Yermo Community Services District
W W W . Y E R M O C S D . O R G

1) Peggy Sue's Restaurant is a local landmark and has been featured on California television's PBS's Road Trip with Huell Howser. This 50's style diner has been a rest stop for the traveling public for over 20 years and has a unique atmosphere. The walls are decorated with photos of famous visitors and the gift shop is a virtual museum of collectable memorabilia. The food is great too! Visit the Diner, the Ice Cream Parlor, the Pizza Parlor and the Outdoor Paradise Park for a peaceful and comfortable shaded meal.

2) Leaving the restaurant, turn left. You are passing the United States Marine Corps Logistics Base Yermo Annex. This installation was established in 1942, as a supply center for the U.S. Navy to assist the armed services in the storage of materials needed in the Pacific Theater. This base is now the Marine Corps Logistics and Vehicle Repair Center for U.S.M.C. Western U.S. and Pacific Fleet Support. The railroad operations, visible from the highway, assist the U.S. Army at Ft. Irwin National Training Center, (45 Miles to the West), in military troop training and are noted as the busiest rail operations center in the U.S. Military.

3) Next, on your Left, you will see a paved road marked Mule Canyon Road. Note that this road extends into the distance and goes up into the Calico Mountains. This road was the main transport route from the Silver and Copper Ore mines in Mule Canyon and the Calico Mountains to the Daggett railroad operations until the turn of the 20th century.

4) Continuing past the U.S.M.C Yermo Annex, you will note on your right, the New Military Vehicle Test Track Facility. This 1 1/2 mile, $3.2 million dollar facility opened in April of 2001. This high-speed test track allows the mechanics at the Yermo Annex Maintenance Center to fully test tracked, wheeled and amphibious vehicles after repair and prior to issuing these vehicles to the Field Marine Forces.

5) The next point on the tour is the small Town of Yermo. Established in the late 1800's as a railroad and mining housing town, it is still a vibrant and important stop on the route to points East for the Union Pacific Railroad. The U.P. rail operations here are their largest in the western U.S. and over 100 trains per day travel through this switching and layover facility.

6) Passing through town, on the left you will see 'The Del Burger Den' Restaurant. The important note of this diner is the fact that this is the First and Original Location of the Del Taco Mexican Food Chain of fast food restaurants, established here in 1964. Still locally owned and operated, it is a landmark in the area.

7) Prior to the 1970's, this main road from Los Angeles, CA. to Las Vegas, NV. passed through the town of Yermo as Hwy. 91. As a result of that traffic, many roadside motels and gas stations were developed. Since the opening of Interstate 15, the traffic has diminished and many of those roadside businesses have closed.

8) The next stop on your tour is the Minneola Mini Mart and the Calico Early Man Site. Follow Yermo Road to the curve toward the freeway and turn right onto the frontage road. Less than 3 miles down the road, cross over the freeway to the Minneola Mini Mart. This long-standing market has been the starting point for thousands of tours into the Famous Calico Mountains. This is also the starting point to the Calico Early Man Site tours in the foothills of the Calico Mountains. The Early Man Site is a pre-historic site of man over 300,000 years ago. Fossil remains have shown that humans lived in this area before it was named Mannix Lake and the entire area was a swamp. The panoramic view from the Early Man Site shows the entire old lake bed and it's expanse from the Newberry Mountains in the east to Barstow in the west.

9) Returning to the freeway, take I-15 South to the next exit (Calico Rd.) At the end of the exit, turn right to the Famous Calico Mountains. Named for the multi-colored rock that makes up the mountain range, these mountains were scattered with hundreds of Silver and Copper Ore producing mines until the turn of the 20th century. Early in the 1900's the market dropped to the point of non-profitability and many of these mines closed.

10) As you travel toward the mountain, notice the dirt road going up into the mountain range on your right. This is the extension of Mule Canyon Rd. noted earlier in the tour. This road visibly connects the Calico Mountains with Daggett.

11) Calico Ghost Town is ahead on the right. This is an Authentic Old West Ghost Town and Historic Landmark. Calico was active until the late 1880's as a major source of Silver and Copper Ore. Deeded to the County of San Bernardino in the 1960's, it is now managed as a major area tourist attraction, campground and park. Plan on at least 3-4 hours to enjoy the tours and shops. The views and geologic formations here are rare and fabulous in their universal appeal to photographers worldwide.

12) As you leave Calico Ghost Town, return to Calico Rd., the large sandy expanse in front of you is Calico Dry Lake and is a favorite for many people for it's expansive smooth surfaces, which are ideal for dry land wind sailors and other recreation. Tread Lightly please.

13) As you turn right and wind down the mountain, you will get to the intersection of Ghost Town Rd. and the freeway frontage rd. Turn right to the KOA Campground on your right. This Famous KOA is open year round for your camping and recreation pleasure.

14) This concludes your Unguided Tour of Yermo, CA. Thank you for visiting and drive carefully as you continue on your visit to our beautiful Mojave Desert.

© Yermo Community Services District 2002