"TEHACHAPI "LAND OF FOUR SEASONS"" Top 5 Page for this destination Tehachapi by travelgourmet

Tehachapi Travel Guide: 110 reviews and 399 photos

QUAINT RURAL CENTER OF TOWN - Tehachapi
QUAINT RURAL CENTER OF TOWN
HIGH DESERT TOWN INCORPORATED SINCE 1909

Okay, I give up where is Tehachapi? This is asked when one mentions this small community in this high mountain part of Southern California that came about due to the railroad. The Kawaiisu Indians were here long before the railroad came. They were there looking for a place to settle and the creek they found with a lake nearby seemed ideal. They called their village Tehecita that sounded like Tha-ee-chay-pah. Two Kawaiisu words, tiha and chipi, which means hard climb could be another way, tihachipi. The way it is spelled and pronunced today is credited to the Southern Pacific Railroad who acquired from a book titled "Up and Down California in 1860-1864 by William H. Brewer, in which he mentions the "Tehachapi Pass" while surveying the area now known as Tehachapi. Just looking at the spelling makes for an interesting topic of how do you pronounce it. Well, best as I can do is Ta-hac-cha-pee.

The first written form of Tehachapi credit is given to Lt. Robert Williamson of the United States War Department in 1853 while he was looking for the best pass a railroad could take. So, give the credit to Lt. Robert Williamson for the spelling and to the Southern Pacific Railroad for the pronunciation and to the Kawaiisu for finding their village by the creek. Today, Tehachapi is a growing community with high hopes for the future. Located in a valley pass in the mountains, separating the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. Highway CA 58 is the local access from either Mojave or Bakersfield, but they are world's apart in description as Tehachapi is the "Land of Four Seasons."

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Country living in a hidden oasis in the high desert
  • Cons:Too far out for city folks
  • In a nutshell:Could become the next great wine region
  • Intro Updated Jul 28, 2012
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Reviews (15)

Bob Souza ready to do some pruning. - Tehachapi Locals and Members Prune Vineyards Local Customs (2)

Once a year after winter has come and is about to leave, say late February or early March and the vineyards that are... more travel advice

- Tehachapi COMIC RELIEF IN TEHACHAPI.....BOSS HOG... Favorites (1)

You have decided to drive out to Cummings Valley to visit the wineries and off the road ahead to the right it looks like... more travel advice

A FOREST OF WINE TURBINES IN TEHACHAPI - Tehachapi SHADES OF THE WINDMILL PROPELLER STYLE Off The Beaten Path (3)

One of the largest wind farms owned by several companies is located in Tehachapi with over 5,000 wind turbines and is... more travel advice

LARGE SCALE TRAIN STORE - Tehachapi RAILROAD ENTHUSIAST DELIGHT Shopping (1)

The Gold Coast Station train store in Tehachapi has moved up the street. They have outgrown the store that was at the... more travel advice

Comments (5)

  • BruceDunning's Profile Photo
    Mar 7, 2013 at 1:56 PM

    I have a trip to Sacramento planned in Sept and gold towns around' really wanted to come down to here, but too far. YOur tips and pics are very good

    • travelgourmet's Profile Photo
      Mar 8, 2013 at 6:19 PM

      Thanks Bruce. Make sure you see Murphys off Hwy 49 at Angels Camp. Ironstone Winery is my favorite in Murphys. Perfect timing for the crush. :-)

  • Reply
    Yaqui's Profile Photo
    Jul 27, 2012 at 8:17 PM

    Fabulous page Larry! I love my hometown and I am so happy you enjoy it!

  • Reply
    Basaic's Profile Photo
    Mar 8, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Nice page! Glad you met Dee, maybe I will too someday.

  • Reply
    janetanne's Profile Photo
    Feb 21, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    I always wanted to know the difference between an ostrich and and Emu! Maybe Dr. Seuss got his story from the Emu's eggs..Green Eggs and Ham?

  • Reply
    Kuznetsov_Sergey's Profile Photo
    Jan 21, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Interesting page, Larry! I guess you have had a very pleasant VT-meeting with Dee in Tehachapi!

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