01/01/2006 | 25m 53s | Video has closed captioning.
Huell pulls off the road in Barstow for a bite to eat at the Slash X Cafe, a favorite of off-roaders who usually pull up on their dirt bikes, quads or trucks.
Aired: 01/01/06
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning
Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: WELL, THIS IS EXCITING.
WE ARE STARTING OFF OUR ADVENTURE.
IT'S ABOUT--GOSH, IT'S STILL EARLY.
IT'S JUST ABOUT 10:15 ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
WE ARE--BRIAN, INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.
Brian: I'M BRIAN LYNN HERE AT THE SLASH X RANCH.
Huell: AT THE SLASH X RANCH.
WHERE ARE WE LOCATED, BRIAN?
Brian: WE'RE 8 MILES SOUTH OF BARSTOW ON HIGHWAY 247, BARSTOW ROAD.
Huell: NOW, WE MET ACTUALLY LAST WEEK.
I WAS COMING DOWN HIGHWAY 247 ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
I PULLED INTO YOUR PLACE FOR BREAKFAST, AND THAT OPENED UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR ME, BECAUSE YOU SEE THESE LITTLE ROADHOUSES ALL OVER CALIFORNIA, AND THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN CHARACTER AND THEIR OWN HISTORY, BUT YOURS IS KIND OF UNIQUE, ISN'T IT?
Brian: YES, IT IS, AND I ENJOY ALL THE OFF-ROAD VEHICLES COMING IN, AND THAT'S THE FUN PART OF IT.
Huell: OFF-ROAD VEHICLES.
BECAUSE ALL OF THESE VEHICLES OUT HERE, AND THIS IS JUST PART OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE TODAY, ON THE WEEKENDS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SPRING AND THE FALL, THIS PLACE IS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR ALL THE OFF-ROAD VEHICLES THAT USED THIS B.L.M.
LAND THAT'S BEEN OPENED UP FOR THEM TO LEGALLY GO OUT AND ENJOY THEMSELVES.
Brian: THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S VERY RIGHT.
AND WE HAVE, LIKE, 20 SQUARE MILES, 54,000 ACRES OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLE USE HERE.
Huell: AND HOW DID YOUR PLACE BECOME GROUND ZERO ALL OF A SUDDEN?
Brian: WELL, IN 1954, THE RANCHER OF SLASH X RANCH HAD A RANCH OUT HERE AND HE BUILT A PLACE FOR HIS GUYS SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO TOWN TO EAT AND TO DRINK.
Huell: UH-HUH.
SO THIS WAS STARTED OFF, NOT AS A PLACE FOR OFF-ROAD VEHICLES, BUT IS AN ACTUAL RANCHER'S HANGOUT.
Brian: RIGHT, AND THEY RODE HORSES AND NOW THEY'RE RIDING MOTORCYCLE HORSES.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT ABOUT TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA KIND OF-- ACTUALLY, THIS IS AS QUIET AS I'VE EVER HEARD IT OUT HERE.
THEY'RE ALL INSIDE HAVING BREAKFAST.
Brian: YES, THEY ARE.
Huell: AND THE DEAL IS THAT THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE HERE, RIGHT?
Brian: OH, YEAH.
IN FACT, WE HAVE MORE BIKES, DUNE BUGGIES, 4-WHEEL DRIVES, AND OFF-ROAD VEHICLES LINED UP HERE IN FRONT THAN WE DO CARS OR TRUCKS EVEN.
Huell: FATHER AND SON STANDING IN FRONT OF THEIR BRAND-NEW BIKES.
>> BRAND SPANKING NEW.
YESTERDAY, GOT 'EM IN PHOENIX.
Huell: YEAH.
YOU'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF WEAR ON THEM TODAY, THOUGH.
>> QUITE A BIT.
WE FOUND THAT WE LIKE THEM.
Huell: A LITTLE BIT OF DUST THAT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE OUT THERE USING THEM.
>> FROM HIM.
LOOK AT ME.
Huell: WHERE ARE YOU ALL FROM?
>> WE'RE FROM LAGUNA NIGEL.
Huell: AND I FIND THIS AMAZING, 'CAUSE YOU ARE--RIGHT NOW WE ARE ALL A LONG WAY FROM LAGUNA NIGEL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
>> WE ARE A FEW MILES.
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT CLIMATE OUT HERE.
Huell: AND ATMOSPHERE.
>> OH, OH.
Huell: JUST THE WHOLE SETUP.
>> SPRING.
THE FLOWERS.
LOOK AT THE FLOWERS IN THE DESERT HERE.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
Huell: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS EXPERIENCE OUT HERE ON THE WEEKENDS WITH YOUR SON?
>> THIS DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER.
THIS IS SMELLING THE ROSES.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
THAT'S WHY I DO IT.
THAT'S WHY I WAS TALKED INTO $14,000 WORTH OF MOTORCYCLES.
Huell: YOU DID THE TALKIN'?
>> YES, I DID.
Huell: WELL, HE DID A GOOD JOB.
>> 2 MONTHS IT TOOK HIM, THOUGH.
60 DAYS OF TALKING, HE GOT ME.
Huell: WHO'S THIS LADY RIGHT HERE?
>> THAT'S MY DAUGHTER.
THAT'S ASHLEY.
Huell: SO YOU BRING HER OUT RIDING.
>> SHE RIDES WITH THE BEST OF US.
SHE BEATS ME ALL THE TIME.
Huell: AND WHY DO YOU ALWAYS STOP HERE AT THE SLASH X?
>> WE BEEN COMING HERE FOR HOW LONG, BRUCE?
20 YEARS, PROBABLY.
Huell: 20 YEARS!
WOW!
>> SO THIS IS A NICE DESTINATION WHEN YOU'RE IN THE DESERT, YOU COME OVER HERE AND GET A SODA AND RIDE BACK.
Huell: SO YOU'RE BRINGING ANOTHER WHOLE GENERATION INTO THIS THING.
>> I HOPE SO.
I HOPE WHEN I'M A GRANDPARENT, SHE'LL BE BRINGING HER KIDS AND I'LL BE WATCHING.
Huell: AND IT PROBABLY HASN'T CHANGED THAT MUCH SINCE SHE STARTED COMING HERE, EITHER, HAS IT?
>> THE RIDE'S STILL HARD.
HA HA.
IT GETS HARDER.
HA HA HA!
AS I GET OLDER.
Huell: NOW, HERE COMES A TRUCK, SO THERE'S ALL KIND OF VEHICLES.
WHAT'S THE DEAL?
THEY COME IN OFF THE FREEWAY...AND WHERE DO THEY GET OFF THE FREEWAY?
Brian: THEY GET OFF ON HODGE ROADS, MANY EXITS BEFORE BARSTOW, DOWNTOWN BARSTOW.
ANYWHERE FROM VICTORVILLE TO BARSTOW, MORE OR LESS.
Huell: THEY GET OFF THE 15.
Brian: OFF THE 15.
AND THEY CAMP, AND THEN THIS IS A DESTINATION RIDE.
THEY RIDE OVER HERE AND EAT AND THEN THEY RIDE BACK TO THEIR CAMPSITE.
Huell: SO THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF TRAILS OUT IN HERE.
Brian: YES, THERE ARE.
Huell: AND CAMPING AREAS.
Brian: YOU CAN CAMP ANYWHERE IN THE DESERT HERE.
IT'S ALL OPEN CAMPING FOR THE PUBLIC.
Huell: SO THEY'RE COMING HERE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, EATING, HAVING A PITCHER OF BEER, THEN GOING BACK TO WHEREVER THEY WERE SPENDING THE NIGHT OR WHEREVER THEY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY.
Brian: THAT'S CORRECT.
SOME DO CAMP HERE IN THE CLOSE AREA, BUT MOST OF 'EM GENERALLY COME FROM ACROSS THE DESERT.
Huell: WOW.
WELL, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THE 15 FREEWAY AS THE WAY TO GET TO VEGAS.
REALLY, IT'S THE WAY TO GET TO THE SLASH X. Brian: SOME PEOPLE SAY ALL ROADS LEAD TO SLASH X, AS LONG AS IT'S A DIRT ROAD.
Huell: HA HA HA HA!
OK, WE HAVE MOVED INSIDE, AND, BOY, THIS PLACE HAS...THIS IS THE REAL THING, ISN'T IT?
YOU HAVEN'T MANUFACTURED ANY OF THIS ATMOSPHERE IN HERE.
Brian: NO, NO, IT JUST HAPPENED THIS WAY, MORE OR LESS.
Huell: AND A LOT OF FAMOUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN HERE.
TELL US ABOUT THE MOVIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE INSIDE HERE.
Brian: ERIN BROCKOVICH MOVIE WITH JULIA ROBERTS WAS MADE RIGHT IN HERE IN THE BARROOM SCENE.
SHE SAT RIGHT HERE AT THE SEAT.
SHE CAME UP FROM A TABLE OVER HERE, WALKED UP AND TALKED TO THE MAN, AND THE WHOLE BARROOM SCENE WAS IN HERE.
Huell: REALLY?
AND HOW DID THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PLACE TO FILM THAT MOVIE?
Brian: WELL, ACTUALLY, THIS PLACE WAS PRETTY WELL KNOWN.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW SHE FOUND OUT, BUT WORD GETS AROUND THAT THIS IS OUT IN THE DESERT.
PLUS, IT WAS WAS FILMED UP IN HINKLEY, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO BARSTOW.
Huell: DID YOU MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF THE MOVIE?
Brian: UH, SOME.
Huell: THAT'S BRAGGING RIGHTS.
Brian: BRAGGING RIGHTS, BRAGGING RIGHTS.
Huell: AND WHAT ABOUT THIS CEILING?
WHERE DID THIS TRADITION OF PUTTING HATS UP ON THE CEILING COME FROM?
Brian: PEOPLE JUST WANTED TO BE A PART OF SLASH X RANCH AND CAFE AND THEY JUST WANTED TO PUT THEIR HAT HERE SO THAT WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY COULD FIND IT.
THE FUNNY THING IS, MOST OF THE HATS ARE GROUPED UP AND THEN WE PUT 'EM UP HERE, SO EVERY TIME THEY COME, THEY LOOK FOR THEIR HAT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY FORGET WHERE THEY PUT THEIR HAT, 'CAUSE THERE'S OVER 2,000 HATS ON THE CEILING.
AND THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.
Huell: NOW, WHEN YOU BOUGHT THIS PLACE, DID IT LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE IT LOOKS NOW OR YOU IMPROVED IT OVER THE YEARS?
Brian: WE'VE DONE JUST MINOR CHANGES.
JUST IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT OTHERWISE, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY.
Huell: 'CAUSE I IMAGINE PEOPLE LIKE IT KIND OF LIKE THIS.
Brian: RIGHT, RIGHT, THAT'S THE MAIN THING--NO CHANGE.
AND I DIDN'T WANT ANY CHANGE.
I WANTED IT TO BE THE WAY IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
THAT'S THE THING ABOUT IT.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO OVER HERE AND TALK TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.
NOW, THIS FELLA'S SITTING RIGHT WHERE JULIA ROBERTS SAT.
Brian: THAT'S RIGHT.
Huell: YOU'RE IN THE JULIA ROBERTS SEAT RIGHT HERE.
>> YES, I AM.
Huell: WHAT'S THE DEAL?
YOU ALL COME OUT HERE EVERY WEEK?
>> YEAH, MY DAUGHTER AND I RIDE OUT SUNDAY MORNINGS, ABOUT A 60 MILE LOOP.
ABOUT 11 WEEKS IN A ROW?
Huell: REALLY?
SO DURING THE SPRING, YOU'RE HERE EVERY WEEKEND.
>> PRETTY MUCH.
COME OUT FOR BREAKFAST, AND SOMEPLACE TO GO.
Huell: WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE SUMMER?
>> OH, WE GO TO THE RIVER.
Huell: HA HA HA!
IT'S TOO HOT OUT HERE, ISN'T IT?
>> YES, IT IS.
Huell: AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FEELING IN HERE TO PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE?
>> JUST REALLY LAID BACK AND JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME.
Huell: DO YOU RECOGNIZE A LOT OF THE SAME PEOPLE WEEK AFTER WEEK?
LOTTA NEW PEOPLE COMING IN.
>> LOTTA REGULARS COME IN, YOU KNOW, VISIT WITH.
IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE, SAME GROUP, SAME INTERESTS.
Huell: YEAH, I GUESS THAT'S THE DEAL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF REGULARS.
Brian: A LOT OF REGULARS AND A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
PEOPLE TELLING THEIR FRIENDS, THEN THEY COME OUT AND SAY, "YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS PLACE OUT HERE."
Huell: OR THEY JUST CHANCE UPON IT LIKE I DID LAST WEEKEND.
I WALKED IN HERE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO.
Brian: RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE.
'CAUSE I LOVE TO TALK TO EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN HERE.
THAT'S A FACT.
Huell: YEAH, HE LIKES TO TALK.
THAT'S 'CAUSE YOU LOVE THIS PLACE.
Brian: I DO, I DO.
THAT'S THE REASON I BOUGHT IT, 'CAUSE I HAD RACED OUT HERE, AND I CAME ACROSS IT WHEN I RACED.
AND THAT WAS IN 1971.
AND EVER SINCE THEN, I JUST KNEW THAT I LOVED THIS PLACE AND I WANTED IT.
IT WAS A DONE DEAL WHEN I HEARD IT WAS FOR SALE.
Huell: HE'S SITTING OVER HERE HAVING A BREWSKI THIS MORNING.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
>> BAY AREA.
Huell: YOU'RE COMING DOWN ALL THE WAY FROM SAN FRANCISCO?
>> YES.
IT'S QUITE A GOOD TIME.
YOU GET OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE LIKE THIS AND JUST RIDE FOR DAYS.
Huell: NOW, YOU DIDN'T COME HERE JUST TO RACE FROM SAN FRANCISCO?
>> WELL, I DROVE DOWN FROM THE BAY AREA TO GO TO VEGAS FOR A CONVENTION FOR WORK.
BUT DEFINITELY GOTTA COME TO THE DESERT.
YOU BRING YOUR TOYS WITH YA.
Huell: AND HOW DID YOU GET TO THE SLASH X RANCH?
HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PLACE?
>> LOTS OF WHOOP-DE-DOs, SAND TRAILS, AND DIRT HILLS.
Huell: ALL LEADING HERE.
>> EXACTLY.
THE TRAILS ALL COME HERE.
Huell: WE GOT LEE BERRY, THE FOUNDER'S BOOTS AND HAT.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF HIM, AND THERE IS THE ORIGINAL SLASH X.
EXPLAIN THIS TO US, BRIAN.
THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.
YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE SHRINE TO LEE BERRY UP HERE.
Brian: RIGHT.
AND THESE ARE ACTUAL ROOTS, AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THE X HAS GROWN TOGETHER, AND IT WAS FOUND OUT HERE IN THE DESERT.
AND A PATRON THAT CAME IN HERE, HE DONATED THAT AND MADE THAT, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY UNIQUE TO SLASH X.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A PART OF SLASH X. Huell: HOW DID IT GET THE NAME SLASH X?
Brian: THAT WAS A BRAND FOR THE CATTLE.
IT WAS A SLASH AND AN X AND IT WAS BRANDED ON THE COW.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE SETTLING DOWN FOR BURGERS, FRIES, AND TALKING ABOUT ACTIVITIES, OUT RIDING AROUND THIS MORNING, YOU SAY HE'S NOT TOO HAPPY.
>> NO, HE AIN'T HAPPY AT ALL.
HE WAS TRYING TO KEEP UP AND ATE IT.
>> NEW BIKE.
NEW BIKE.
TRYING TO RIDE WITH MY BOYS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET 48, IT GETS A LITTLE TOUGHER, YOU KNOW?
Huell: WELL, BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE OUT THERE WITH 'EM.
>> YES.
WE REALLY ENJOY IT OUT HERE.
WE COME QUITE A BIT, ACTUALLY.
Huell: AND DO YOU ALWAYS COME HERE TO THE SLASH X?
>> YES.
WE'RE ABOUT 12 MILES... >> THIS PLACE IS AN ICON.
AIN'T NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Huell: NOW, WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?
IS IT BECAUSE OF THE BURGERS, THE FRIES, THE ATMOSPHERE?
>> IT'S 'CAUSE YOU CAN PARK YOUR BIKE RIGHT OUT FRONT.
>> YOU CAN RIDE YOUR BIKE HERE AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S SO COOL.
Huell: YOU CAN RIDE YOUR BIKE HERE, PLAY GAMES... >> PRETTY MUCH.
Huell: AND YOU'RE GONNA EAT THIS WHOLE BURGER AND ALL THESE FRIES RIGHT HERE?
>> YEP.
Huell: WE'VE COME OUT BACK BECAUSE PART OF THE SLASH X EXPERIENCE IS COMING BACK HERE AND SITTING AROUND THESE TABLES UNDER THE SKY HERE.
EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THIS GROUP IS, WHERE YOU ALL ARE FROM, AND WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
>> WE'RE A GROUP FROM ORANGE COUNTY.
I GOT 2 FUTURE SON-IN-LAWS MIXED IN HERE.
THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE, THOUGH.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE I RAN OVER.
AND GARY AND I ARE SECOND GENERATION DIRT BIKE RIDERS.
WE DID IT YEARS AGO AND THE BOYS DRUG US BACK OUT AGAIN.
Huell: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS BACKYARD AREA.
EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT GOES ON BACK HERE, BRIAN.
Brian: WELL, WE CAN SEAT 300 PEOPLE.
A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE TO BRING IN TABLES, BUT WE HAVE AN ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BARBECUE WHEN THERE'S AN EVENT OR A RACE OUT HERE.
THERE'S RACES AND DIFFERENT EVENTS AND POKER RUNS OUT IN THE DESERT AND WHATEVER.
THEN WE HAVE THE BARBECUES BACK HERE WITH ALL YOU CAN EAT RIBS, CHICKEN, BEANS, CORN, AND IT TURNS INTO A FESTIVE DEAL.
WE HAVE A BAND THAT PLAYS ON THE TRAILER WHICH IS A TRUCK TRAILER BACK HERE.
Huell: IS THAT AT NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY?
I'M STILL LEARNING ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE OUT HERE.
Brian: DURING THE DAY FROM ABOUT 3:30 ON, BECAUSE USUALLY THE EVENTS ARE OVER BY ABOUT 3:30 OR 4:00.
SO IT'S STILL DAYTIME.
Huell: BUT IF PEOPLE COME OUT HERE IN THE SUMMERTIME, THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYTHING GOING ON.
IT JUST MIGHT BE HOT!
Brian: IT'S WARM.
100 DEGREES AND UNDER IS PERFECT OUT HERE BECAUSE IT'S A DRY HEAT.
Huell: SO THE BIKERS WILL STILL COME OUT HERE IN THE SUMMER?
Brian: MOSTLY IN THE MORNING, THEN THEY STAY HERE, THEN THEY HEAD BACK IN THE EVENING WHEN IT COOLS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT BUSINESS 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR HERE.
Brian: NOT AS BUSY DURING THE SUMMER BECAUSE IT'S HOT.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OWN JET SKIS AND BOATS AND THEY GO TO THE RIVER INSTEAD.
Huell: OK, HERE IT COMES.
NOW, THIS IS ONE OF YOUR SPECIALTY ITEMS, RIGHT?
Brian: RIGHT.
IT'S CALLED THE MOUNTAIN.
Huell: LET'S BRING THESE THINGS OVER HERE.
THIS--YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEE THESE TO BELIEVE THESE.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE, BRIAN?
Brian: UNDERNEATH THE CHEESE AND THE ONIONS, THERE'S CHILI ON TOP OF FRIES.
Huell: UH-HUH.
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY YOU CALL THESE MOUNTAINS.
Brian: WE ALSO HAVE THE HILL, WHICH IS SMALLER-- [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE THE HILL AND THE MOUNTAIN, BUT THESE ARE THE MOUNTAINS, AND THEY'LL SERVE APPROXIMATELY 6.
Huell: 6?
Brian: 6.
SO THIS'LL SERVE 12.
Huell: WOW.
Brian: BIG EATERS.
Huell: YOU GOT 2 MOUNTAINS HERE!
LOOK AT THIS!
GOODNESS, GRACIOUS!
WHO CAME UP WITH THIS?
Brian: IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
HA HA HA!
Huell: AND RIGHT HERE BESIDE THE PATIO OUT BACK...BRIAN, THIS IS YOUR HOUSE, AND NOW YOU'RE GETTING ALL SENSITIVE ABOUT PEOPLE SEEING THE WEEDS IN YOUR FRONT YARD.
BUT I HAVE A FEELING YOU REALLY DON'T CARE.
THIS IS YOUR CASTLE, ISN'T IT?
Brian: IT VERY MUCH IS.
THE CAFE AND EVERYTHING, THAT'S MY BACKYARD.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE SWIMMING POOLS AND SHOW OFF THEIR BACKYARD.
WELL, SLASH X, THE REST OF THE RANCH IS MINE.
AND I JUST LIVE HERE.
THIS IS FINE WITH ME.
THIS IS MY CASTLE.
Huell: YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR HAPPINESS OUT HERE IN THE DESERT.
Brian: I HAVE, I REALLY HAVE.
I ENJOY EVERYTHING ABOUT IT-- ALL THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND OUT OF HERE AND MEET NEW FACES AND SEE THEM HAPPY THAT THEY'RE HERE AND HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING, SO IT'S JUST ONE OVERALL NEAT EVENT.
Huell: WE'RE BACK HERE ON YOUR BACK 40, AND YOU REALLY DO HAVE A BACK 40, DON'T YOU?
Brian: IT'S A TOTAL OF 44 ACRES, BUT THIS IS THE BACK 40.
Huell: AND YOU WANTED TO BRING US BACK HERE TO SHOW US--WELL, I HATE TO TELL YOU, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE VERY MUCH OF A BARN.
YOU SAID IT WAS A HISTORIC BARN.
Brian: YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS BARN'S BEEN HERE SINCE THE FORTIES, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY THE RANCH BARN, AND IT WAS USED AS A RANCHER'S BARN.
Huell: BACK WHEN THIS WAS A CATTLE RANCH.
Brian: RIGHT.
BUT NOW IT'S MORE OR LESS FRIENDS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT COME IN HERE, THEY USE THE BARN FACILITY FOR CAMPING, AND THEY COME OUT HERE.
Huell: DO YOU HAVE ANY CAMPING FACILITIES OUT HERE, OR IS THAT... Brian: RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST ALL OPEN CAMPING, AND THEY CHECK IN AT THE CAFE AND THEN I'LL ALLOW THEM TO CAMP OUT HERE.
BUT SOMEDAY WE WILL HAVE AN RV PARK HERE WITH FULL HOOKUPS.
AND THEN YOU CAN BRING YOUR TOY BOXES AND YOUR WHATEVER AND UNLOAD AND RIDE RIGHT OUT INTO THE DESERT.
IT'LL BE VERY UNIQUE, THE ONLY ONE IN CALIFORNIA.
Huell: YOU GOT BIG PLANS FOR THIS PLACE.
Brian: YES, I DO.
YES, I DO.
Huell: LET'S GO OVER AND TALK TO THESE GUYS, 'CAUSE YOU ALL GOT TO SLEEP OUT HERE AT THE BARN, FELLOWS.
>> YEAH, WE DID.
Huell: WHAT WAS IT LIKE OUT HERE LAST NIGHT, NICE AND QUIET?
>> YEAH, REAL QUIET.
Huell: PROBABLY A LITTLE COOL OUT HERE.
>> THE WIND BLOWS A LOT.
SOMETIMES.
NOT ALL THE TIME.
LIKE TODAY IT'S PERFECT.
Huell: WELL, HOW DID YOU ALL GET TO STAY OUT HERE?
>> WE'VE BEEN COMING OUT HERE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND BRIAN JUST TOOK OVER AND HE'S BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND WE LOVE IT.
IT'S GREAT.
IT'S REAL QUIET AND IF YOU NEED TO GO OUT IN THE HILLS, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
>> NOT TO MENTION, FROM THIS POINT IS LIKE A STARTING POINT TO A BILLION DIFFERENT TRAILS AND A BILLION DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADVENTURES.
Huell: SO BASICALLY, ALL OF THIS LAND OUT HERE IS OPEN FOR... WHAT'S THE TECHNICAL WORD FOR WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?
Brian: OHV, OFF-ROAD VEHICLE USE.
OFF HIGHWAY USE.
Huell: THAT MEANS ALL KINDS OF VEHICLES.
Brian: RIGHT.
DUNE BUGGIES, QUADS, 4-WHEEL DRIVES, DIRT BIKES.
Huell: IS THERE A PECKING ORDER HERE?
I MEAN, IN OTHER WORDS, SOME RIDERS ARE CONSIDERED BETTER THAN OTHERS AND WITH BIGGER, YOU KNOW, ENGINES AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING?
Brian: NO, BUT PROBABLY EVERYBODY THAT OWNS A 4-WHEEL DRIVE THINKS THAT'S THE BEST.
THE DUNE BUGGY GUY THINKS HIS IS THE BEST, AND THE BIKE GUY THINKS HIS IS THE BEST.
SO.... Huell: NOW, WE CAME AROUND HERE BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO SHOW US THE SIDE OF THE BARN THAT LOOKS BETTER.
Brian, laughing: RIGHT, RIGHT.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN 14 WEDDINGS HERE AT THE BARN AND DIFFERENT EVENTS ARE STAGED HERE.
WE HAVE THE OFF-ROAD RACES ARE HERE, AND THE TECH INSPECTION USES THE BARN AND THEY PARADE RIGHT THROUGH THE BARN FOR FINAL TECH.
Huell: WHERE ARE THE WEDDINGS HELD?
DO THEY STAND UP HERE OR DOWN HERE?
Brian: NO, ACTUALLY, THEY JUST USE THE FRONT PART OF IT, THEN THEY SET UP THE FOOD INSIDE THE BARN.
Huell: I GOTCHA.
YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING GOING ON HERE, DON'T YA?
YOU FIGURED ALL OF THIS OUT.
YOU'RE WORKING A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES ON THIS PLACE.
Brian: WELL, THOSE ARE EVENTS THAT ALREADY CAME ABOUT.
SO FAR WE HAVEN'T HAD A WEDDING FOR A WHILE, BUT WE'LL PROBABLY GET BACK INTO THAT.
Huell: SO IF YOU WANNA GET MARRIED, THERE'S THE BARN RIGHT THERE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO MOVE THE TRAILER OUT OF THE WAY... Brian: RIGHT, RIGHT.
AND THEY CAN BE MARRIED ON A HORSE.
THAT'S THE WAY A LOT OF THEM WERE--NOT ALL OF THEM--BUT SOME WERE.
AND THERE WAS EVEN A HAWAIIAN WEDDING HERE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WITH THE BARN AS A RUSTIC-- Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS HISTORY GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN THIS WAS A CATTLE RANCH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING MARRIED ON A HORSE AND ALL OF THIS SORT OF THING.
THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF A MEETING PLACE FOR PEOPLE.
Brian: YES, IT HAS.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF HORSE-RIDING EVENTS.
THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HE WAS VERY MUCH SO A COWBOY AND HE HAD A PRIZE HORSE CALLED JOKER B AND THAT WAS A FAMED APPALOOSA.
AND HE WAS VERY MUCH INTO THE WESTERN AND THE FRONTIER AND THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE, EXPLORING AND ALL THAT.
Huell: SO BEFORE THERE WERE OFF-ROAD VEHICLES HERE, THERE WERE CATTLE, THERE WERE COWBOYS, AND THERE WERE HORSES.
Brian: YES, VERY MUCH SO.
RIGHT.
Huell: OK, HERE WE ARE.
WE'VE GOT THE EXCITEMENT BUILDING.
ELEANOR CAME OVER AND INTRODUCED HERSELF TO US.
TELL US ABOUT THIS GROUP, ELEANOR, 'CAUSE THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING GROUP YOU GOT HERE.
Eleanor: THIS GROUP LOVES TO GO RIDING AND THEY LOVE THE SLASH X BAR.
IT'S FUN TO COME HERE AND HAVE A BEER THEN HEAD BACK TO OUR CAMPGROUND AND GO RIDING.
Huell: NOW, WHERE IS THIS GROUP FROM?
THAT'S WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING.
Eleanor: ACTUALLY, THEY'RE FROM ALL OVER, BUT MOSTLY ORANGE COUNTY.
Huell: AND THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER.
Eleanor: YES, THEY DO.
THEY WORK FOR ALBERTSON'S.
THEY'RE MOSTLY TRUCK DRIVERS.
THEY GET IN THEIR VEHICLES AND COME OUT HERE AND HAVE SOME FUN.
Huell: WELL, THIS IS PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE FUN AND A LITTLE FASTER THAN DRIVING AN ALBERTSON'S GROCERY TRUCK.
Eleanor: EXACTLY.
THEY HAVE A GOOD TIME BREAKING THE SPEED LIMIT.
THEY CAN'T DO THAT DURING THE DAY, SO... Huell: ABSOLUTELY.
THEY'RE BREAKING THE SPEED LIMIT OUT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OUT HERE.
Eleanor: EXACTLY.
Huell: WHO SHOULD I TALK WITH?
WHO'S KIND OF IN CHARGE AROUND HERE?
Eleanor: WELL, I GOTTA TELL YOU, WE HAVE DALE OVER HERE.
DALE'S-- Huell: LOOK, THERE HE GOES.
YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF THIS GROUP?
TELL US ABOUT THIS GROUP.
WE HEAR YOU'RE ALL MOST OF YA DRIVERS FROM ALBERTSON'S.
Dale: YES.
AND THE REST IS FAMILY.
Huell: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON THIS TRADITION OF COMING OUT HERE?
Dale: THIS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME AS A GROUP OUT HERE.
WE JUST ALL BEEN TALKING AT WORK ABOUT GOING RIDING DIFFERENT WEEKENDS AND DIFFERENT PLACES WE GO.
Huell: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE?
Dale: IT'S VERY NICE.
FIRST TIME WE EVER BEEN HERE.
GREAT FOOD.
WE HAD A GOOD TIME.
>> GREAT BURGERS.
Huell: WHAT?
>> GREAT BURGERS!
Huell: WELL, SEE, YOU NEEDED 'EM FOR SOME OF THAT ENERGY, DIDN'T YOU?
Dale: THIS IS MY SON AND THAT'S MY SON AND THEN MY DAUGHTER.
Huell: HOWDY.
Eleanor: IT'S ALL ABOUT FAMILY.
Huell: AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT OUT HERE, ISN'T IT?
Eleanor: THIS IS MY HUSBAND MIKE.
MY SON JUSTIN IS RIGHT OVER THERE.
EVERYBODY BRINGS THEIR FAMILY, THEIR SONS, THEIR DAUGHTERS.
IT'S A GREAT TIME.
Huell: WOW.
ALL RIGHT, NOW IS EVERYBODY READY?
WE WANNA GET A GROUP SHOT OF EVERYBODY RIDING OFF INTO THE SUNSET.
Eleanor: YOU BET.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
IS EVERYBODY READY TO GO?
THERE THEY GO, THE GROUP FROM ALBERTSON'S!
THEY'RE HEADIN' OFF INTO THE DISTANCE!
THERE THEY GO!
WHOA!
Huell: IN A CLOUD OF DUST!
GOOD-BYE!
[LAUGHING] YOU JUST PULLED IN... >> YES, I DID.
Huell: AFTER A HARD DAY OUT IN THE HINTERLANDS.
>> YES, SIR.
WE JUST CAME FROM HODGE ROAD, JUST RODE A LOT OF WHOOP-DE-DOs BACK, HAVING A GREAT TIME.
Huell: WHAT'S A WHOOP-DE-DOO FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW.
>> A WHOOP-DE-DOO IS A SERIES OF LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD, IN THE DIRT ROAD.
SO IT'LL TIRE YOU OUT.
Huell: HOW FAR DO PEOPLE USUALLY RIDE ON AN AVERAGE WHEN THEY COME OUT HERE ON A WEEKEND?
>> WELL, I RODE...
PROBABLY ABOUT 40 MILES YESTERDAY.
Huell: REALLY?
>> YEAH, WITH ME AND MY BOYS OVER THERE.
IT'S A NICE LITTLE FAMILY--YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY THAT RIDES TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
BUT WE'LL PROBABLY DO ABOUT 30 TODAY.
A LITTLE SORE FROM YESTERDAY, BUT WE'RE ALL RIGHT.
Huell: AND IS THE DEAL THAT MOST PEOPLE ACTUALLY CAMP OUT OUT THERE AS WELL?
>> YEAH, WE DRY CAMP.
WE GOT A MOTOR HOME, OF COURSE.
GOTTA HAVE THE CREATURE COMFORTS.
I'M NOT AS YOUNG AS I USED TO BE, BUT, YEAH, WE HAVE A GOOD TIME.
IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR ALL.
Huell: AND DO YOU FIND YOURSELF DURING THE WEEK WHEN YOU'RE AT WORK BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT COMING OUT HERE ON THE WEEKEND?
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS, THE WIFE STARTS GETTING A LITTLE UPSET.
SHE STARTS GOING, "HEY, I GOT THINGS TO DO AROUND THE HOUSE.
YOU EVER GONNA GET TO 'EM?"
BUT, YEAH, WE SEEM TO TALK HER INTO IT EVERY WEEKEND, YOU KNOW.
Huell: OH, WE GOT US A DOG.
WE GOT US THE WHOLE FAMILY HERE.
WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THIS GROUP?
HOWDY!
TELL ME ABOUT THIS GROUP, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT THE WHOLE GROUP HERE TOGETHER.
>> I HAVE MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY NIECES AND MY GRANDNIECES AND NEPHEWS HERE.
WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 40 YEARS.
Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.
TO THE SLASH X!
>> TO THE SLASH X. Huell: SO YOU WERE HERE WHEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD IT.
>> I GUESS SO.
Huell: HAS IT CHANGED MUCH OVER THE YEARS?
>> GOTTEN BETTER.
RIDING'S GOTTEN BETTER.
IT'S GOTTEN MORE FUN.
Huell: AND WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR?
>> WE GET THE WHOLE FAMILY OUT TOGETHER, WE DO THINGS TOGETHER, IT'S FUN TO RIDE...GOOD TO BE OUTSIDE.
Huell: EVERYBODY GIVE US A WAVE!
THERE THEY ARE.
DON'T MISS THE DOG DOWN HERE.
HE'S WAGGING HIS TAIL.
>> THERE'S NO BETTER SHOW THAN CALIFORNIA GOLD.
>> THAT'S THE TRUTH!
Huell: HE KNOWS HOW TO GET ON TV.
SO THE DEAL HERE AT THE SLASH X IS YOU LET PEOPLE HAVE BEER...BUT YOU DON'T LET 'EM GET LIQUORED UP.
Brian: THAT'S VERY MUCH SO.
WE ARE A RESTAURANT SERVING BEER AND WINE, AND EVERYBODY DOES EAT HERE.
IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE DRINKING PRETTY GOOD, BUT THEY'RE ALSO EATING REAL GOOD.
Huell: AND THERE'S NO HARD ALCOHOL HERE.
IT'S JUST BEER.
Brian: NO HARD ALCOHOL.
THAT WAY THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN COME HERE.
Huell: AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT INTO THE DESERT ON THESE VEHICLES, THEY ARE GOING INTO SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED AREAS BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT THAT ARE SET ASIDE JUST FOR THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY.
Brian: THAT'S CORRECT.
THIS IS ALL SET ASIDE AND APPROVED JUST FOR THAT USE.
Huell: HERE THEY GO!
THEY'RE LEAVING THE SLASH X AND HEADING OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
SEE, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
I'VE BEEN DRIVING UP AND DOWN HIGHWAY 247 FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, HEADING FROM BARSTOW OVER TO MY HOME UP IN 29 PALMS, AND IT WAS JUST A WEEK AGO THAT I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THIS WONDERFUL PLACE, THE SLASH X RANCH CAFE, WHICH IS NOT ONLY A NEAT PLACE TO HANG OUT, BUT BRIAN, IT IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF YOUR DREAM.
YOU ARE FOLLOWING YOUR BLISS RIGHT OUT HERE.
Brian: RIGHT.
MY CALIFORNIA DREAM.
Huell: ABSOLUTELY.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS, JUST RIGHT HERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, A GREAT PLACE TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS, GET AWAY FROM THE CARES OF THE WORLD... AND DISCOVER THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE RIGHT HERE, THE SLASH X RANCH CAFE.
Brian: HUELL, THEY'RE GONNA FOLLOW YOU!
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Huell: WHOO-HOO!
