tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post1491540701486952824..comments2024-03-25T07:27:23.874-07:00Comments on Places That Were: Gateway to Death Valley: The Broken Dreams of Baker, CaliforniaPlacesThatWerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08906573012383225740noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-10426567131410400102022-06-19T09:36:59.270-07:002022-06-19T09:36:59.270-07:00I worked at both Bun Boys as a main chef for many ...I worked at both Bun Boys as a main chef for many years and I have alot of memories Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-5625548633822511172020-12-21T18:08:59.706-08:002020-12-21T18:08:59.706-08:00I drove my Mom to Las Vegas many times from San Di...I drove my Mom to Las Vegas many times from San Diego on business. Always stopped in Baker.I remember a place with a Polaroid of OJ & Nicole in a glass display case. Also semi-truck trailers at night with incredible light displays. The desolation was somewhat appealing !Joe Lonzellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12969407871121887089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-69142517126224492042020-12-06T07:12:24.400-08:002020-12-06T07:12:24.400-08:00Thanks for the Barstow link. The motel art there ...Thanks for the Barstow link. The motel art there oddly entranced me and my wife, as did the very sweet, 30-something waitress who had never traveled anywhere out of town. For those who like to stay in such towns, there are some solid but sad articles about Trona, CA. from the LA Times you might Google. Ronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-9098260246875327272020-12-06T06:58:05.777-08:002020-12-06T06:58:05.777-08:00My wife and I stayed twice at the Bun Boy during t...My wife and I stayed twice at the Bun Boy during trips to Death Valley years ago. We ate at the restaurant as well, and it was decent but not great. (The second time the Mad Greek had opened.) It was run-down and smelled a bit both times, but it was doable. After that we found staying at Marta Beckett's Amargosa Opera House was more fun on show nights (she was still alive and dancing back then.) I do hope that place is still going, despite its own struggles against the march of time.Ronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-66325739495567414912020-09-12T12:30:28.827-07:002020-09-12T12:30:28.827-07:00It saddens me to see how abandoned baker has becom...It saddens me to see how abandoned baker has become, like so many of my childhood friends me and my parents would move back every other year i was from a small town 12 miles away hollering springs, was there off and on from 1977 till about 1989 and revisited around 93 with my first wifeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13457981479356139812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-85278558839362250232020-06-28T15:40:04.407-07:002020-06-28T15:40:04.407-07:00Jennifer - Your Great Aunt Lois gave me my first r...Jennifer - Your Great Aunt Lois gave me my first real job at the age of 13. I worked at Annie's Donut and Ice Cream Shop (named for your aunt). Great lady. I hope you see this and tell her thanks for giving so many young people a great start in the working world. <br />kdileohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04005868077810065228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-40170854174596098552020-06-28T15:30:46.756-07:002020-06-28T15:30:46.756-07:00Hadramdebi, I remember your Grandpa LLoyd Metheny....Hadramdebi, I remember your Grandpa LLoyd Metheny. He was a fine gentleman. I too took my husband to Baker to see were I grew up (3rd - 8th grade). I tried to take him to see my house, but it had been turned into a prison facility! <br />kdileohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04005868077810065228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-36829196494321790152020-06-14T03:03:41.259-07:002020-06-14T03:03:41.259-07:00It wasn't much of a town but it was home for a...It wasn't much of a town but it was home for a few years. The people of Baker (many of whome I still call friends, hi Larry, Shelly, Mona and the rest!) it was a place where you could lose your past and make a life, then move on. Some of the best moments of my life were there. On the north side of town near the post office are a set of buildings that were originally used as test buildings for PAC bell then they became a private prison! That's what brought me there in 2001, after my time as a corrections officer I tended bar at pikes and was a waiter at Denny's. I have way to many good stories and a few bad about that little town. Btw you didn't write about the mad Greek restaurant(as seen on Diners Drive-Ins and dives) or any of the many businesses that are still thriving in that town. Or the films that have been made there including play it to the Bone with Antonio banderas and Woody harrelson or The big empty with Jon favreau. Don't count that little town out! The people there are mostly kind and loving. They work hard and genuinely care about each other and the many that pass through. Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07782720302725403415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-73813341198036065522020-06-12T07:28:03.569-07:002020-06-12T07:28:03.569-07:00Mike's restaurant eventually became a Denny...Mike's restaurant eventually became a Denny's restaurant.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11077398836364241233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-19531275188621625362020-06-12T07:25:01.969-07:002020-06-12T07:25:01.969-07:00Mike's restaurant eventually became Denny'...Mike's restaurant eventually became Denny's..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11077398836364241233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-19471453177743624532020-06-12T07:16:57.888-07:002020-06-12T07:16:57.888-07:00I worked at Pike's restaurant when I first mov...I worked at Pike's restaurant when I first moved to Baker. They offered room and board across the street from the restaurant. The Flying A gas station was across from Pike`s. After working at Pike's I went to work at Lloyd's Cafe and eventually Cone Taco. Met my ex husband in Baker and eventually moved up to Mountain Pass Calif.This was t he early sixties when I lived in Baker and there was no freeway at that time so Baker was a very busy town. All t he traffic from LA would drive through and stop for gas and food. I waited on many stars that would stop to eat on their way to Vegas.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11077398836364241233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-69209856282840387512020-06-08T06:50:34.068-07:002020-06-08T06:50:34.068-07:00I worked for the Baker School District for many ye...I worked for the Baker School District for many years and even taught summer school one yeat5. I loved it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07039794503754282140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-17964715387708429542020-06-07T23:25:02.192-07:002020-06-07T23:25:02.192-07:00Such horrible typos🙄 I meant to say I began worki...Such horrible typos🙄 I meant to say I began working at, what used to be the Denny’s. It’s the one of the pictures you’ve provided that’s across from the royal Hawaiian. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01251263704588308145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-9425900650157604962020-06-07T23:22:26.446-07:002020-06-07T23:22:26.446-07:00Hi. Wanted to add some information that I know abo...Hi. Wanted to add some information that I know about Baker California. <br />My aunt Ann Price and her mother Lois Clark run the RV park on hwy 127. Parallel to the main road there. They used to own a donut shop there as well that turned into something else I believe but not quite sure. My dad used to run the Texaco station on the main road too, right next to what used to be a Burger King. (The building across the street from the alien jerky. Life is crazy and we moved from Baker when I was about 4. Then, after having my baby in 2006 I moved back with my aunt Ann and I began working at this pictures building. The one on the end across from the royal hawaiian. That used to be a Denny that had a bar attached called Pikes Place. Thanks to you, now I know why. It later became an IHOP, and then shut down shortly after. Then the Denny’s moved on down the road. I still go there quite often to see my family and it’s surreal how many buildings have been abandoned. Anyway, love to have read this. Hope my info helps some of the curiosity. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01251263704588308145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-48191682216524362492020-06-07T18:15:03.725-07:002020-06-07T18:15:03.725-07:00I commuted to Barstow for the four years of high s...I commuted to Barstow for the four years of high school. The trips were awesome, we all got along and either slept or did homework on our way home to Baker. It was a great time in my life and I will never forget it!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-86253922667049346312020-06-07T18:11:49.946-07:002020-06-07T18:11:49.946-07:00The 134 degrees was recorded in Death Valley, not ...The 134 degrees was recorded in Death Valley, not Baker...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-27797658157794576852019-03-06T22:58:38.037-08:002019-03-06T22:58:38.037-08:00Thank you so much! I'd be interested to read y...Thank you so much! I'd be interested to read your book too!PlacesThatWerehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08906573012383225740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-78706356517633476332019-02-27T16:21:50.154-08:002019-02-27T16:21:50.154-08:00Above from Alan V Burris 1952 = avbenicia@gmail.co...Above from Alan V Burris 1952 = avbenicia@gmail.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241758726645278617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-55298754620984941972019-02-27T16:18:44.630-08:002019-02-27T16:18:44.630-08:00lived there early 60s 2nd? grade Mom checked groce...lived there early 60s 2nd? grade Mom checked groceries in Brown's market Dad worked talc mines north of town (Tacopa area) & some nights at truck stop east end of town we moved there from Anchor Bay north Cal Mom & i ate our 1st taco in Baker so remember her asking them what a taco was more story to come... T8TER Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241758726645278617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-24912014826853817282019-02-13T22:28:53.169-08:002019-02-13T22:28:53.169-08:00That lovely village is so sweet in every perspecti... That lovely village is so sweet in every perspective and that thermometer was too long to look at it from far away and it really needed to get the <a href="https://www.titledeed.org/ca-san-bernardino-county/" rel="nofollow">San Bernardino County Title Deed</a> for having such beautiful scenario and all of those beauty.Joseph T. Keenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13953043473723193643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-10320284874087615042019-01-20T05:22:19.279-08:002019-01-20T05:22:19.279-08:00Please let me know when your finished with your bo...Please let me know when your finished with your book. I would love to see it. My family lived there from mid 40s to 1982. Hadlock motel, Lloyd's cafe. <br />My name is Debi Hadlock. Hadramdb@gmail.com Hadramdebihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023226584631366251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-29423242847216318512019-01-20T05:18:49.582-08:002019-01-20T05:18:49.582-08:00My Grandma was Jeanette Hadlock (Hadlock motel) an...My Grandma was Jeanette Hadlock (Hadlock motel) and Step Grandpa Lloyd Metheny. My Grandma with Grandpa Jay Hadlock owned the gas station, cafe, motel and Shell storage station across the street. They started it around 1945/46. My father was born in 48. My mom worked at Cone Taco. I was born in 68 and went to school in Baker for kindergarten, 1st and 2nd. My grandma left Baker in 1982. Part of her house still stands. It is behind the jack in the box. The tore down the motel and Lloyd's cafe and gas station completely. I believe the building where people that worked at the restaurant is still standing. I'm actually planning a trip there in a few weeks to show my husband. I was there actually there day before 9/11 the last time. I know it is not the great and magical place it was when I was a kid but I want him to see it through my eyes. Hadramdebihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023226584631366251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-5522977006527136072018-11-18T18:13:07.731-08:002018-11-18T18:13:07.731-08:00This is very sad. I used to hear Bun Boy commercia...This is very sad. I used to hear Bun Boy commercials on the radio on my way to Vegas. Ironically I am behind the thermometer charging my electric car on the way to LA from Vegas.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03655112689070366589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-34723045042564151162018-08-16T11:59:35.347-07:002018-08-16T11:59:35.347-07:00When did you get the pictures of the building that...When did you get the pictures of the building that used to be an ihop? They are really interesting to see.Ruby Calypsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-62406631805596796592018-07-16T15:21:10.790-07:002018-07-16T15:21:10.790-07:00Jim, this is an excellent post and photo journal o...Jim, this is an excellent post and photo journal of Baker. I'm currently writing a book about the Mojave, including its abandoned structures, and, having lived in Nevada for several years before the Great Recession (back when Baker was still fairly bustling), it's sad to see the current state of this little pitstop that was once a lot of fun to pass through. Anyway, glad I found your blog - you've got some great stuff!Kristennoreply@blogger.com