Re: Trip report 11-9-2019 Bowen ranch closed?

So yeah, I did make a visit to the Victor Valley humane society, to visit with their dogs. I may be needing to come back real soon, as I didn't leave with any of them but one of them won't get out of my mind.

So I didn't have too much time for a long springs visit with these shorter days but did visit. (It was awesome, super relaxing day, almost no trash though a friend did a small clean up, and almost everyone skinny dipping and soaking.) Things are definitely very weird at the Ranch now. Talked to a bunch of folks including some regulars down at the springs. Different stories on offer, as always. These changes seem real recent, like in the past week. My best summary: The Ranch remains open to day use parking, but no longer owns its parking area (!!!).

Ranch is saying that they sold it off, others were saying that it was never theirs to begin with, and the actual owner has asserted control. Don't know which story is accurate. But what it means is that if you enter Bowen the traditional way, you still make your way on the dirt road past the ranch house toward the old parking area. But right where you would turn 90 degrees left, and the road was always real washed out as you descended to the big parking area, a large pickup truck has been parked, blocking the road with a NO VEHICLES PAST THIS SIGN placard on the truck. The parking area is closed to all access, though you can walk by the truck and make your way to the trailhead for the goat trail to the springs. A few cars and trucks were parked along the road then, but maybe there is room for at most 7-8 cars that way. I do not know if the Ranch plans on constructing a new area for parking, closer to the Ranch house. But I think that was indicated.

The trailers north of the Ranch house - there seem to be two as Jobe reported. This seems to be the new owner. A fence has been installed on the north side of Bowen Ranch, between his house and the trailers, which overlook his whole property. And they are doing a lot of work - to build a new road? It is coming toward the parking area from this north side, where the trailers now are. And the road also continues, across the road where the pickup is blocking access, and then downhill toward the little valley where I often used to camp, below and south of the parking area. It was a lot to take in - hope my description is able to be deciphered. They had two machines, drilling holes in the road they were constructing. Two plow machines with other attachments for clearing rocks and drilling into the earth. They were still working at sunset as I hiked out. I was told this new owner plans on "commercializing" access to the springs. Putting up a website and being a commercial venture for parking/access to the springs. This seems like bad news.

But whatever is actually the case - everything is changing up at the Ranch. They seem literally not to have their parking lot anymore. And thus driving to the Ranch, you can no longer park in that lot, though you can park at the Ranch still for the time being.