Forgotten Ghost Towns In The Mohave Desert Of California - Backroad Exploring & Closed Casino Rides
California Mohave Desert Ghost Towns
Transcript
0:03
welcome everyone Adam Lew here as a
0:03
recording of us is Thursday June 1st
0:05
2023
0:07
this year is going by at very quick
0:10
speed I am leaving
0:14
Las Vegas well I've already left Las
0:16
Vegas I'm now in Prim right on the
0:19
California state line Vegas that way
0:23
Buffalo Bills the sign is right here and
0:27
a closed down the casinos open but the
0:32
roller coaster behind me and the
0:36
very loud truck
0:38
the water slide
0:40
log ride inside has not reopened since
0:45
Buffalo Bills reopened in 2020 it closed
0:48
for a year or two we opened six months
0:50
ago or so I'm gonna pop inside here just
0:53
kind of look around and then cross the
0:55
state line into California I have a
0:58
hotel tonight in Los Angeles but instead
1:00
of taking the traditional route that I
1:03
always take I'm going to try to Veer off
1:05
and go to some ghost towns that I've
1:06
never seen before off of the 15. and
1:10
I'll probably get on the 15 a little bit
1:11
too and then as the closer I get to La
1:12
get some of the interstates and freeways
1:14
but I just kind of gotta play it by ear
1:17
and go to some areas that I have never
1:19
seen before I'm inviting you to join me
1:23
glad you're here shall you I rode that
1:26
coaster
1:27
back in 2015 I stayed here for a couple
1:30
nights and the coaster was active also
1:33
this is a really great RV it's got a
1:35
tree
1:36
painted on the side
1:38
and I have to say it was a very
1:40
uncomfortable roller coaster
1:43
I'm not sure if that's why they closed
1:45
it down but it was really struck fear
1:47
into my
1:49
into my heart going through some of
1:50
these little catacombs and caverns
1:54
man I wish it would reopen if it
1:55
reopened I would ride it again
1:57
scary as it was
2:00
but I feel like that will never happen
2:02
it's water tower here all the Western
2:04
theming yeah check it out you can see
2:06
part of The Flume there
2:09
where the ride vehicle went
2:12
straight down and there used to be a
2:14
train that went over the interstate
2:18
right next to the Buffalo Bill sign and
2:20
you can see the train track there too so
2:22
train track coaster track
2:25
Flume track
2:28
no longer in use always like the theming
2:31
through here
2:32
it really is kind of a bummer
2:35
that's not being utilized
2:40
let's see how the doors shut there with
2:42
the sandbags and all
2:44
the back end of a stage coach there a
2:46
little pull behind
2:48
and it is open the casino's open I'm
2:50
going to pop in real quick one thing is
2:52
for sure upon walking into the hotel
2:54
casino entrance
2:56
yeah it's got a kind of feature some
2:59
ghost towns it definitely has that kind
3:01
of vibe because there's hardly anyone
3:04
there was hardly anyone inside
3:07
kind of eerie in a lot of ways
3:09
yeah the machines were on there were a
3:11
few people playing some slots and
3:13
whatnot
3:14
and just some of the relics of kind of a
3:17
bygone ERA this place is probably a lot
3:19
more hopping
3:20
and the thieving's still on point in
3:22
here but none of the attractions are
3:24
active
3:25
again the roller coaster is not working
3:27
the log ride is not working but you can
3:31
see some of the animatronics some of the
3:32
eye some of the mannequins all themed
3:35
around Western the Western times
3:42
panning for gold
3:42
just it is very eerie it helps like
3:44
stepping into the Twilight Zone I'm
3:46
really glad that they did reopen that
3:48
you can come in you stay in the hotels
3:50
are in the rooms and you can also gamble
3:53
if you so choose
3:54
you just can't use the attraction
3:55
there's a different way this looks I
3:57
don't think they're going to be
3:58
probably open them anytime so if they
4:00
ever do reopen I'm definitely going to
4:01
come back and ride the coaster in the
4:03
log ride
4:07
seems like log rides are just closing
4:07
left and right
4:08
I mean the Disney one's obviously are
4:10
going to be re-themed but
4:11
it's the closing of both Splash and then
4:13
this was this log ride's open or closed
4:21
yeah Buffalo Bills they also have the
4:21
body body and Clyde car
4:24
which I believe years ago was on the
4:26
other side of the freeway at a different
4:30
a different Casita but now it's in here
4:37
Erie
4:37
all very eerie
4:39
if it ever reopened I would definitely
4:40
go back on it
4:42
for sure
4:48
all right gonna go fuel up
4:48
get a case of waters for the back seat
4:51
and head out into the desert
4:53
find some uh
4:55
some small towns
4:57
off of the 15.
4:59
taking a different route this time to LA
5:02
glad I got to stay here back in 2015.
5:05
would stay here again obviously when I
5:07
stayed here in 15 the attractions were
5:10
open thankfully I was able to ride them
5:13
extensively throughout the course of
5:14
that
5:15
day of that evening
5:16
but the theming in there was just really
5:18
great just really good theme and kind of
5:20
going to waste self pumping gas nozzle
5:23
on the rental car okay price of gas
5:25
definitely here a little more than it is
5:27
in Central Florida when I was just in
5:29
Florida
5:31
5.88 cents here on the California state
5:33
line well just before Crossing into
5:36
California
5:38
at a prim
5:49
didn't have cases of water at this
5:49
convenience store so I got these
5:50
oversized one and a half liters nice
5:53
crisp and cold
5:55
that'll get me through that I've been
5:56
drinking a lot of water
5:57
lately it's time now
6:01
for California
6:02
all right exited off of the freeway now
6:05
onto nipton road so the 15 is over there
6:09
and I'm heading into the Mojave Desert
6:24
if you look closely over there you can
6:24
see Prim off in the distance
6:26
right when you cross over that line
6:28
that's where all the casinos are once
6:31
you get into California
6:36
just turns into desert and no
6:36
civilization on this side
6:45
shifted onto Ivan paw Road where the
6:45
desert tortoise research facility is
6:48
right over there I'm going to be heading
6:50
this direction but I want to point out
6:51
the sign
6:53
which clears
6:56
San Bernardino County from any
6:58
responsibility
7:00
for any injury or loss
7:03
suffer by the reason of its use because
7:05
the roads
7:06
past this point past this cattle guard
7:09
that direction that I'm headed
7:11
are not maintained
7:25
all right looks as if the pavement
7:25
is going to be ending here
8:16
magically pavement came back it's a
8:16
little bit of dirt for a bit went back
8:18
to Pavement
8:20
definitely no gridlock or traffic jams
8:23
out here
8:30
none of that
8:30
plenty of Elbow Room on the road
8:44
not something you could normally do in a
8:44
populated area just turn around right
8:46
here on the road
8:51
so evidently this used to be a little
8:51
tiny town maybe there still are
8:53
residents here
9:00
I'm gonna go over another cattle guard
9:00
right here
9:07
because there is a mailbox here I'm not
9:07
saying any houses I looked on satellite
9:09
view too that kind of the general area
9:11
I'm at and there's nothing
9:14
way off in the distance there is
9:21
like when you're going out of Prim right
9:21
at the state line
9:29
there's all those solar grids
9:29
and you see the sun reflecting over
9:30
there
9:31
it's very bizarre looking from off in
9:33
the distance
9:35
almost makes you think what the heck is
9:37
that some sort of foundation there
9:41
next to the railroad tracks
9:44
I'm gonna spray paint it up and whatnot
9:46
other than that nothing in this general
9:48
area
9:50
Ivan power I believe this name of this
9:52
little area is Ivan Park
10:06
this random fence out here
10:06
evident this is where the cattle was
10:09
corralled but there's no doors
10:14
there's some it's just a fresh hay over
10:14
there too but
10:16
the gates are open
10:23
certainly is peaceful out here
10:23
it's one word to describe it every once
10:25
in a while
10:27
I'll see another car but I really
10:29
haven't seen on the last couple roads
10:31
I've been on probably have not seen more
10:33
than two vehicles one just drove by
10:36
but I think I was the first one I've
10:37
seen
10:39
I saw was this particular area
10:48
nice little breeze out here too
10:48
see my rental whatever this should have
10:50
felt
11:26
a little more hustle and bustle out here
11:26
this is SEMA
11:32
a couple of residents over here checking
11:32
their mail
11:48
groceries ice cold beer soft drinks
11:48
because I do not believe that this
11:49
General store is open anymore
11:52
as the closed side of the door has a U.S
11:54
flag there
11:56
trailer over here seen better days
12:00
and possibly the owner of the store
12:03
lives over here with the dogs Argus some
12:05
classic trucks in the yard
12:08
old gas pump there
12:10
friendly dog saying hi hello dog
12:14
let's see the classic trucks there
12:16
behind the dog in the castle
12:48
and right next to the mailbox
12:48
are two donkeys
12:51
hello donkeys
13:14
oh there's a dial tone
13:33
nowhere to
13:33
don't mind me over there donkeys
13:36
uh talking on the pink Payphone that
13:39
works there's no slot for a coin though
13:41
don't mind me donkeys
13:56
yeah I don't think I've ever done this
13:56
before I don't think I've ever talked on
13:57
a pink telephone out in the middle of
13:59
the desert
14:00
two donkeys
14:01
nearby
14:08
there was no answer donkey
14:09
there was no answer no one was on the
14:11
line
14:16
oh
14:16
a couple of residents that came up here
14:18
a little bit ago to check their mail the
14:21
donkey said hi to them hello donkeys I
14:24
don't have any food for you sorry
14:27
just wanted to say hi
14:38
I don't even know what donkeys eat
14:38
carrots
14:40
they had some carrots I feed the donkeys
14:57
really support surprise as long as I've
14:57
been driving
14:59
near the train tracks I still have not
15:01
seen a train
15:03
that might change as the day goes on but
15:05
I haven't seen a train yet
15:13
Pennywise
15:16
we all float down here
15:18
you'll float too
16:23
are some train cars over here but the
16:23
Train's not moving they're just sitting
16:24
stationary
16:25
in fact a minute ago as I was driving
16:27
along I saw a maintenance worker that
16:30
had their truck up on the tracks with
16:32
those
16:34
special like items that go around the
16:36
wheels to lift it up
16:38
evidently they're working on the tracks
16:40
I haven't seen a train on the Traxxas
16:42
movie but other than the stationary one
16:43
but I didn't see a worker
16:46
driving his regular truck on the tracks
16:48
which is all right I wasn't able to get
16:50
it on camera don't buy too fast but
16:56
stagnant train over there
16:56
a little broken power line there pulling
16:58
into the community of Kelso
17:05
yeah that power line is just completely
17:05
ripped shreds
17:10
there's the park ranger station there
17:10
off to the side
17:12
look at all these power lines
17:15
definitely are not working you can see
17:17
the power lines are just kind of
17:19
dangling there
17:34
old Foundation over there you see the
17:34
fireplace from that house
17:40
again the power lines that aren't
17:40
working
17:41
and if I shift this way past the
17:44
foundation of that Old Homestead
17:46
around this impressive tree the bend in
17:50
the road
17:51
is the Kelso post office
18:10
so something about packaging up top
18:11
you can see where it says post office
18:13
faintly
18:15
here's the ZIP code
18:25
got some piece oh
18:25
big old lizard just scurried out of
18:27
there something's written on the side
18:29
here like there was a mural of some sort
18:31
a few letters up on there too
18:41
Wheel of Fortune Wheel of Fortune moment
18:41
here
18:42
try to figure out what that says
18:44
another empty building around back
18:47
off to the side over here is the
18:49
railroad Depot
18:52
see if there's any information about
18:55
close it close as I get closer to it I'm
18:57
really glad I took this route seeing
18:59
things I hadn't seen before driving
19:00
roads I hadn't been on before always new
19:03
experiences in the mid 40s and 50s this
19:06
two cell strap steel gel was used to
19:09
find drunks and other unruly individuals
19:13
for a night or two the gel's original
19:15
location was west of the Kelso Kelso
19:17
Depot on the far side of kilbaker road
19:25
there it is right there corrugated tin
19:25
Shack was built around the open jail to
19:27
protect prisoners from the Sun and the
19:28
rain
19:48
so just imagine spending a night in this
19:48
thing
19:59
there's a photo of the Kelso Depot back
20:00
in 1924 and here is the Kelso Depot
20:05
current day
20:20
I think this is just for appearances I
20:20
don't believe
20:22
any trains come through here other than
20:25
carrying cargo no longer passenger
20:27
trains anymore
20:29
that gets all fenced off over there
20:31
where the entrance was to the
20:33
tracks
20:35
that says Lester packer
20:43
passed away at 41. so there he is in
20:43
front of the general merchandise and I
20:45
do believe that that so it says here
20:49
across the street from the Kelso Depot
20:52
that is that post office building right
20:55
there the luster was sitting in front of
20:59
back in 1941. look at that
21:03
also says the family still owns the
21:05
building
21:07
and two stores adjacent houses those
21:10
adjacent houses are the ones that are no
21:13
longer there that have the fireplace
21:15
over there
21:39
quite the vibe out here someone's parked
21:39
there Volkswagen bus over here too
21:42
very nice
21:44
all right gonna continue on
22:06
so I started in Vegas
22:06
I was like this mural but I don't know
22:07
if I've ever really showed it in detail
22:09
I've drove past it a few times and just
22:10
kind of filmed out the window of the car
22:13
but I jumped out
22:17
just kind of show you got New York New
22:18
York there I got the stratosphere
22:20
got Circus Circus over there you got
22:22
Mandalay
22:23
Moulin Rouge
22:35
there's some snakes look I didn't see
22:35
any snakes out there I am here got the
22:37
UR here I got my sunglasses they're
22:38
using as a pointer you are here as a
22:41
turtle a classic car alert Country Store
22:44
I just realized that most today's
22:46
already kind of getting away from it I
22:47
haven't had a coffee yet so I'm gonna
22:48
get a coffee in here in this shop
22:50
so LA from here is 178 miles
23:00
178. Vegas is only 88 the thing is I had
23:00
to
23:01
kind of backtrack over here to the main
23:03
main Interstate to get where I got to go
23:05
because there wasn't a whole lot of
23:06
other back roads that would take me in
23:08
the direction I was wanting to go
23:10
so I haven't really gone as far as I
23:12
wanted to go
23:13
Staples Center
23:15
I'm going to Hollywood
23:17
I'm going to be staying in Hollywood for
23:18
a good series of days
23:21
right over in this general area
23:24
Universal Studios Hollywood Sign there
23:27
got the Capitol Records building looks
23:29
like the Eiffel Tower turning sideways
23:31
the Pantages
23:32
Marilyn Monroe star
23:34
Griffith Park of the observatory LA Zoo
23:39
and down here so you got La up here and
23:42
then you got Anaheim down here
23:44
well Hollywood Tower no longer there now
23:46
it's Guardians
23:48
Matterhorn
23:55
Castle there Disneyland
23:55
and Tinkerbell and some fireworks
24:02
it is warm I wonder how warm it is I'm
24:02
gonna check out the world's largest
24:03
thermometer
24:05
let's see what the temperature is also
24:07
here at Baker
24:09
never noticed all these kind of
24:12
retro signage up there the Sinclair
24:14
dinosaur
24:31
soda pop
24:31
now here in the store they sell little
24:33
golden flakes from uh a prospector got
24:37
some gold you can also get a lollipop a
24:40
little sucker with some insects in them
24:42
look there's a little scorpion oh
24:46
crickets and more vets a country store
24:49
at States they have over 400 soda pops
24:53
Retro Candy
24:55
right up there says over 400 soda pops I
24:59
however went
25:01
with the piping hot caffeinated beverage
25:02
I should have got one of those like
25:03
cardboard sleeve because this thing is
25:05
scorchingly hot
25:07
I gotta check the temperature do not
25:09
climb on this Stagecoach
25:12
okay according to that it says it's 84
25:14
degrees assuming that's correct it says
25:17
84.
25:24
right there that feels about 84.
25:24
very dry though
25:26
a lot of empty motels here in Baker
25:30
bun boy
25:32
all closed up seen better days
25:48
that would have been the main office of
25:48
the check-in area
25:50
for the bun boy
25:52
will not be going inside alien fresh
25:55
jerky today it's kind of a usual stop
25:57
this in Mad Greek but not doing my
26:00
usuals it does it many many times but
26:02
I'm happy to report
26:04
that they have really progressed and
26:07
come along with the space Hotel
26:10
that will be happening back here the
26:12
alien time travel Station Hotel this
26:18
wow they've made a lot of progress even
26:21
for the last time I went through here
26:23
every month ago that was
26:25
they're really making some progress look
26:28
at the spaceship when this thing opens
26:30
I'm gonna be here to stop staying here
26:32
100 especially with the star crews are
26:35
closing
26:41
might have to do a little LARPing here
26:41
in Baker
26:47
look at that tag
26:47
Royal Hawaiian
26:56
now it's just a breeding ground for
26:56
graffiti
27:12
this section over here kind of has Bates
27:12
Motel vibes
27:36
see if I can find them
27:36
remnants of a pool
27:38
oh yeah right back here
27:51
I'd imagine there's squatters living
27:53
there's not that surprising that there
27:54
wouldn't be someone utilizing this
27:57
empty place to
27:59
take shelter from the elements
28:02
yeah this is like a skate spot look at
28:05
this thing
28:10
I mean I would break an arm if I tried
28:10
it but yeah I just
28:22
no chance this place is going to be
28:22
reopening
28:25
not without a lot of work
28:39
almost busted the door down and then put
28:39
that entire desk on its side there
28:57
see some of the original paint work here
28:57
with the theming
28:59
here that's like original everything
29:02
else is just kind of tagged up graffiti
29:05
really like the sign though
29:07
Arnie's Royal Hawaiian Motel sign see
29:11
some of the old neon there left
29:25
I didn't at first till I saw this but I
29:25
want to know who this who's Dr shrooms
29:32
no idea
29:32
58
29:36
58 instead of going the traditional way
29:36
I usually go into la
29:39
unch this direction try to hit a couple
29:41
towns that I've ever been through
29:44
up above
29:45
Los Angeles and then go past it and then
29:49
cut down through it into Hollywood so
29:52
what 58 West right now
29:55
just over there is the VFW here in
29:58
boring or Boron
30:08
b-o-r-o-n-b-o-r-o-nor boring let's see
30:08
what I can find now that is perfect that
30:10
Crow there on the welcome to Old Town
30:13
boring
30:22
I'm liking this little area this little
30:22
town already
30:24
see you later Crow holy cow
30:28
laughs
30:32
that is a big play
30:35
Massive play
30:45
a little broken down car over there got
30:49
a liquor store over there with a old
30:51
retro sign not a lot Happening Here in
30:54
board I was surprised to see that
30:57
humongous plane going by
31:00
it's being Air Base in the vicinity
31:22
it says 20 Mule Team Drive
31:22
or 20 Mule Team Road
31:28
it's a pretty cool looking business
31:35
have a liquor store silver Liquors is
31:35
closed
31:47
of the arrow there got an Emporium over
31:48
Old Town gifts and Emporium
31:54
stop
31:54
take a look at Carl's Hardware down
31:58
and this Barrel building here like a
32:02
restaurant or something it's like shaped
32:04
like a big barrel
32:30
over at Pioneer Park is an oh it was
32:30
like an oversized Tonka truck
32:33
and a a fire truck too but look at
32:36
that's like a it's like those old Tonka
32:38
trucks that you'd have when you were you
32:40
were younger but it's like a real
32:42
version of it
32:44
that is a really old fire truck there
32:46
now this train is on it's just not
32:49
moving
32:50
you get up to the front you feel like
32:52
it's like just sitting here waiting to
32:54
move forward you can hear the engine
32:56
that's got its lights on over there
33:07
hello try it
33:07
that train was saying hi to me
33:15
now the name on the side of this plane
33:15
here is Scooby-Doo
33:18
right on the front tip there Scooby Doo
33:23
and here in town they have an aerospace
33:25
museum
33:27
take a look over there
33:28
this tiny little town has an aerospace
33:33
how cool is that nice little mural over
33:35
there as well
33:44
got that propeller thing up there
33:44
there's this light
33:47
it's like a
33:48
really fast windmill
33:51
just going
33:52
crazy up there starting to get towards
33:54
the greater LA area
33:57
a little dreary out of course it also
33:59
might be because the sun's about to go
34:00
down but yeah all right just got to my
34:02
hotel about the check-in
34:04
call it a day
34:06
that's gonna do it
34:08
for today
34:10
now in Los Angeles
34:13
I'll see you in the next video the Vlog
34:16
is over