 8 usually has a shorter checkpoint than the 8's.

[@ryanvideooo]

Love your videos!

[@plutoplatters]

at 4:05... that was the east back end of the Store that once stood..on the north side of his house....

[@karenbochinski]

WOW I had no idea this existed. Thanks

[@PACbelltech1]

Do people still go hang gliding off the hill above the Rest stop? Drove up there last year...didnt see anybody....haven't seen anybody hang gliding up there in years...used to be popular back in the 80s

[@glennbellman1100]

There was a gas station and cafe on the west side of the road across from the homestead.

[@Metal-Detecting-NC]

Great video, fascinating historical sites. I'm surprised you haven't come across a mountain lion during your adventures.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I've seen warning signs for them, but never seen one in the wild. Maybe they've seen me though.

[@bryanlawless5394]

The tires were thrown from trunks of "load vehicles". Illegals would throw them out of the trunks to make more room. I was Border Patrol at Campo Station in the 1990s. I know that area well.

[@garyschlagel995]

VERY INTERESTING!

[@stevewhalen6973]

Sweet place from the past .

[@evanswinford7165]

Good videos, I been watching a bunch. I hear you saying ''cement'' when you are speaking of concrete. These things are not the same, cement is an ingredient in concrete and these terms are not interchangeable. Keep up the great videos.

[@sikspaksocal]

Being in construction my whole life i was about to say the same thing.

[@evanswinford7165]

@@sikspaksocal My dad was a civil engineer from 55-75 for California Division of Highways and later when it became Caltrans. We were not allowed to make this error.

[@mickeymarchwick4752]

Oh quit, you know what he means..,.

[@artarvizu6603]

Maybe it was a good thing falling into the cactus was not caught on camera. I'm sure a few expletives were used :-D. I appreciate the effort to making this video. I'll have to visit this place sometime. I've been to the rest stop many times.

[@davesnothereman7250]

Love the video

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you.

[@slowpokerodriguez3993]

My great-grandfather, J. S. Hayden, purchased the property and operated the hotel and bottling plant. My grandfather told me that the dynamo backfired, causing a fire that resulted in the loss of the hotel.

[@klausvonschmit4722]

That creek is in sad shape compared to its former glory!

[@bajillions1]

I might check this out now :)

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Definitely worth spending a few hours exploring.

[@wilsonb1121]

Awesome video

[@richardmorrison2686]

Great thank you

[@jcbaily5559]

What a shame there is so much graffiti on the building...neat music...thanks!

[@mikestirewalt5193]

You could do a re-enactment of falling into the cactus bed. That would add some lively action into this otherwise uneventful but interesting video. You could set the camera on a tripod or just have someone with you to work the camera. Really, the video could use some more action shots so your experience with the cactus bed would surely add some excitement to the video. Get more watchers I bet. Not everyone knows how to do it and since you're experienced I'm sure you would look realistic since you've done it before. Better even with two cameras . . . a wide shot and a hand held first-person perspective. It needs to look realistic . . . no fake "simulations" . . . or isn't worth doing. Anyway . . . very interesting to see the old highway going up through the Devil's Playground. It's obvious you took quite a bit of time to make these videos and I really enjoy the history. Needs some cactus shots to spice things up though.

[@Miridafeo]

Pretty cool

[@Contreras-z4e]

That’s cool didn’t know

[@w9jim]

I live nearby. Not sure if Buckman Springs was ever a "town." Interesting area, though.

[@howardnielsen6220]

The graffiti remind me of my dog who pees on everything

[@charleslee1960]

Haha they carry paint cans

[@29madmangaud29]

Wow,,,,,fell into a bed of Cactus,,,,, yeeeoooowwwiiii! It must've taken some time to pull out all of the damned stickers!