Hacienda Elementary School - California City, CA

Hacienda Elementary opened to nearly 450 2nd through 6th grade students, and it is beautiful. This photo captures just one of the modern buildings at the corner of Hacienda and Redwood Boulevards. The school is adjacent to California City Middle School, just to the east, making family drop-offs and pick-ups very convenient.

Cal City Business Park - California City, CA

Open for business on the north side of California City Boulevard, not far from Aspen Mall. Here you have the convenience of Sears, restaurants, and specialty shops. Radio Shack is right next door.

Roger

Solar energy now! - California City, CA

Alternative energy is a hot topic, especially around California City. FPL Energy, a national leader in solar thermal power production, recently applied for certification on a 250-megawatt solar plant projected to be built about ten miles north of the City. It will be known as the Beacon Solar Energy Project and is expected to be in operation by 2011. (Photo from: FPL Energy, LLC)

Roger

Down the fairway - California City, CA

Many homes have been constructed adjacent to Tierra Del Sol Championship Golf Course. Here I got caught by the automatic sprinkler system, but the mist was a great refreshment for a warm day. The rear of these homes are along a fairway running between California City Blvd. and South Loop Blvd. In the photo of the lake you can see some of the new homes along South Loop in the distance.

Roger

AltaOne - California City, CA

AltaOne Federal Credit Union opens for business at their new California City location. This beautiful, new building is just the first to be completed along the north side of California City Blvd. to the east of the Civic Center. New streets and more construction pads are already taking shape between the Kern County Public Library to the west and Tierra Del Sol Golf Course to the east.

Roger

New High School - California City, CA

Construction on California City High School is now well underway. There were a few false starts, such as when a protected Mojave Desert Tortoise was found to be living on the 64-acre building site. All forward motion on the project ground to a halt until the tortoise could be relocated. But finally, there will be no more need to bus high school students to the next town with this modern facility. The school should be ready to accept its first freshman class by this September.

Roger

Rows of new homes - California City, CA

New single-family homes are under construction all over the City. It is common to see several homes being erected by a single builder in a concentrated area. There are also projects such as this one where most of an entire block has been under development. By my own observations, I would guess that most of these homes will be occupied before all the homes are completed.

These homes are a few miles northeast of the Civic Center, near Mendiburu and 97th Street.

Roger

New Elementary School - California City, CA

This is the very active construction site of the new Hacienda Elementary School. It will be adjacent to California City Middle School on Redwood Blvd., just to the east. It is one of two new schools now being built within the City.

Roger

Do you recognize this? - Agua Dulce, CA

Many may remember this dramatic location from any of a great number of western movies, sci-fi TV shows and car commercials. On my regular ride from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley, the churning clouds begged to have their picture taken as a backdrop to the famous Vasquez Rocks. The Rocks can be seen on the west side of Highway 14, about 30-minutes drive out of the San Fernando Valley.

Roger

Twin Buttes Riders - California City, CA

When describing this area to those unfamiliar, I quite often mention the captivating Twin Buttes as a point of reference. These landmarks are truly a remarkable sight to see in the southeastern quadrant of California City. They are easy to spot, and sightseeers and recreationers just seem to gravitate toward them. In one photo I was getting ready snap the shutter when I noticed a couple of horseback riders in the foreground on their way back to a large local boarding ranch.

Roger

Aspen Mall - California City, CA

Aspen Mall is at the giant southeast corner of Neuralia Rd. & California City Blvd. Here are familiar names such as Subway and Curves, as well as a representation of locally recognized merchants like grocery, pizza, bank, gym, internet cafe, dry cleaner, real estate, etc.

Roger

Out in the country - California City, CA

We recently offered a large, corner lot in a sparsely developed southwestern nook of the City. While I was composing some scenes for our advertising photos, I was thinking how beautiful the landscape was on this side of town. The terrain is generally flat with enough contouring to please the eye. The trees, homes and mountains to the northwest perfectly complemented the scene. It wasn't long before Mel mentioned that an interested Buyer had also commented on the exceptional views in this area. I had to agree.

Roger

Cows at the creek - California City, CA

Among my favorite sights in California City are the animals that I see while traveling around town. These cows were very cooperative about having their picture taken as they got a cool drink from Cache Creek. This favorite drinking hole is near Forest Blvd, between Desert Butte and Conklin.

Roger

Microtel coming along - California City, CA

The Microtel is being erected east of the golf course where California City Blvd. turns south and heads down toward Highway 58. Now there is new grading which indicates that there may soon be parking lots and additonal pads for more buildings and stores in this rising commercial center.

Roger

Neighborhood view - California City, CA

Here is an older but nice neighborhood just north of California City Blvd., off of Conklin Blvd. This and several of the neighborhoods are virtually surrounded by beautiful Tierra Del Sol Golf Course. From here it is an easy walk to Central Park, the coming Ellison Plaza, and other new developments.

Roger

Wind energy - Tehachapi CA

Tehachapi is another quickly growing community near the northern Antelope Valley area. Here at its edge are some of the over 4,600 wind turbines that the local slopes have become famous for. Wind farms come into view near Highways 14 and 58, west of California City and Mojave.

Roger

Boulevard development - California City, CA

Here is a view from the east side of the public library along the north side of California City Blvd. There are at least several commercial and residential developments going up between the library and Tierra Del Sol Golf Course. Acres have been cleared and the new streets are now beginning to take shape.

Roger

Civic Center - California City, CA

The Civic Center of California City is at California City Blvd. and Hacienda Blvd. The buildings and the grounds are very modern and well kept. Parking is easy and it is a pleasure to drop in here to do any necessary business. Mel points out that California City is a true, master-planned, general law city within Kern County, with its own city hall, city council, building, fire, police, and numerous other city departments. This is important because issues can be handled easily and locally.

At the far (eastern) end of the City buildings is the Kern County Public Library. A glimpse of California City Blvd. is at the far right of the photo.

Roger

More construction - Rosamond, CA

On my way up to California City I stopped in Rosamond. Rosamond is just over the Los Angeles County/Kern County line. Things appear to be extremely active here too, as there were hundreds of new homes going up on brand new streets. Rosamond is south of the Mojave Airport/Spaceport and also a main juction to get to Edwards Airforce Base to the east.

Roger

Antelope Valley Fairgrounds - Lancaster, CA

Just off Highway 14 in Lancaster lies the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. Facilitating hundreds of events each year, it is central to the Antelope Valley heritage. Lancaster is the final large community that is within Los Angeles County on the way to the northern part of the valley. Only minutes up the highway is the Kern County Line.

Roger