By Pat Gracey
Dead Man's Curve
The Spirit of Tehachapi
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Years ago when one traveled to Bakersfield over U.S. Highway 466, it involved going down what is now known as the “old road” which, at that time, was the only way one could get to Bakersfield. To navigate this historic road today, one must proceed west on Highway202 and turn right on Woodford-Tehachapi Road. This will put you on the old road that we all once traveled moving northwest down past Keene and into the San Joaquin Valley.
On this old road was an infamous turn called Dead Man’s Curve! Just before reaching the intersection of Old Town Road as it connected with the highway, there was a rather innocent looking curve which carried the ominous title. I recall, as a child, hearing people saying it caused accidents because it was improperly banked and if one went too fast they were in danger of going over the embankment.
Through the years I would sometimes ask an old timer if they could recall any accidents on that curve and most of them didn’t remember anyone going over the bank. They would all admit to seeing just how fast they could safely execute the famed spot in the road. But, when my husband stopped being a Marine and we moved to our Golden Hills location my neighbor went over the bank and was killed.
Most locals were aware of it and knew how to handle the car on the famed curve.
As newer people came to town the name of the curve became unknown and only the older residents knew of its past reputation. Actually, the highway itself has numerous sharp curves where many accidents have happened and taken their toll. It could more aptly be called, Dead Man’s Highway.
It hasn’t been too long ago that Dead Man’s Curve met its demise and was bypassed in favor of the straight, downward grade that Woodford-Tehachapi Road now takes and which intersects with Old Town Road at the bottom of the incline. For several years there was no left turn area painted on the road because there was no room for a left turn lane. To stop and turn left to Old Town Road could be hazardous to one’s health and automobile for fear of an approaching vehicle topping the hill and moving downward towards the stopped vehicle, hopefully avoiding a collision. The skid marks were interesting and new ones appeared daily for there was no room to drive around on the two lane road.
That’s what happened in good weather. In bad weather, when there is snow and ice on the road one could see autos sliding sideways on the downgrade. If they were lucky they missed oncoming traffic. I take Westwood when the roads are bad because there is lots of room for correction.
The Highway Department must have gone through a lot of red tape to finally get permission to widen the road at that intersection. A left turn lane onto Old Town Road now exists and there is room to pass . Of course, it doesn’t help much in the snow and ice in the winter. As I turn on Westwood I glance up the road and sometimes a car will be crossways on the steep incline trying to right itself. You can’t have everything!
A portion of Dead Man’s Curve still exists in the form of a charming little access road leading off Old Town Road. The name of the scenic little lane is Leah Court. From Woodford-Tehachapi there is no visible evidence of the once famous old curve.
