News: Ridge Route Turns 100 

I live on the Ridge Route Rd 1.5 miles below Templin Highway. Nice and quiet up here. The road was recently repaved just after the Route fire🔥

I'm 25 years old and have always been curious about the old route compared to the 99/I-5 so its really great to hear history and see video footage of it. I'm living in Bakersfield as of right now and really really hope that one day I get to step foot on the old roads seen here. Really interesting stuff.

My grandfather used to drive the Ridge Route from L.A. selling his burlwood tables in the western and southwestern u.s. He had an old yellow chevy with a camper shell, and a placard on back with Wiley Coyote that said "Ridge Runner". I heard so many stories about the Ridge Route

I drove on old hwy99 through there several times in the early '70's. Could see I-5 being built and I couldn't wait! 99 was 4 lanes, but like he says, if I got behind a slow climbing truck with an underpowered car like my '63 Plymouth I couldn't get around due to the fast cars in the fast lane! One of my great grandfathers had a trucking business in the '20's and '30's and drove from Bakersfield to L.A. and back several times a week.

There is an episode with Huell Howser that I'm trying to find where he rides with an antique car club on the old ridge route that was made before they closed it off to the public. In it there is an old man with them who delivered newspapers in the early mornings from L.A. to Bakersfield in the 1920's or 30's and knew exactly how long it took. Of course, he was speeding all the way!

My step Grandfather drove truck for his friend Sam Perricone (of Perricone juices). He said it would take 8 hrs to haul citrus to Bakersfield from Los Angeles back in the 30s.

Thanks for posting this, Old Ridge Route is an important and historic in California.

thank you for making this video. I grew up hearing trucker stories about the ridge route.

I wish that gate was open, I’d love to pass through there. I take the grapevine every day, twice a day (I’m a truck driver) and old roads fascinate me. We REALLY have it easy nowadays. I’m part of this ‘younger generation’ that this man mentions and I fully appreciate history like this. I would like to explore the old Cajon Pass wagon route as well.

Just came back from riding a scooter on it. What a beautiful and an amazing piece of history. Thanks Mr. Scott for preserving it.

It is best that these videos be made now while as much of the road as possible is still there and there are people still alive who can describe it in it's original form.

On the curbs you can see wear marks caused by the solid rubber tires of trucks, using the curbs to slow down.

Isn't that Harrison Scott, author of "Ridge Route: The Road That United California"?

The road is now closed down and has been for years. i have drove it over 200 times deer and quail hunting with my son and grandson. i wish the state would fix it so

I had a friend whose father drove the old ridge route back when trucks were chain drive. He said it was scary at times. He used to have some pictures of it and his truck.

BEFORE the 1915 ridge route road, the only way into the central valley from the south one had to transverse a couple of dozen rough canyon trails until you made your way out of grapevine canyon and into the valley. From here it was 110 miles from to the Kern river. There was a ranch on the banks of the river and the rancher would come out and invite people to stop across the road from his ranch house and make camp in his pasture. Graze their horses make repairs rest up bath in the river before continuing on. Word spread far and wide about this mans hospitality and the place became a regular stop for all. The mans name was Mr Baker and all were welcome to stop off at Mr Bakers Field. !

I remember as a kid they were talking about eliminating the last of those middle lanes called “suicide lanes” down on 101 .

What a bummer, I rode that route many times on my duel sport motorbike back in the 90s when I lived in Stevenson Ranch, I even drove my pick up there and camped out one night and watched the freeway traffic below. Its a tragedy they have to close it, Its a great piece of state history. Im glad I was able to ride it a few times :0(

I saw a clue on Jeopardy asking about this and wanted to learn more! Thanks for the video and further explanation! 😃

Love this stuff, thanks guys

I have a great story about getting to ride my bicycle up a completely closed Grapevine a couple of years ago because of a big rig fire, but it would be awesome if the Ridge Route were made available as a route for hikers and cyclists to get safely up the Grapevine.

It makes me very sad to see the Old Ridge Route in this condition. I lived on Bald Mountain up to age 13 and have very fond memories. We moved away in 1977 and only visited once in 2007. They need to get interns from universities to help spread awareness through social media

I live on the Ridge Route Rd and thank you for this Video. I also have your book that you signed 👍🏻🤠👍🏻

Wish I could meet this man. I've been studying the old 99 since I was a kid

Thank you for this video, it helped me with information.

Parts of the old Ridge Route can still be found in front of El Tejon School near Fort Tejon. The original concrete road serves as a frontage road for school's parking lot. Additionally just south of the school, the old concrete road deviates from Lebec Road, crosses a little creek and ends at northbound I-5.

The map which shows a locked gate is incorrect. That gate is seasonally open and you can usually drive all the way from Castaic to Highway 138.

Thank you!

nice sharing friend

I really wish and hope the state of California would repave the road. I would love to take my kids there for a drive.

cool history

Nice presentation thank you Do you know of any movies that were filmed on the 1933 to1951 alignment of US Highway 99 ?

That's awesome

Are those locked gates ever open to the public to transverse the route or is there a process by which to do this route ? Many thanks.

the camera person needs to show what the man is pointing out...not keep the camera on him as he talks

Doesn’t seem like my question but I don’t lose anything. How long did it take to go from14/5 intersection to the bottom of the grapevine, north side when the 1915 road was opened? Thanks

I saw you open a gate -- does one need a key or a permit? Can I just come down from Sacramento and get on this wonderful historic road? What do I shoot for -- Lebec?

What a shame the road is falling apart and the people who could have the most impact don't seem to care. It would be awesome as a National Scenic Byway.

Can you walk along dead man's curve, or is it on private property?

I see you had to unlock a gate. The road is closed somewhere along?

wow , a ' sidewalk" highway" .

Today people have no idea what they have now in historical areas If it doesn’t suit thier ideas get rid of it.