Ludlow, California

Ludlow is an unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 40, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The older remains of the ghost town are along historic Route 66.

Ludlow
Unincorporated community
Ludlow
Location within the state of California
Coordinates: 34°43′16″N 116°09′36″W
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySan Bernardino
Founded1882
Elevation
1,778 ft (542 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total10
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
92338
Area code(s)760

History

Origins

The community settlement dates back to 1870s. The community of Ludlow was named after William Ludlow of Southern Pacific Railroads.

In 1882, the town was founded. The town started as a water stop for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Ore was found in the nearby hills, leading to the town's boom.[1]

From 1906 to 1940 it was the southern railhead for the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, operated by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and bringing borax and other mining products from Death Valley and Beatty, Nevada to long distance Santa Fe Railway lines. It also served as the northern railhead for the Ludlow and Southern Railway, a mining line that ran south to the Bagdad-Chase gold mine and the mining camp of Rochester. It operated from 1903 to 1931.

Route 66

By the 1940s, local mining and railway activity had ceased and the town survived supplying the needs of travellers on the National Old Trails Road, renamed to become the legendary Route 66 in California. With Ludlow providing a Motor Court with bungalow cabins, the streamline moderne Ludlow Cafe, a gasoline-service garage, and shade. They operated through the late 1960s. After Interstate 40 was built bypassing town there was little business and most residents departed, leaving ruins of empty buildings and Tamarisk trees that still stand flanking the old highway.[2] Tourists following and exploring historic Route 66 pass through the ghost town now.

Chinese history

A Chinese family resided in Ludlow. Lee Yim, his wife Guishee Yim, and their five children lived in Ludlow. The family operated The Desert Inn Cafe and Hotel. The family lived in the community from 1914 to 1960s.[3][4]

In 1917, there was the Lee Yim Deposit near Ludlow that began mining production in 1918. It was associated to Lavic Mining District. The mine is closed and it is part of Kelso Dunes Wilderness.[5]

Geography

To the northwest on Interstate 40 are Newberry Springs and Barstow, California. To the east on Route 66 is Amboy, Amboy Crater, and Essex, and on Interstate 40 is Needles, California and the Colorado River.

The Mojave National Preserve and Kelso Dunes, of the National Park Service, is to the northeast of town. To the west is Pisgah Crater in the Lavic Lake volcanic field. The Bullion Mountains are south behind the town, with the Bristol Mountains to the east and Cady Mountains to the northwest.

The Ludlow ZIP Code is 92338, and the community is in telephone area code 760.

Climate

This area has a large amount of sunshine year round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ludlow has a desert climate, abbreviated "Bwh" on climate maps.[6]

Landmarks

This is a list of landmarks including its former structures.

  • Dairy Queen
  • The Desert Inn Cafe and Hotel - This was located on Main St. facing the railroad tracks. The restaurant and hotel was owned by Lee Yim and his family.[4]
  • Ludlow Cafe - It is plain box-like building that was a cafe in the 1940s. It was built of lumber salvaged from the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad. In the 1960s, Earl and Lillian Warnix sold it to Laurel and Cameron Friend. The building withstood two fires. By 2015, the building has been reduced to rubble.[7][8]
  • Ludlow Cemetery - a pioneer cemetery.[9][10]

Accident

On January 25, 2014, a truck carrying 76,000 pounds (34,000 kg) of beef ribs caught fire on Interstate 40, blocking westbound traffic for two hours.[11]

Notable people
  • Harold William Knoll (1912 - 2006) - CEO of the Ludlow Businesses.[12]
  • John W. Knoll (1938 - 2006) - owner of several businesses including several gas stations, restaurant, motel, and Dairy Queen.[13]
  • Lucy Venus McNeill (1894-1989) - Resident during her teenage and adult life. Her father worked for Santa Fe and the family lived in a train boxcar. She married Henry "Penny" Pendergast.[14]
  • Ma Preston - Owner of saloons and a wealthy person in the community. During WWI, she supported the war effort and bought $20,000 in Victory Bonds. In 1920, she retired and left Ludlow.[15]
  • Lee Yim - Owner of The Desert Inn Cafe and Hotel.[3][4]

Media

In 2015, Ludlow was one of the filming locations for the film Sky as well as Barstow, Bombay Beach, Hinkley, Joshua Tree, Landers, Lenwood, Newberry Springs, and Victorville, California.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Ludlow Cemetery: Eternity Near the Tracks". thedesertway.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  2. "Ludlow Area & Mojave Desert". Shadows of Old Route 66. The Road Wanderer. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
  3. "Lee Yim". ancestry.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  4. "The Desert Inn Cafe & Hotel - Ludlow, California". trailsendpublishing.com. August 11, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2020.(Article has images of building.)
  5. "Lee Yim Deposit - Ludlow, California". thediggings.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. Climate Summary for Ludlow, California
  7. "The Slow Death of Ludlow Cafe". neverquitelost.com. September 29, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2020.(Article has images of building.)
  8. "Old Ludlow Cafe". route66times.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.(Article has images of building.)
  9. "Ludlow Cemetery". Find a Grave. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  10. "Ludlow Cemetery". uscemeteryproj.com. April 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  11. Cappis, Greg (27 January 2014). "76,000 pounds of beef ribs burn in Ludlow big rig fire". San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  12. "Harold Knoll". legacy.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  13. "John Knoll". legacy.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  14. "Women of Route 66". mdhca.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  15. Hillinger, Charles (April 21, 1991). "The Dry Oasis: Travelers Wanting Booze Won't Find It in Town of Ludlow". latimes.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  16. "Sky (2015) - Filming Locations". IMDb. amazon.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
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