Forgotten and Abandoned Highway 80 Through the California Desert
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Published 2024-03-27
Most of Highway 80 from Holtville to Ocotillo is still drivable, and has been designated as county route S-80, but the towns along the road have never recovered.
On our trip we will see little visited parts of California, places like Seeley, Dixieland, Plaster City, and Coyote Wells, while taking a look at the history of Highway 80 through the area. We will also explore an earlier alignment of the road, dating back to 1916.
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All Comments (21)
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Thanks for the memories! I was born in Tucson in 1954 and my family traveled that route often to San Diego in the late fifties. We always traveled at night because we didn’t have a/c in our car. We also had one of those water bags that hung over the grille of the car in front of the radiator. They were canvas and leaked a little and the evaporation helped keep the radiator cool on the steep climb into the mountains. 👍🏼👍🏼😎🌵
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I wish my folks were still around to see this. They moved from Phoenix to San Diego in 1952 and, because my Mom was so homesick, they would return to Phoenix every few months taking old Highway 80. As a youngster I remember standing behind the driver, my Dad, in the backseat area (no seat belts back then) and we would try to name the make and model of every oncoming car. It was easy back then. Thanks for the memories Steve.
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So, my adopted Dad and I were hauling one of our hot rods over to San Diego, about 25 years ago, and the decision was made to stop and look at the remains of Miller's garage. Everybody like to poke around old buildings! I had been looking for a left rocker trim for my '48 Plymouth coupe, for about ten years. We walked into the remains of the main shop, and literally the ONLY thing left in the shop, was a perfect left rocker molding, for a 1948 Plymouth! My car wears it to this day!
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Mom & Dad bought one of the first motorhomes (a Clark Cortez) in 1964. Mom's first movies on our first trip East showing us going through a very dusty Plaster City on Highway 80. (My brother still has the motorhome.)
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Great video! I live in little Holtville! (My brother-in-law Victor is listed on the Holtville Memorial to those who were killed in combat in Vietnam.) Born in El Centro, I work in Brawley; a true desert kid! When I was young, my dad would drive Highway 80 to San Diego because he didn't like driving fast on Interstate 8. 😃
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Ha. El Centro. The "ugly" Imperial County Services building you noted across the street from the courthouse was built to replace an even more horrid looking County Services Building that was rendered unsafe following the 6.4 earthquake in 1979. New River contains pathogens from Mexicali RAW SEWAGE and toxic wastes from factories in Mexico. Unfortunately, when it comes to dealing with, or at least talking about it ad nauseum, the Tijuana River gets most of the attention. Imperial County used to grow a lot of cotton. Cheaper cotton from foreign countries killed a lot of California's cotton production. Thanks for another interesting video !
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These old highway videos are definitely my favorite. Like stepping back into another era. Great job!
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I was born 30 miles just outside of Plaster city in January 1951 in the back seat of the car. My birth certificate lists Plaster city as my birth place. Nice to see where it is. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, hope to see it one day.
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I spent some time in the area in 1966. After the Army and before College, I worked for the what is now CalTrans on a Survey Crew. Our crew was sent out to survey the center line for the proposed Interstate 8. We returned to the motel in El Centro CA but spent the day in the desert walking on the hot sand with survey instruments on our backs. Great job before going to college to be a Civil Engineer.
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Thanks for the memories! When Dad retired from the USN in San Diego, Mom drove the family car, a 52 DeSoto, East on 80 on our way to upstate NY. I actually remember Plaster City! I'm 82!!! And yes, we had the water bag hanging off the front bumper!
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another bit of 'California's gold'🤠. thanks Steve!
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Those lakes are absurd, I love it
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I'm impressed with the amount of research that goes into your videos. Kudos.
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The desert is full of history we can’t see!!
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On March, 26th, 2024 I was down there. I took I-15 to I-8, and took it to Yuma. Then headed to Calipatria to see the tallest flagpole, and headed back passing by Bombay Beach, and taking I-10 back to the CA-60, to the I-215. It's an awesome drive! I-8's downhill is a bit sketchy with all the wind though.
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Holy moly!!!...i was raised in Holtville and my mom and aunt still live there.
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Thanks for taking the time and allowing us to tag along,really enjoy your travels🤗😎🤗😎
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I used to go out to NAF El Centro every couple of years when I was stationed at NAS Miramar. I explored a lot of those old highways back in there. I was always curious about Miller's Garage at the end of 80.
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That Naval Airfield by Seeley is home to the Blue Angels. At least it used to be. I worked out in the Valley for years building highways and they were out there flying all the time.
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My Mother was born in Seely, CA on 9/61926. My grandparents lived in what they called a "labor camp " for immigrants. They worked in the salt mines on the mountains. After the war they were deported back to Mexico. Mom, a USA citizen was taken to Sonora Mx together with my grandparents. Love your videos. Thanks. I live in Yuma now.
