Rosamond Off The Beaten Path Tips by Yaqui

Tropico Gold Mine

Tropico Gold Mine started when it was once called Hamilton Hill due to Ezra Hamilton who owned a pottery Los Angeles California. He made bricks and pipe from the fire clay mined from Tropico Hill near Willow Springs. He realized he need to find a different source of income so he started to pan from the clay and found specks of gold. Not soon in 1896 he found a vein and an assy valued it at $35 per ton. He soon moved to Rosamond to start a new business. The word got out and investors flocked to Hamilton Hill. He built the mill in 1898. Then another one in 1902. He purchase 160 acres of land and once where Hamliton Hotel was is Evergreen Restaurant and My Place Lounge. The mine continued success way into the depression since President Roosevelt raised the price of gold. The Burtons bought the mine in 1934 and still own it. This mine sustained this area all the way until 1942 when the government closed it by direct order. The family continued to maintain the mine, by giving tours which I can remember when they did this in the 1970's and had moved many of the old historical building from all over the area to this site for tourists to see. Some have been taken back to their cities and restored. Many World Champion Chili Cookoffs where held here and I enjoyed them a lot since so many celebrities attended. They still use this area for many TV and movie films. Many of the original buildings are barely standing that once served as the towns first store, post office and motel. Still standing and a reminder of Rosamonds very interesting past.

Located at: Take the I-5 North to the 14 North and exit Rosamond Blvd and head west to about 3.5 miles when you get to the Mojave-Tropico Road turn right and just follow it till you see the mine on the left side of the hill. It has a fence to protect it, but you can still see very well and take a picture or two.

Website: http://www.goldledge.com/history/docs_html/antelope1.html

Willow Springs Stage Coach Stop

Once known as the Joe Walker Trail around 1840's it became the Los Angeles-Havilah Stage Lines from 1864-1872 that traveled from Oak Creek Pass via Tehachapi Valley to Havilah and Kernville or to Inyo mines or sometimes via Jawbone Canyon to the South Fork of the Kern mines. It had one of the few natural watering holes from all around so it become one the most essential stops from all kinds of pioneers passing this way. Father Garces' stopped here in his travels also.

To get to it you take from Highway 14, go west on Rosamond Blvd for approx. 7 miles, then North one mile on Tehach-Willow Springs Rd, then make a left onto Truman-Manly Road.

Willow Springs Historical Marker No.130

Willow Springs History

Website: http://www.ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21423

Rosamond Mural

This mural may not seem much, but it sure does stick out while traveling south on 90th Street West if your heading the back way to Rosamond, Edwards, or Lancaster. It is located on the North bound wall of a local mini mart on the corner of 90th Street West and Rosamond Blvd. You can exit Highway 14 head west. It's a great way to see some of the turbines or Wind Mills if you feel like a afternoon cruise. Painted by Erica for Danny Lone Wolf!