Taft, California: Lakeview Gusher - World's Largest Oil Spill
In 1910 an oil well exploded and spit out 100,000 barrels a day for 544 days. Historical marker flags the site.
- Address:
- Petroleum Club Rd, Taft, CA
- Directions:
- Southeast of town. Historical marker is on the north side of Petroleum Club Rd, less than a half-mile east of Hwy 33.
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Night view of the possible spot of the historic oil spill in Taft.
[Scott Sheahen, 12/17/2018]Taft has a unique site....the Lakeview Gusher (1910), billed as the largest gusher ever. It is even a CA historic site. All that's there is a huge hole (everything else was blown away by the gusher) and some berms that channeled the river of oil. Good thing there was no EPA back then.
[Chris Lowe, 11/24/1998]Nearby Offbeat Places
The Great Mouse Invasion - West Kern Oil Museum, Taft, CA - < 1 mi.
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The gusher erupted on March 14, 1910, and spewed oil for 544 days. It only stopped because the well collapsed. There's a plaque at the site that notes that it "reached uncontrolled peak of 100,000 barrels per day." A lot of potential future road trips were wasted there.