Rt 66 - Oro Grande, Cal
/Visited on September 21, 2014
I'm guessing that Oro Grande was once a busy little place, with Route 66 travelers stopping here for a rest, a bite of food or some gas so they could continue along their way. There are a number of old buildings here that obviously date back to the 1940s and 1950s, built when Route 66 was in its prime. A few are still in use, some are abandoned, some closed down, some in ruins. The next time I'm in the area, I hope to have more time to stop and explore.
Oro Grande traces its history to the early 1850s, when ex-army Captain, J.H. Lane established a trading post in the area. It was a key site, as the Mojave Trail, the Santa Fe Trail, the Mormon Trail and the Spanish Trail all converged in the general area to access the nearby Cajon Pass. When gold was discovered, more people came and settled in. When the gold played out, a limestone quarry kept the town busy. In the early 1900s, a cement plant began operations and still continues to this day.
The only place I stopped in Oro Grande was at the old Mohawk Gas and Mini Mart. It looks like it hasn't been open for many years and is slowly fading and rusting away. It's located right on the National Old Trails Road/Route 66 and can't be missed if you're driving through town. After taking a number of photos, I deployed a Munzee across the street and continued on my journey.
