Desert Center... SOLD! but....???

[Lavey5150]

The Desert Center Texaco bathroom shall forever be etched in my once then teenage mind. I will never forget.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Off the wall question: What would be the chances of the mine coming back online? I don't know geology, but it there's magic pixie dust in the Salton Sea, could there be unicorn poop in the mine or tailings? The housing is still there and owned by some conglomerate. If that were to happen, serious implications on that places existence.

 

[Taboma]

Off the wall question: What would be the chances of the mine coming back online? I don't know geology, but it there's magic pixie dust in the Salton Sea, could there be unicorn poop in the mine or tailings? The housing is still there and owned by some conglomerate. If that were to happen, serious implications on that places existence.

Not the landfill, that idea was nixed. BUT, of all things HydroElectric Generation -- yup, read all about it and the town that used to be.

Eagle Mountain, CA - Ghost Town - DesertUSA

The remains of Eagle Mountain, California lie 13 miles north of Desert Center. Now just a fenced off ghost town, it's slowly decaying away

www.desertusa.com

From this -----

To This -----

 

[rivermobster]

Off the wall question: What would be the chances of the mine coming back online? I don't know geology, but it there's magic pixie dust in the Salton Sea, could there be unicorn poop in the mine or tailings? The housing is still there and owned by some conglomerate. If that were to happen, serious implications on that places existence.

There are people that have tried to make that happen for years. There are minerals out there that are in short supply, but the enviro nuts and libtards have blocked it every time.

But with today's huge push to electrics, it's crazy that the same groups that are promoting electrics, are blocking the recourses that are needed.

They don't call em libtards for no reason eh?

 

[mbrown2]

Good read... get Elon to put in a charging station and it starts to make sense!

 

[Taboma]

There are people that have tried to make that happen for years. There are minerals out there that are in short supply, but the enviro nuts and libtards have blocked it every time.

But with today's huge push to electrics, it's crazy that the same groups that are promoting electrics, are blocking the recourses that are needed.

They don't call em libtards for no reason eh?

I've not read of Rare Earth mineral mining attempts (At least anytime recently) at Eagle Mountain, only the earlier proposed landfill and more recently the twin reservoir day pumping, night hydro generation.
The mine with the big potential for rare earth minerals mining is Mountain Pass Mine, which is about 35 miles east of Baker off the 15.

 

[Gonefishin5555]

Good read... get Elon to put in a charging station and it starts to make sense!

Hydrogen station and a Tesla charging area and developer will get green light for whatever else he wants. Promise to sell only organic food and no soft drinks etc gas station sushi ftw

 

[BoatCop]

Remember that Clinton expanded Joshua Tree National Park and Sheephole Wilderness all the way out to Hwy 177. That put it right up against Eagle Mountain, surrounded on 3 sides. This gives the greenies and eco-nazis veto power on anything in the area. That's why the landfill idea that Arnold started was halted.

It's now used for some hydro-electric deal, but even that is kinda sketchy. They supposedly pump water up to the top of the mountain when electric demand is low, and then pump it back down, through turbines when demand is high. But the tree huggers are protesting that, too.

Unless they find unicorn fart deposits up there, nothing will ever be done with it.

 

[QC22]

Anybody know where Desert Steve's house was? The article said something about a 2 hour drive up a mountain. Seems odd. Might be cool to explore if anybody knows where it is.

 

[Taboma]

Late June or early July fire in 96' took out the cabin.

Cool Story about the cabin --- from the Desert Sun newspaper July 8 1996. It gives some clues as to it's location.

 

[MOUZER]

wish i bought it............id put a AMPM deweiner dog and a del taco............................be busy busy busy..at "MOUZERS DESERT CENTER"

 

[QC22]

It gives some clues as to it's location.

Thanks. Figured it had to be that way. Sort of my old stomping grounds.

 

[MOUZER]

Question, so you build a truck stop, prolly need 30 or so employees, where do they live? Commute from Indio Parker or Blythe?

30 trailers out back....................

 

[arch stanton]

I don't think a truck stop will be successful at desert center because diesel fuel is way more expensive in California it will cost 200$ plus to fill in ca vs az, lots of trucking is done at 2.00 a mile if you wait 50 miles you save 200 plus thats 4.00 a mile.
Now it may make a good drop and hook hub for cross-country trucks that can't come into ca because of smog laws as there is no ca scale house before desert center so the trucks can get in and out without getting caught.

 

[BoatCop]

Now it may make a good drop and hook hub for cross-country trucks that can't come into ca because of smog laws as there is no ca scale house before desert center so the trucks can get in and out without getting caught.

Isn't there a weigh station at the Blythe Port of Entry anymore? Used to be.

 

[Danger Dave]

Be a good spot for the race crowd at Chuckwalla to run over and get a big gulp from time to time.

 

[WTR&PWR]

6 Mil sounds steep for what you see but you got to figure a few things-
1. Over 6,000 acres is a huge chunk off of a busy interstate
2. A sole on ramp off ramp just for him
3. No real business within 20 miles to stop at in each direction.
4. Favorable zoning with possible incentives for him to rehab from the county. Already zoned for rest stop, restaurant, truck stop, fuel etc.
5. Possible opportunity to make it a hot spot for electric vehicle charging between LA and Phoenix.

 

[arch stanton]

Isn't there a weigh station at the Blythe Port of Entry anymore? Used to be.
well looks like less of a reason to open a drop and hook yard than I thought. I do know trucks do use desert center to do trailer exchange now and have been run off from time to time but a lot of it is done at night not usually anybody around to complain

View attachment 1025146

 

[Ziggy]

6 Mil sounds steep for what you see but you got to figure a few things-
1. Over 6,000 acres is a huge chunk off of a busy interstate
2. A sole on ramp off ramp just for him
3. No real business within 20 miles to stop at in each direction.
4. Favorable zoning with possible incentives for him to rehab from the county. Already zoned for rest stop, restaurant, truck stop, fuel etc.
5. Possible opportunity to make it a hot spot for electric vehicle charging between LA and Phoenix.

Charging stations would be highly useful there. It's pretty much perfect, sorta like Barstow is to the I-15 travelers.

 

[Ziggy]

Remember that Clinton expanded Joshua Tree National Park and Sheephole Wilderness all the way out to Hwy 177. That put it right up against Eagle Mountain, surrounded on 3 sides. This gives the greenies and eco-nazis veto power on anything in the area. That's why the landfill idea that Arnold started was halted.

It's now used for some hydro-electric deal, but even that is kinda sketchy. They supposedly pump water up to the top of the mountain when electric demand is low, and then pump it back down, through turbines when demand is high. But the tree huggers are protesting that, too.

Unless they find unicorn fart deposits up there, nothing will ever be done with it.

I remember seeing a Joshua Tree NP sign adjacent to the 177 ~10 miles from the I-10, not far from the sharper turn in the road.

 

[RiverDave]

6 Mil sounds steep for what you see but you got to figure a few things-
1. Over 6,000 acres is a huge chunk off of a busy interstate
2. A sole on ramp off ramp just for him
3. No real business within 20 miles to stop at in each direction.
4. Favorable zoning with possible incentives for him to rehab from the county. Already zoned for rest stop, restaurant, truck stop, fuel etc.
5. Possible opportunity to make it a hot spot for electric vehicle charging between LA and Phoenix.

Agreed

 

[arch stanton]

I'm going to guess the solar farm is going to be the main use for the property and may included the previously disclosed hydro electric energy storage as part of it, if there is a truck stop or truck hub it is going to be a miner part of the 10 square miles purchased. I believe the sunrise power link installed about 10 years ago runs through that area that will work well for the solar farm

 

[Taboma]

Thanks. Figured it had to be that way. Sort of my old stomping grounds.

Found ole Desert Steve's 8th Heaven Fireplace.

 

[rivermobster]

I've not read of Rare Earth mineral mining attempts (At least anytime recently) at Eagle Mountain, only the earlier proposed landfill and more recently the twin reservoir day pumping, night hydro generation.
The mine with the big potential for rare earth minerals mining is Mountain Pass Mine, which is about 35 miles east of Baker off the 15.

I'll try and find the article for you. It was a couple years ago I believe.

This is what the don't want to happen. I guess it's ok in someone's else backyard though?

The dystopian lake filled by the world’s tech lust

Hidden in an unknown corner of China is a toxic, nightmarish lake created by our thirst for smartphones, gadgets and green tech, discovers Tim Maughan.

www.bbc.com

 

[Activated]

I'll try and find the article for you. It was a couple years ago I believe.

This is what the don't want to happen. I guess it's ok in someone's else backyard though?

The dystopian lake filled by the world’s tech lust

Hidden in an unknown corner of China is a toxic, nightmarish lake created by our thirst for smartphones, gadgets and green tech, discovers Tim Maughan.

www.bbc.com

I have tried to find that article multiple times on RDP, with no luck.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[BoatCop]

well looks like less of a reason to open a drop and hook yard than I thought. I do know trucks do use desert center to do trailer exchange now and have been run off from time to time but a lot of it is done at night not usually anybody around to complain

Might be to haul between Desert Center and Parker. A lot of trucks use the 177-62 route to avoid both the CA and AZ ports of entry, at least east bound. They remodeled the Parker Station to address this action. It's not open 24/7, but it's hit or miss for the drivers. Helped reduce a lot of the overweight truck traffic through town, tearing up the roads. That, and I believe they sometimes set up a temp weigh station on 62 between the 177 cut-off and Vidal Junction.

 

[LOBOATOMY]

Put a Buckee's there, it will become an attraction and MUST STOP location.

 

[Taboma]

I'll try and find the article for you. It was a couple years ago I believe.

This is what the don't want to happen. I guess it's ok in someone's else backyard though?

The dystopian lake filled by the world’s tech lust

Hidden in an unknown corner of China is a toxic, nightmarish lake created by our thirst for smartphones, gadgets and green tech, discovers Tim Maughan.

www.bbc.com

Of course nobody wants that in our desert and certainly I'm not dismissing the severity of it's pollution.
However, that tailings dam and lake were created in the mid 60's, for the exact purpose for which it's been used. It's a tailings dump site from the Baogang Steel production and more recently the rare earth R&D and production complex.
That man made tailings lake is not the consequence of mining. But, none the less, it's one huge toxic mess, that's for sure. ☠

We've got a toxic waste supersite within 5 miles as the crow flies from my house. It was a result of a chemical storage yard from the 50's.
Solution for the future ??
That's for the younger and brighter among us to figure out, I'm just trying to staying alive and thankful for another day when I'm fortunate enough to awake each morning.

 

[boatnam2]

Ole Henry Kaiser has left a nice polluted footprint, just look at Fontana and that mine.

 

[Joker]

I read somewhere that Amazon was looking at leasing some property from him for another distribution facility.

 

[rivermobster]

Ole Henry Kaiser has left a nice polluted footprint, just look at Fontana and that mine.

I remember going to the foundry on a field trip as a kid. It was an awesome place to visit.

 

[boatnam2]

I remember going to the foundry on a field trip as a kid. It was an awesome place to visit.

Did they give each kid a bag of tailings lol

 

[ghansen]

Question, so you build a truck stop, prolly need 30 or so employees, where do they live? Commute from Indio Parker or Blythe?

He could do like the guy that owns Ludlow. Get a big 12 passenger van and fiery the associates to work from Indio or where ever is convenient. Have a few mobile homes for people to stay in.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Perfect place for a Porkys....

 

[rivermobster]

Did they give each kid a bag of tailings lol

For some reason I think we got a sticker? Kinna hard to remember now.

 

[Ziggy]

Put a Buckee's there, it will become an attraction and MUST STOP location.

Never heard of Buc-Ees, had to google it.
Lol, famous for clean truckstop bathrooms

 

[One2go]

Was mentioned but this raceway could definitely benefit,possibly be a big deal. Maybe some members here have been there or tested there. I believe it's rented out for private use ?

Chuckwalla Valley Raceway

Built in 2010 Chuckwalla Valley Raceway or (CVR) is Southern California's Premier automobile and motorcycle road course that provides the ideal safe environment from the new beginner just learning to the experienced level racer.

chuckwalla.com

 

[OC Mike]

Charging stations would be highly useful there. It's pretty much perfect, sorta like Barstow is to the I-15 travelers.

You may be on to something.
Solar fields and charging stations.
With all the Electrics coming on, he may be a visionary...

 

[DRYHEAT]

Never heard of Buc-Ees, had to google it.
Lol, famous for clean truckstop bathrooms

Well it’s no Rubes truckstop

 

[mjc]

Was mentioned but this raceway could definitely benefit,possibly be a big deal. Maybe some members here have been there or tested there. I believe it's rented out for private use ?

Chuckwalla Valley Raceway

Built in 2010 Chuckwalla Valley Raceway or (CVR) is Southern California's Premier automobile and motorcycle road course that provides the ideal safe environment from the new beginner just learning to the experienced level racer.

chuckwalla.com

I have been there to watch a no prep type of event. That place is booked 52 weekends a year.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Off the wall question: What would be the chances of the mine coming back online? I don't know geology, but it there's magic pixie dust in the Salton Sea, could there be unicorn poop in the mine or tailings? The housing is still there and owned by some conglomerate. If that were to happen, serious implications on that places existence.

The school that is way out there by the fenced off neighborhood next to the mine is still open, not sure where the kids come from but it’s still part of San Bernardino unified.

 

[Bugginout]

Not the landfill, that idea was nixed. BUT, of all things HydroElectric Generation -- yup, read all about it and the town that used to be.

Eagle Mountain, CA - Ghost Town - DesertUSA

The remains of Eagle Mountain, California lie 13 miles north of Desert Center. Now just a fenced off ghost town, it's slowly decaying away

www.desertusa.com

From this -----


View attachment 1025022


To This -----

View attachment 1025024

We have been looking at the prints for that hydroelectric system for years (8). I wanted to build it just because it was a cool idea. Windmills to fill the the old mine up top and flow through turbines on the way down. Completely self sustained with battery storage for when there was a lack of wind. Pretty cool idea. They want to feed it from the aquifer below. Probably never going to happen.

 

[Bugginout]

I have been there to watch a no prep type of event. That place is booked 52 weekends a year.

My friend owns the track we are going to be doing a lot more no prep.

 

[BIG MIKE]

Be his neighbor 141 acres for $337,500 just down the road.

Lake Tamarisk Desert Center Real Estate - Lake Tamarisk Desert Center Homes For Sale | Zillow

Zillow has 0 homes for sale in Lake Tamarisk Desert Center. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place.

www.zillow.com

 

[Taboma]

We have been looking at the prints for that hydroelectric system for years (8). I wanted to build it just because it was a cool idea. Windmills to fill the the old mine up top and flow through turbines on the way down. Completely self sustained with battery storage for when there was a lack of wind. Pretty cool idea. They want to feed it from the aquifer below. Probably never going to happen.

That would be a very cool project. Wasn't aware of the consideration for using wind generation for the return pumping. Since that's been designated as an area for solar farming, wouldn't solar generation be an easier sell ?

 

[Bugginout]

That would be a very cool project. Wasn't aware of the consideration for using wind generation for the return pumping. Since that's been designated as an area for solar farming, wouldn't solar generation be an easier sell ?

When those prints came across my desk they were just building the 500 MW desert sunlight project (huge farm in desert center) at the time we also had prints for a large power tower (like the state line project in Nevada) alot of projects in the county got shelved because of the riverside county sun tax. Alot also got shelved because of environmental concerns. Built and worked on a lot of different types of plants/generating stations in my career. The Kaiser mine plant/generating station was cool in theory and looked like a fun build from just a building point of view. I don't believe that it was a viable solution long term though. Water usage and evaporation would have been pretty high in my opinion.

 

[RiverDave]

Put a Buckee's there, it will become an attraction and MUST STOP location.

What is that?

 

[Bobby V]

What is that?

A HUGE!!!! truck / auto stop.

Home - Buc-ees

Buc-ee’s is a chain of travel centers known for clean bathrooms and many fueling positions.

buc-ees.com

 

[boatnam2]

When those prints came across my desk they were just building the 500 MW desert sunlight project (huge farm in desert center) at the time we also had prints for a large power tower (like the state line project in Nevada) alot of projects in the county got shelved because of the riverside county sun tax. Alot also got shelved because of environmental concerns. Built and worked on a lot of different types of plants/generating stations in my career. The Kaiser mine plant/generating station was cool in theory and looked like a fun build from just a building point of view. I don't believe that it was a viable solution long term though. Water usage and evaporation would have been pretty high in my opinion.

Was the power tower the deal they were going to build, were visitors could go up to the top to look around?

 

[Bugginout]

Was the power tower the deal they were going to build, were visitors could go up to the top to look around?

No a power tower is a large silo with convex mirrors surrounding it. I can't imagine letting tourists walk around inside. They had a programming failure at Ivanpah (Nevada state line power tower) the guy in india that programs the mirrors fucked up and burned a big hole in the tower. The people who own these plants are cheap as hell so they pay a guy cheap wages India to control the plant. Could have happened to a guy in America I guess...but I feel more comfortable having a guy in the US control our stuff.