Exploring Abandoned Highway 395 in San Diego, California
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- Опубликовано: 17 авг 2021
- Pomerado Road in northern San Diego was part of Highway 395 from 1934 to 1949. Even after the highway was moved to the east, and later replaced by Interstate 15, it has remained a major roadway in San Diego County. Now days the road is designated as part of Historic Route 395. In this video we explore a couple of sections of the old road just south of Poway that were abandoned when the road was expanded and straightened in 1980. In our explorations we found a road, that despite being abandoned over 40 years, and nature starting to reclaim it, still is in remarkable condition. The paint on the road is even still bright.
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In watching this, I'm looking at that road knowing that long ago I rode over this same road with my family. I love this type of abandoned history!
That whole tree bursting through the road was one of the most amazing sites I've seen. You just can't keep life down on this Green Planet!
As I remember, in the early 1950's driving time between San Diego and Riverside was measured in hours! About 5, 4 4-and- a-half at least. There were few trucks on the road, but so few opportunities for passing were available.
In the summer it was an adventure--no air conditioning, long stretches of slow travel, but we persevered.
with heavy sweat-stains on the striped broadcloth seat upholstery.
Highway 395, my favorite Little Road in all the world! It’s too bad that the Highway 395 designation has been decommissioned in the San Diego county area. Technically it doesn’t begin until you get to Hesperia and then you can travel all the way to the Canadian border at Laurier, Washington. I believe Highway 395 began at 11th and Ash Street in downtown SD. Thank you for highlighting this wonderful Highway.
Not totally sure, but I think 395 continued along 12th, turned west at Market, and ended at Pacific Hwy.
We love 395 too. We haven't driven it past Reno yet, but the section between Hesperia and Reno is one of the most beautiful drives in the state.
Good memories and info sharing guys! Love this history!
@@edchipp7983 Yes, it originally ended at the intersection of Market and the 101 (Pacific Highway). There was (is?) a terminus sign at Market and Park for some reason though.
@@SidetrackAdventures hey, if you go between Reno Nevada and Carson City, check out Bowers Mansion... beautiful location, and a lot of history there...
The first section you were on wasn't abandoned until 1987 or so when they changed the intersection for spring canyon road at the top of the hill and smoothed the curve out going down the hill. We trained on pomerado road on our bicycles when the old road was still there.The other half is down below on the otherside of Scripps Poway parkway. Really twisty and fun.
Both sections appear to have been abandoned in 1990.
There is another section of old 395 North of the pedestrian bridge over Lake Hodges. There are some informative plaques there, and while it is now a part of the San Dieguito Coast to Crest Trail, you can still see center divide paint, mile markers, and guardrails.
Thanks. I'm actually hoping to a video on that pretty soon. Went out to do one in the spring and the weather ended up being pretty bad, but planned on going back in the next couple weeks. The bridge there is so cool.
@@SidetrackAdventures Awesome! I walk out there all the time. Can't wait to see more of your content!
This old section Bridge was remodeled about a decade ago. You can see it as you go along I-15 driving over Lake Hodges.
Oh. I know what I wanted to say. As you go north on I-15, just before you get to Escondido, there's a exit to Center City Parkway going up through Escondido. That section of 395 hasn't changed in 55 years. But as you follow it out of town at the north end, the part you can drive on towards the Lawrence Welk place labeled Old Highway 395 is not the original road. The original road was up on the side of the mountain where Southbound I-15 now is. We used to drive that route to Hemet sometimes to visit my aunt and uncle.
Dude this is so cool, I've lived here my whole life, driven a few times on pomerado for work and never knew the history behind 395 or that this abandoned stretch was here like this. Awesome video, thank you so much for making it!
I traveled on that section of Pomerado many times in the early 1970's. My father was stationed at Miramar and we lived in Poway. As a kid, it seemed like the road was barely clinging onto the side of the hill.
I was stationed at Miramar, 1965-1968, drove Pomerado Rd. many times, my girlfriend, then wife lived on Poway Rd. Road was "interesting" knew several people who went over the side
You are living the dream, Steve. I've been in SD since '86 and was an avid watcher of Ken Kramer's About San Diego and I loved to read and explore the Historical Societys' website for hours on end. These videos are true gems. Thanks for your dedication and work to bring us these forgotten and hidden treasures.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Makes us think of the Talking Heads "Road to Nowhere" song... So cool! 🛣
Thank you so much for sharing Pomerado...i lived at the bottom of the old road. It was our back way into Poway ❤❤❤❤
I lived in Poway for 58 years. My Niece would always say take the Witch Road Grama...there were so many Eucalyptus Trees you couldn't even see through them. She thought it was scary. I Road a horse from Poway to Miramar on this Road. So Many Great Memories. It was so Windy. Thank you Steve for Sharing this. Brings back Great Memories.
I've just discovered your channel and loving it. Brings back many memories living in Poway and MiraMesa, driving this highway when it connected Poway and Scripps Ranch. My Dad and I explored many of the back roads in SD county and shared a love of history. Your videos bring back many great memories! Thank you!
Glad you enjoy it!
'The Sundown side of 395"
Rod Page sportscaster KSDO 1130AM. His catch phrase. He used it to advertise an automobile dealership along 395 in Kearny Mesa.
Brings back fond memories growing up in Poway in the mid-60s and early 70s.
Thanks. Happier times.
Back in the early to mid 60's I would spend my summer vacation in San Diego with my Aunt. On the day before I would have to start school my Aunt would drive me back to Garden Grove on hwy 395 so we could take our time. We would always find Vin Scully announcing Dodger games on the AM radio (No Padres yet). I hated seeing my summer end but it was such a great drive. Thanks for the update.
Thanks again. There's an old road like this in my neighborhood. I go check it out every few years. There was mostly brush growing in the cracks for 20 years or so, but now there are palms.
I'm in Riverside. I appreciate you making videos in Southern California, there are some cool places to visit everywhere!
Yes, so many great places in Southern California to explore.
I'm a big fan of the "old road" and love your content
Thank you for this post. I had wondered what had happened to Pomerado Road, my wonderful daily commute road from our home in Poway to college, work and church in San Diego. It was a wonderful road for sporty driving and we had a sports coupe (1972 Datsun 240Z) and sports sedan (1971 Datsun 510), so the daily commute was daily fun!
I'm assuming you moved away from the area?
I use to commute to Torrey Pines on that road when I lived in Poway in 1987.
I very strongly feel those roads should be maintained as fire roads and also as alternate routes for car traffic.
There are groups out there that are trying to maintain some of the old roads that are closed off as hiking trails and I praise those people for their efforts!!!
For example: the Ridge Route, east of I-5 in Angeles National Forest.
My In-laws used to live just off of Pomerado Rd in Rancho Bernardo, by Oaks North, before they passed. Been there many times. Beautiful area. Thanks for sharing.
That was cool. I remember riding my bike up the old pomerado road from Poway all the way to Scripps ranch Blvd. It was closed and chained off back In the eighty's. That was my first time venturing off so far away. The road was steep and windy. My brothers friend friend was a cyclist and he lead us on a route to Poway from Mira Mesa. Older brother wanted to buy comics at a store in Poway. The store was probably miles and miles away from Poway road. Oh it was adventure I'll never forget. Brought back memories from going up that steep windy hill. Thanks to my brothers friend friend who lead us on that route. I'll never forget that memory.
Greetings from the still in service 395 (Bishop). But I grew up in Corona, where we took CA-71 to Temecula, then 395 to San Diego. Two lane all the way. Thanx for the memories.
The old highways built in the 20s and 30s were always lower than the new highways that replaced them. This was mostly due to improvements in equipment. More powerful machines could move earth much faster and efficiently. This made it feasible for the new highways to have better drainage on higher road beds. They learned this was the way to go very quickly with old highways getting flooded. Just like the railroads built many years ago. They generally followed low ground, next to rivers and draining water. Then, highways often followed railroads. Much of the Sante Fe trail through KS and other states had railroads following the old trail, then highways followed suit. Sometimes the old ways were the best, but often, new highways were built on higher roadbeds with man made drainage built into the new design.
😊I have traveled many miles on 395 !! never , ever dreamed I would out live that road! My life has also had many weeds in it! Lived in Escondido.. best memoris of my life. Cannot ever remembering seeing an accident on it! very light traffic!
Love to imagine cars in the ‘30s driving out through these beautiful remote parts. Always been a special place.
Couldn't agree more!
I just felt a ghost from the past! This was a fairly new road when I drove it in the early 40's and 50's . Many wonderful memories on that road! That's what nostalgia can do to you! Like turning back the clock @
@@robertchilders8045 amen to that...
That tree certainly wanted to be free. I can't help but wonder what highways we drive on today will appear decades from now. And I do always wonder why they're just left there. But man... the beehives. How absolutely random (and slightly terrifying!
Yes, we were certainly not expecting beehives.
You do an excellent job. One of my favorites.
There are strips of 395 running north of Escondido to Fallbrook East of I-15 now called Old 395.
When I first went to work in construction as an equipment operator apprentice in June, 1969 I drove the section from down town to Fallbrook everyday until Dec. 1970 (big pipe line project). It was an hour and a half each way. 2 lanes each way from down town and thru Escondido and north from there just 1 lane each way all the way to Riverside.
Great video and great series. I remember driving on this road back in the 70s when it continued north along the next stretch of Old Pomerado Road by the Big Stone Lodge. There's an old bridge, some old culverts, and a Benchmark from the 30's. Thanks!
So cool that you have the interest and take the time to document these tiny, unique gems. I’m an old road aficionado, having worked on the non-profit Historic 1915 Ridge Route in the Los Angeles Tehacapis, linking Los Angeles to Bakersfield and Northern California. Historic road history and preservation is deep in my heart. It may not be the “sexiest” thing for our culture but it is important to me to document and retain this information for the few who care to remember how our country and forefathers sought to expand and link commerce and culture across this great land of ours. Thank you for your thoughtful interest, care and concern in bringing this bit of history to our attention. Keep up the good work.
Interstate 15 (or California Highway 15) southern terminus began, as I remember, where Wabash Boulevard connected to Interstate 5 near the National City City limit. If the shoulder of I-5 North hasn't been redone too much, you may still see the worn and faded white painted line trailing off to the north (sort of) where the exit ramp to 15 north used to turn into Wabash Boulevard and 40th Street. US HWY 395 began with 11th Street out of downtown San Diego. The northbound side of the highway through Balboa Park was the original road and is still in use for the northbound side. That portion was built some time after the 1915 Exhibition. I don't have the old magazines or pictures anymore but the bridge which connects Laurel Street to the Museums was also built for access from the city of San Diego. Watch out going down Laurel Street though. A few blocks down the hill, the stop sign is on the OTHER side of the intersection with a sign warning against vehicles over a certain size going down. My dad told me when he was a kid, he rode a bicycle down that hill with a friend sitting on the handlebars, AND THE BRAKES GAVE OUT! Dad said he just made around the corner at the bottom on Ketner Boulevard. In one piece, believe it or not. You can't do 1930s stuff like that today. Oh. And one more thing. How about a little story on US HWY 101 sometime? Or did you do that already?
Thanks once again, I love an old abandoned places. When we were kids back in the early seventies there were some abandoned houses we searched. Found newspapers with John Dillinger articles and Amelia Earhart articles stuffed in the walls!!
There is another section that everyone can visit! The North side of the World's Longest Ribbon Bridge, over Lake Hodges! I'm going to ride my bike over that tonight. Thanks for another great video. I really enjoy them and am grateful for your effort.
We've been wanting to ride our bikes up there but haven't found the time yet. Hopefully we can get up there in the next couple weeks.
Wow...what a wave of nostalgia after the beekeeper's shack. I remember those hills coming back to Escondido on that road. Haven't seen or thought of that since I was a kid
I like you are paying respect to private property 👍
Love from Denmark
Made my lunch break! Awesome
Glad we can help lol
I love Hwy 395 and my only knowledge of it flowing into SD county is the sign up near the border crossing. I've driven the 395 as far as north as Alturas...and love every bit of it.
There's a raw beauty on this journey. Something about nature expressing her need for growth and change. Thanks for the quality video today!! ;-)
Great field trip, amazing how nature reclaims mans work.
Love your explorations of old roadways! FYI: According to a property ownership app, parts of the small stretch of 395 you were on, especially the one with the apiary (bee hives), looks to now be private property.
I'm glad you decided to show the old maps. They were fascinating!
Love watching your videos. I learn a lot about the city I grew up in.
Thanks for watching!
Wow, I never knew Highway 395 extended all the way to San Diego! For most of my first 43 years, I lived within 10 miles of Highway 395. Born in Richland, Wash., grew up in Spokane, worked many years for a newspaper in Kennewick, then moved to Riverside for another newspaper job. I drove Highway 395 from Spokane to San Bernardino a couple of times. What spectacular emptiness! I thought I knew the road better than most. But I always thought the highway ended at the outskirts of Berdoo, where it ends today. Thanks for straightening me out -- and telling me something I didn't know.
No problem! There used to be a sign up near where it ended in San Diego but its gone missing.
I bin on 395 from Reno to Organ border. Back in the old days to the 70's old 395 used to go through downtown Reno Virginia Ave
Best content ever. CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE A PALOMAR MOUNTAIN video PLEASE
Wow. that section of the road is very Bee’d up
I love old roads. In my county old US101 is a hiking trail. Occasionally
a patch of blacktop & sometimes a white line will appear out from
under the redwood duff.
!
What a cool find the beehives were! I love the current 395 that runs east of the Sierra Nevada; beautiful drive. Someday I want to drive it all the way to the Canadian border. Thanks for the video!
Nice Work - I really enjoy your videos.
Thank you very much!
This might be up your alley of points of interest, and you may have already covered it. (I just came across your channel today and watched a couple videos.) I used to work at one of the casinos up near Valley Center and always was fascinated by what looks like a free standing middle support for a bridge that may or may not have been finished just in the canyon next to where Lake Wohlford Road and Oakvale Road meet. After having seen it and been curious about it for years, it was one of the things I wanted a closer look at once I had gotten a drone. There appears to be the concrete ends on both sides of the canyon for a bridge and the free standing middle support but no bridge. If there was a road on the one side leading up to that spot some very big bolders were placed there to erase its history as a road. My curiosity never went beyond a google search that didn't come up with anything meaningful. In any case I wanted to share in case it might be of interest to you.
Hello again. Love your videos.
Hey, thanks!
I half-expected a property owner to show up, brandishing a shotgun at Steve! And that Beekeeper shack? I would not want to live within a mile of that situation! Those infamous "killer bees" do exist in that part of SoCal.
Here a random one:
Espola rd got it's name because it connects EScondido, POway, and LAkeside.
Not sure how true that is or when or who I geard that from, but Im fairly certain that's true.
Thank you
Great thanks. Imagining the types of vehicles and styles of clothes when folks used it. Such a shame progress takes over.
One off the cooler channels on RUclips!
Thank you!
I really love your videos. I'm here in El Cajon so I hope to check out some of the locations your explore. I thought it was really weird that a eucalyptus tree (a non-native tree) would take over the road.
Thank you, we appreciate it.
That’s awesome. There are some closed off bridges on the 163 that are interested going into Balboa Park.
Speaking of that, do you remember “Suicide Bridge”. Haven’t thought of that in years.
@@DW-qe7qe I do not.
Perhaps a deeper dive into the 395 story might be of interest to some (me). Great content! Fifty years is a mere glance at the rear view mirror…even if trees are growing through it! Still nice to look back!! Thanks for the looksie!
Rutland is the geographic center of Massachusetts; a tree, the Central Tree, located on Central Tree Road, marks the general spot. Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Well I grew up in Southern California actually going to be there next week what I remember about the 395 is not what you're talking about I'm sure I wrote on that with my parents going to different cities but it was down in the main Highway which what us kids always enjoyed was all the ivy That Grew on the side of the 395 I guess it was the overpasses where the ivy grew up always found that to be intriguing left there in 1973 made many trips out there and I always say this will be my last trip I don't know but definitely enjoying your video I'll try to find your other ones might show me something I want to go look at in San Diego this next
Cool video
Just lovin' it. I intend to track this down since I'm very few miles away. I'm thinking of looking just south of the Spring Cnyn interection?
Curious if you've seen Jessica Johnson's book, Abandoned San Diego? Or her website of the same name. Sounds like it would be right up you alley! There's a section on Big Stone Lodge along a part of this road.
I've seen the website in the past and see the posts on Instagram sometimes but don't have the book. I heard they were going to tear the Big Stone Lodge down but haven't been by in awhile to see if they have.
Most od old US99 is still accessable as a public road. Wonder if you would do a viedo a video on that highway??
We've done a few videos on parts of the old 99 but would love to do a lot more of it.
Baffled that Old Hwy 395 exists right near a friend’s house!!!
I enjoy your videos, some great historical content. Am I the only one that would like to bring a weed whacker and a broom and clear off these roads to make it easier to ride a bike or hike down these cool places?
Very cool video thank you. Only thing I wonder is whether this abandoned section of 395 was ever once part of and connected to the existing US 395 that travels north out of the Cajon Pass above San Bernardino and goes all the way past Bishop...
I found your sections on Google maps. It was a lot more congested than I thought watching your video. But great content and info. Thank you!
The houses are below the road so they are kind of hidden but they are really close. It definitely was somewhat awkward.
@@SidetrackAdventures and interestingly enough. I had a patient today who’s daughter lives very close to Poway and basically across the way from that bike trail another person on the comments was to traverse yesterday. I was telling her about Pomadero Rd and old Hwy 15 etc and she was filling in several blanks, etc. small little world. I live in Ga and she is originally from
ga. But she and her husband moved to San Diego @ 25
Years ago with military and she has stayed there.
I'm curious-just at the end if your video when walking past the houses, could you tell if they we're old enough to have been there when the original rode was in use? If so the traffic must have been loud and annoying. Nice video. Thanks. 👍☮️🌞🌟🥾🛣
The houses are all newer and were built after the road was abandoned.
Down at bottom of hill, Poway side were several bars, one was the Big Stone Lodge, had outdoor bathrooms
love the beeshed
The section of old highway 395 that goes through Escondido has been dubbed Centre City Parkway, but the speed limit is still 65 mph even thought there are no speed limit signs visible because they don't want people to know.
That tree!
Good thing you're watching for snakes. This has been one of the most active years for snakes I've seen in north San Diego County. Mostly Kings and Gofers but ya' never know!! That is Rattle Snake country.
Seen a few rattlesnakes this year after not seeing any for years.
@@SidetrackAdventures They are here, we just don't see them. Our six year old grandson pulled a 5 foot King Snake out of his yard last week. Second one this year for him. Enjoy your videos, keep them coming..
Another great video... I'm curious, is this the same US395 that runs through Reno Nevada and Carson City Nevada? If so, it's kinda sad, lots of history along there... kinda like another Route 66 if you will...
If you travel down US395 through Carson City to Reno Nevada, I would suggest checking out Bowers Mansion... beautiful location and lots of history there...
Its the same. It used to extend all the way to downtown San Diego but was replaced by the 15 south of Hesperia.
@@SidetrackAdventures yeah, it's sad... j think probably why, even though we have a newer, bigger US395, we still still use that stretch of road... I think the only thing saving the old 395s button here is that it runs right through the heart of Reno, and is reno's "casino row", and leads straight into Carson City... I think had it not been for that, "Virginia Street" would have been tossed to the wayside after the NEW US395/I80/I580 interchange was built... never thought I'd say this, but thank God for casinos...
Good to see some San Diego history..all I ever see on RUclips is LA stuff and the states second biggest city is always forgotten..
I'll always love San Diego.
Same 395 that's up in the High desert?
😄 makes me wonder if the paint is radioactive!
I wish they wouldn't just abandon these old hwys, keep them open as much as possible as scenic routes
I think that the cost of maintenance would prohibit your idea.
can you do video on old 166 highway was Connect Bakersfield to the Coast? Thank you
I used to drive Hwy 395 from Fallbrook, CA down to San Diego (1979 & 80) Interstate 15 didn't reach Fallbrook until the 80s?.
i remember that stretch of road. It has more soul than the new road.
There are quite a few abandoned sections of the 395 in Inyo and Mono Counties. I used to live in Bishop in the late 70s/early 80s and did a lot of exploring. I would love to see you do some videos of those sections of roadway.
Hoping to get back up there soon to check some of the roads out. Had some plans last year that we had to change because of wildfires.
Have you done boulder creek road?
A long time we hiked to the waterfalls but haven't done a video on it.
I love your videos mate, Cricky are they eucalyptus trees growing in California? I'm in Australia and we love our Gum trees (eucalyptus)
There are lots and lots of eucalyptus trees in California. They are not native. As I understand it, they were brought to California from Australia 100 years ago and grew prolifically.
“This is how most horror movies begin...”
Ha Ha Ha
if you would like to look at a video of pomerado rd. from 1973 go to san diego city clerk, here on you tube, they have videos of most of san diego streets from that time
I've checked those out. Really cool to look at my grandparents house and see what cars are in front and see what it looked like when my dad would have still been living there.
@@SidetrackAdventures they recently uploaded a whole bunch of new videos including El Cajon Blvd. I've been waiting a long time for that one.
Imagine taking a hike on an old road and you just come across a man made bee hive
There is a website called www.garbell.com/US395-old/395.htm I learned a lot about roads in San Diego there and you can learn more about Pomerado Road.
One of the maps we used in the video was from there. Such an amazing resource for roads in the San Diego area.
@@SidetrackAdventures yeah
Yes bee careful
Who owns an abandoned road, like that one for instance? Caltrans, since it was, (and still is farther north), a State Highway, the county, the city or local municipality, or the homeowners nearby, or someone else altogether? I think the same question could apply to the abandoned portions of hwy 80 that you have explored, the Ridge Route, and many others.
I'm not sure who owns this section, but a lot of 80 is on National Forest and BLM land.
Is this now a hidden trail in Scripps Ranch?
It is weird how a road can be abandoned, you would think there would have been homes are business along that road.
Yes, especially when seeing how many homes are in that area now.
This section of the road was one lane each way and it went up and around the edges of hills in some pretty tight curves. It was not flat at all nor was it straight. There really was no place to build anything along this section of the road. In the mid to late 1980s is when developers bought a lot of the land and carved out new developments and the new Pomerado Road was also carved through the new area. It is two lanes each way and it makes one large sweeping arc. It's far safer now. All of the houses in the area were pretty much built in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
As Matt said, there wasn't really much there at the time. The reroute was actually part of the housing development project. So almost all of the houses came after the new road. There were a few odds and ends along the old route, but they were simply integrated into the new road by routing it near the legacy buildings.
You have incorrect dates for the Pomorado Road reroute. It was 1990, not 1980.
you don't have to feel guilty or awkward: you can walk around houses, the road belongs to everybody