Friday, April 5, 2013

RonnieAdventure #0049 - Ivanpah Ruins & Solar Energy Generating System, San Bernardino Co., California

If you tell someone that you are going to “Ivanpah” in the Mojave Desert, it is easy to conjure up a lot of different locations. Most people probably think of the proposed “Ivanpah” International Airport that is in the planning stages between Las Vegas and the Nevada/California state line; or, the “Ivanpah” Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) located in California just west of the state line.

Construction on the airport is still in the planning stages; but construction started on ISEGS  in October 2010 and ISEGS is currently the largest solar plant under construction in the world. With all of the mirrors and towers glistening in the desert sun, from a distance ISEGS looks like something designed for a science fiction movie.

Located in the same general area is the thirteen square mile “Ivanpah” Dry Lake, which is popular place for land sailing because of its flat, smooth surface. On October 26, 2007, a wind-powered vehicle named Greenbird set a world speed record of 126.1 miles per hour at Ivanpah Dry Lake.   

Then there is the “Old Ivanpah” town site (I later learned that this site is sometimes called “Ivanpah 1.”), which is where I thought I was going to when I looked up “Ivanpah” on the topographical map. As it turns out, “Old Ivenpah” is in the Clark Mountains on the north side of Interstate 15, so when I turned off of the Interstate and headed south I was going 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

Anyway, I succeeded in finding “New Ivanpah,” which is marked on the topographical map as the location where Ivanpah Road crosses the railroad track. I should have known that "Old Ivanpah" wouldn't be that easy to find!

Unfortunately, “New Ivanpah” has been abandoned and the only thing that remains is the old boarded-up general store and some out buildings. Apparently, the site was originally called “Leastalk,” but at some unknown time the site became known as “Ivanpah” because this is where cartographers decided that “Ivanpah” should be located. Now I have to go find “Old Ivanpah!”

  "New Ivanpah" Townsite
General Store
Out Building
Out Building

Ivanpah Dry Lake

Ivanpah Solar Energy Generating System (ISEGS)


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