Yermo (Otis) - California
If you’ve ever driven to Las Vegas from the LA area, or vice versa, you’ve most likely passed through Yermo on your way. Most folks zip on by, although the relatively new Eddieworld does manage to draw a bunch of cars off the I-15. But even then, most of those folks don’t really visit Yermo. To be honest, it’s not a place that gets a lot of attention, even though it’s got some really cool places to visit; especially if you like old stuff. Abandoned stuff. Historic stuff.
When the town was founded by Gen. Harrison Gray Otis, a wealthy land and mine owner, he naturally named the spot after himself. When the area got big enough to warrant a Post Office, the name was changed to Yermo. That was 1905. The name “Yermo” is derived from the Spanish word for “Wilderness.” Which seems appropriate. There’s a lot of wilderness all about.
I enjoy exiting the interstates and exploring the small towns along them whenever I can. Here are some photos I took on my last trip. They may make Yermo seem like a forgotten and abandoned place, but that’s only because those are the subjects I tend to focus on (pun intended). Something draws me to those reminders of the past, the stories of the people who lived/worked in the now often ruined buildings that dot the landscape.
Anywho, here’s some pictures.
A long abandoned service station sits at one of the Yermo exits along the 15.
Right near the EddieWorld is a fantastic outdoor Sculpture Park/Museum, with the theme of Liberty and Freedom evidenced by all the sculptures. Definitely a place I recommend stopping by for an hour. There are about twenty exhibits.
Closer to the town proper, along Yermo Road, another long abandoned complex sits, left to the mercy of idiot vandals with matches and paint cans.
This one must have been a pretty nice place. A large pump area, a food store/restaurant, and possibly some rooms to rent.
The original site of the first Del Taco (one of my favorite places to eat), is in Yermo. It’s now known as the Burger Den. They still make great tacos.
In towards the center of the town, there is an amazing thrift store. So much cool stuff to look at. It’s not in this building, but in the building off to the right side that I naturally forgot to get a picture of. It’s well worth a visit.
An early day postcard of the El Rancho-Tel Motel. Looks like a pretty cool place.
Back to another exit off the 15, the Jenny Rose Restaurant was a well-known and much loved stop for many people over many years. I’m not sure when it shut down, but the building and the interior are in remarkably good condition. The sign outside is a favorite of photographers.
So those are some of the stops I made on my last visit through the area. I’m sure there’s still a lot to see that I’ve missed, but that just means I’ll be back. Hope you enjoyed these photos and words.
Click HERE to read a bit and see some pics that I took back in 2015.
Return to More California Home Page
Cool Travel and Exploring Videos, click HERE!
Follow on the IG: @exploratographer
