For Immediate Release  Media Contact: Kate Holden Director of Public Relations 559-683-4636 kate@yosemitethisyear.com Mammoth Orange to Squeeze Back into the Spotlight at the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County  The historic structure was restored to its former glory thanks to the generous donation of time and materials by the Rotary clubs of Chowchilla, Madera and Madera Sunrise. MADERA COUNTY, CA – September 8, 2023 – Many long-time residents of California’s Central Valley will remember The Mammoth Orange as a local landmark. The Mammoth Orange was a refreshment stand located on Highway 99 and was known for its giant hamburgers, excellent fries, and out-of-this-world orange shakes. This historic building is set to make a juicy comeback on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 6:00 PM, when the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County invites the public to celebrate a piece of local history with a fundraising dinner and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The original Mammoth Orange closed in 2007 and was abandoned in a storage yard. Later, the 20-foot orange was brought to the Fossil Discovery Center and painstakingly revived. The structure was carefully restored to its former glory as a concession stand and a San Joaquin Valley attraction, thanks to the generous donation of time and materials by the Rotary clubs of Chowchilla, Madera, and Madera Sunrise. “We are thrilled to be reopening the Mammoth Orange at the Fossil Discovery Center,” said Michele Pecina, Director of the Fossil Discovery Center. “This iconic landmark is a believed part of our community, and we are excited to share it with a new generation of visitors. The Mammoth Orange is a great example of how history creates unique and memorable experiences.” The Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County is a museum that houses a collection of fossils, including ancient Columbian Mammoths. It sits adjacent to one of North America’s most extensive middle-Pleistocene fossil excavations, where discoveries continue to this day. The museum offers a variety of educational programs and activities for visitors of all ages. “The Mammoth Orange is a great addition to the Fossil Discovery Center,’ said Pecina. “It will help us attract more visitors to the museum and learn about our region’s rich history.” Tickets for the ribbon-cutting event are $25 for members of the Fossil Discovery Center and $30 for non-members. Tickets include a Smashburger meal served from the Mammoth Orange. The Mammoth Orange ribbon-cutting ceremony is an excellent opportunity to celebrate local and ancient history. Come one, come all to the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 6:00 PM. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.maderamammoths.org or call (559) 665-7071. About Visit Yosemite | Madera County Formed in 1985, Visit Yosemite | Madera County’s mission is to draw the millions of Yosemite National Park visitors to its gateway’s many businesses and attractions. We invite visitors to take a journey from the Fossil Discovery Center to the Madera Wine Trail and onward to the High Sierra. Discover incredible dining, talented tradespersons, four seasons of water sports at Bass Lake, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad and mighty adventures right up to the massive Giant Sequoia trees. Madera County is the gateway to so much more. Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau | 40343 Highway 41, Oakhurst, CA 93644 |
99 Update Region 4- Santa Clarita, CA
From Evan Decker of Mentryville, Inc:
If you’ve recently driven along the 5 Freeway (Interstate 5) near the Lyons Avenue/Pico Canyon Road exit recently, you’ll notice some new California Historical Landmark wayfinding signs for the historic oil boomtown of Mentryville which was established in 1876. It is so important that historic sites such as Mentryville deserve the proper recognition they deserve. A huge Thank You to the California State Office of Historic Preservation as well as CalTrans for making these signs a reality.
99 Alert Update – Calimesa Area
Good news from Calimesa! Our campaign to save the date stamps from the 1925 paving on Roberts Road is a success! The stamps will be removed from the existing paving in the very near future and held by the City of Calimesa to be displayed at their new library. We will post additional information on any events or ceremonies as we get closer.
We wish to thank all who helped us in this preservation effort!
Ridge Route Work Event – May 20, 2023
Event announcement from the Ridge Route Preservation Organization. Please go to their website to sign up and get additional information.
We are planning our first CUTRR – Clean Up The Ridge Route – event to be held on May 20, 2023. The road has suffered through a lot this winter and it needs your help! Our work will concentrate on clearing drains of debris on the northern end between the Tumble Inn and Reservoir Summit. Due to conditions, we won’t be able to go over the entire roadway afterward as we have done in the past. Additionally, lower clearance vehicles are not recommended on the Ridge Route at this time.
Please RSVP so we can get a rough headcount before the event. We look forward to seeing you all out there!
For additional information on our CUTRR events:
CUTRR – Clean Up The Ridge Route
Clothing Requirements:
Please be in sturdy shoes, pants, and shirt. Hats and protective glasses are recommended depending on what work you’ll be performing.
Tools Needed:
Bring whatever tools you have to cut branches and clear debris. Supplies such as picks, shovels, rakes, pruning saws, pole pruners, mattocks, clippers, wheelbarrows, brooms, and other items may also be needed.
Meeting Location:
We will be meeting at the Gorman Carl’s Jr, 49669 Gorman Post Rd, Gorman, CA 93243, at 0800 hrs on May 20, 2023 and will be leaving by 0830 hrs.
Historic sign revealed in Los Angeles
Either through heavy wind, corrosion, or a combination of the two, a section of “greenout” fell off a sign on the eastbound Ventura Freeway (State 134) recently at Victory Blvd. This sign, approaching the Golden State Freeway (I-5) has been there since 1961 when the freeway opened. In 1961, the Golden State Freeway was still US Highway 99. In 1965, the sign was covered over with an overlay for I-5. In early 2023, that overlay (“greenout”) fell off, revealing a portion of the original signage. The left side of the sign has a State 134 EAST sign as 134 proceeded east toward Pasadena via the Golden State Freeway and Colorado St until 1968.
For more information about US 99:
Enjoy it while it lasts!
