Exploring an Abandoned Rest Area? From the 1930s? On Abandoned Highway 80? Yes!

Ready to explore an abandoned, 1930s rest area on abandoned Highway 80 in the mountains of San Diego County? It was named the Ellis Wayside Rest Area and was a popular rest stop. Before we hike to it, though, we'll turn off Route 80 onto a dilapidated side road in search of the old Descanso well down in a ravine. We'll come across a mildly disturbing campsite hidden in the woods and get surprised by two military helicopters flying overhead. After that, we'll return to Highway 80 and continue down to the abandoned Ellis Wayside Rest Area where we'll explore the impressive cistern and catch basin that contained the sparkling spring water which refreshed many weary travelers between the 1930s and the 1960s. It's a great hike down some of California's forgotten highway history, and I'm certainly glad to have you following along with me!

So what exactly was Highway 80? And what killed it? Remember that famous song with the lyric that said, "Get your kicks on Route 66!"? That lyric refers to the other more famous coast-to-coast highway known as Route 66. However, Route 80 was another highway that went across the country from Savannah, Georgia in the east all the way to San Diego, California in the west. That's about 2400 miles (3862 km) to you and me. Highway 80 was located south of its Route 66 cousin and was certainly never as famous as Route 66 was. And nobody took the time to immortalize Route 80 into a song, either. "Get your kicks on Route 80!" just doesn't sound as catchy. Many people in those days, however, made their way into California by driving Route 80 instead of Route 66. The road was built in the early 1930s to replace portions of the old wooden plank road that I recently featured in another video, and the road was in use until the 1960s when the modern Interstate 8 freeway was built to replace it. Cars haven't driven down the off-limit remnants of Highway 80 in decades, and in many places the road is nearly overgrown thus making for an exciting and interesting hike.

#EllisWaysideRestArea
#OldHighway80
#AbandonedRoads
#EllisWaysideRestStop
#Highway80
#AbandonedHighways
#USRoute80

[overland.viking]

That road is still in better shape than most of our roads here in Maine 😮

[painterboy]

For not being used since the 1960's you can still see some of the old lane markings. Nothing like lead based paint for longevity, lol.

[GreatNorthernTech]

Thanks for taking us along Frank. Old roads fascinate me, especially the abandoned infrastructure that went along with them.

[rogerbushong]

I know that road and spring very well. Growing up in San Diego, then Chula Vista we used to travel hwy 80 to go to visit relatives in Phoenix. the last time we drove it was in 1955 when my father was transferred to Virginia. He was US Navy. Although as I write this we may have come back that way in 1962. We stopped at that spring often to freshen up and let my dad's 1952 Pontiac cool off.
The road you followed to look for the Descanso well was the original road to Camp Viejas and Camp Descanso, once former Honor Camps then Probation Dept. Adult Institutions and now run by the Sheriffs Dept. The road was finally washed out by heavy rains down the Sweetwater River and wasn't rebuilt. another one was cut in from the other side.
My father at one ttime worked there after retiring from the Navy and the I worked there after graduating from San Diego State in 1975.
Roger Bushong

[Running_Chowhound]

Dude I live right by this and run it all the time! My house used to be a burger stand back in the day. If you are ever in this area again please let me know!

[davidsenderodelsanto]

This is such a geologically fascinating part of the world.

[michaeldismukes]

My parents arrived in CA via highway 80 from New Mexico in a 1941 Ford. They moved to Santa Maria/Vandenberg where my Dad was launch site manager. I grew up in El Cajon, CA when Dad went to work at plant 19 for General Dynamics. Awesome video... That was a hell of a storm for San Diego.

[Paulman]

Hiking along history trails and old areas is real interesting. Seeing more of this sort of stuff would be real cool.

[mirandadh]

Thank you for documenting this! The world needs more people like you. This is truly awesome!!!

[Necron-ezcc]

Highway 80 was a fixture of my youth. Our family farm sat right on the south side of 80 in West Central Alabama. I can't count the times I traveled 80 between Selma, AL and Meridian, MS.

[Velvet-Sunshine.]

Great video, I love this kind of devotion and work to take me to historical places. Much thanks.

[The_Vaporizer]

My dad drove us on the 80 in the 1960's to get to Arizona and see our grandparents. A 47' Woody with no seatbelts and that highway rarely had guardrails.

[dobroda]

SUPER! Here in Russia now I have drifts of snow, and you seem to have summer =) a wonderful weckend bro !

[williamwintemberg]

This video is so interesting! A long forgotten road that is left for nature to take it back.

[gestovo]

It blows my mind how long you have been doing YouTube I respect it

[facundodtd]

I don't miss any video, I send greetings from Argentina

[LootGoblinPenny]

This is some Fallout level scenery. I love nature reclaimed land.

[BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

Thus is so neat! I love these kinds of things 👍👍

[astralvirgin]

Hi Frank! Well, I learned something today: I'm a native born Californian and I had no idea there was an abandoned Hwy 80! Much less an abandoned rest area! Thanks for that history lesson, can't think of a better teacher! Hope all is well, take care and I look forward to the next adventure!

[jaredwblack]

Aside from the vegetation in the expansion joints, that concrete, abandoned after all these years, appears to be in far better condition than most of the roads here in Michigan