One of my favorite back roads in the high desert is Highway 247, also known as Old Woman Springs Road, runs between Apple Valley and Yucca Valley. It’s the road that I travel a lot when I go visit my friends in Desert Hot Springs. In between, it host a lot of local history which I have written previously. Today, I will share how the road got it’s name as Old Woman Springs Road.
In 1850’s, a surveyor, Colonel Henry Washington, who was the nephew of our first president George Washington was hired by the government to survey the West. As the story goes, when he passed through conducting his survey, there were several elderly Native American women living at the spring, thus he named it Old Woman Springs. It is said the Indians used to leave them behind at while the young ones went into the mountains after pinion nuts.
Then in the early 1900’s, the pioneer came along and it became a prominent grazing area for the cattle during the winters. During the peak of the area, even Cottonwood and Southern Railroad created a train depot at the Springs. At some point someone built a landing strip.
To this day, Historic Old Woman Springs Ranch remains as private property. The ranch consists of over 400 acres of deeded land with water and grazing rights to another 1600 acres.
Today is day 20 of the Brave, Bold, Blogger Challenge (BBBC) 2017 hosted by Kathy at ToadMama.com
A Widow's Ride 
Yep, neato area. I spend a bit of time there too, right off of Bodick 😀 Thanks for the history write up!
Now head up Old Dixie Mine for a fun ride. Also, have you checked out the old Japanese WW2 cabin?
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I have been to Willie Boy grave several times. I have written a comical story about that visit. https://twowheelstwofeet.com/tag/willie-boy/
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I haven’t been to the Japanese WW2 cabin, where is it?
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Now that info…….is secret. ;D Part of the fun is figuring out where it is, all I’ll say is that it’s on a decent road, West of OWSR, and you can’t ride or drive right up to it, you’ll have to park and walk a bit. You can actually google for it and figure it out, but take the time to do a walkaround in that area, don’t make it too easy on yourself. Part of this is that there’s still decent preservation there, and if enough folks get there…well, someone will destroy it, guaranteed. So you’ve gotta really want to go and visit. There’s more neat stuff out there that you’ll stumble across, enjoy!
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Cool story about the name of the road….thanks. What it must have been back in the day, to survey the country for the first time….
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As I drive these back roads, I always what life was like traveling on uncharted territory.
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Lot’s of secrets in the landscape. Since our country is young we’re still able to discern the truth of a place and how the history unfolded. Love learning about places like that. I have to say the landscape is almost alien compared to what I move through on a day to day basis. Perhaps someday I’ll get to venture down that road!
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Yes, the desert can hold many secrets which some may never get told. On this stretch of highway, two of the most famous Native American incidents in California occurred here. One I have already written about…here’s the link https://twowheelstwofeet.com/2015/02/26/willie-boy-2-tws-a-good-samaritan-and-a-helicopter/
The other I will write about after the challenge is over.
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Enjoyed the history lesson.
Mom
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