Tuesday 3 November 2015

Harvey House, Barstow

Casa Del Desierto a Spanish-Moorish Harvey House in Barstow opened in 1911 and closed in 1971.   The building was registered as one of the last and finest remaining examples of the famous Harvey Houses.
 
The beautiful building has been restored and is now home to offices, two of the ground floor rooms are open to the public.
 
Like all Harvey Houses it fronts the railway tracks.   The storm clouds in the photograph on the day we visited never actually hit us, but were part of a massive storm that hit central California, causing mudslides on I5 and Tehachapi Pass and flooding in Antelope Valley.

Amtrack still stop at Barstow twice a day, albeit very late at night and very early in the morning, once going East and once going West.
 
When it was an operational Harvey House, for the princely sum of $1.45 (that would probably buy you a coffee today) you could order from a
 
Traveller’s Special
Fried Filet of Sole with Tartar Sauce, French Fried Potatoes & Coleslaw
Or
Potted Ox Joint with Potatoes & Vegetables
Roll & Butter
Choice of Pie, Ice cream or Sherbet
Choice of Beverage
  
One of the dining rooms as it would’ve been when it was a Harvey House.

And how it looks today.

Have fun, we are!

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