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The Bakersfield Arch, recently relocated to a side road next to the Buck Owens Crystal Palace, now has a huge American flag to honor the victims of the 9/11 disaster. The arch, and its flag, are positioned to be highly visible from the very busy 99 freeway.
[Gwen Barnes, 09/30/2001]Bakersfield Arch:- Address:
- Sillect Ave., Bakersfield, CA
- Directions:
- Hwy 99 exit 26b. Off Buck Owens Blvd over Sillect Ave.
The Bakersfield Arch that used to span old Rt. 99 was originally part of a hotel, and that hotel was set for demolition sometime in 1999. It has been demolished.
Buck Owens (yes, the country music star) purchased the rubble, and reconstructed the arch near his Crystal Palace nightclub off of the Buck Owens Blvd. exit of the modern SR-99 Freeway. Unfortunately, most of the old archway was unsalvagable. Allegedly, the large neon letters were, however, salvaged and are the ones that adorn the new archway (albeit probably with some refurbishment).
The old archway has lots of fond memories for some of us who grew up in the southern San Joaquin Valley. With the realignment of the SR-99 corridor, however, Bakersfield's once-busy motel corridor along Union Avenue had fallen into disrepair, the archway along with it. While it would have been nice to have seen the old archway repaired in place, I'd rather have the replacement somewhere where the public can enjoy it, and in a safer neighborhood where people are less likely to get propositioned. (grin)
[Chris Sullivan, 09/17/2000]Ethel's Old Corral is worth the trip alone. Classic Oildale bar and honky tonk. Real down home beer joint.
[James Martin, 05/26/2017]Muffler Man: Indian Warrior:- Address:
- 4310 Alfred Harrell Hwy, Bakersfield, CA
- Directions:
- Ethel's Old Corral Cafe, China Grade Loop at Oildale turn-off.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Radio station KERN broadcast an interview with Bakersfield realtor Kenny Barnes. He said that his family bought the Indian Warrior -- known then simply as the Big Indian -- for about $1,400 in the mid-1960s, to call attention to the Barnes' Big O Tires store (It was a time when tire brands had Indian names). One of Kenny Barnes' jobs was to climb a ladder and yank out the arrows that had been shot into the Indian, and also to retrieve them from the roof of the store. The family sold the business in 1972 and the Indian went to a school in Oildale.
In the late 1980s he was moved to a private ranch and restored, then in 2001 the rancher returned the Indian to Bakersfield, where he now stands at Ethel's Old Corral Cafe. Kenny Barnes was invited to its dedication.
[RoadsideAmerica.com Team, 06/15/2013]- Bakersfield, California - Muffler Man - Indian
This Muffler Man Indian used to stand over the traffic circle on Chester Avenue (the north end of the downtown area) in front of the Big O tire shop, facing south. If memory serves, the shop used to be "Big Red Indian Tires." He was a less burgundy color then. I remember the arrows stuck in him, and I remember that he was donated to Standard Middle School for some unknown reason (my mother was teaching there at the time). Thanks for the update on a familiar face from my childhood!
[Curtis Gropp, 05/31/2005]
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Nov. 2013: Photo added.