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The Forgotten Town That Preserves the Mojave

Sidetrack Adventures

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Hidden away in California's Mojave Desert is the small community of Goffs, a place with a history that stretches from the railroad and mining days to Route 66 and World War II.

In this video, we visit Goffs and the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association to explore the restored 1914 schoolhouse and an incredible collection of Mojave Desert history.

Along the way, we'll look at Goffs' days as an important railroad stop, what happened when Route 66 bypassed the town, the arrival of the U.S. Army during World War II, and the work of Dennis and Jo Ann Casebier to preserve the history of this part of the desert.

We'll also see some unexpected pieces of Mojave history, including the original stolen Mojave Cross and the famous Mojave Phone Booth.

There's a lot more hiding in Goffs than you might expect, and it's one of those places where you could easily spend hours exploring.

The Mojave Phone Booth: The Strange Tale of the Mojave Phone Booth
Zzyzx Road: What’s at the End of Zzyzx Road?
A Journey Down Cima Road: A Journey on Cima Road

The Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association: https://themojaveroad.org

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20 Comments

@larryaldrich4351 1 day ago

A textbook worthy example of a true Sidetrack Adventure.

@gocarnivoreforlife 1 day ago

whomever put that place together did an incredible job, first rate display.

@stephenfletcher4117 1 day ago

I travelled route 66 with my mum in 2016. Took us 4 weeks. East to west. It was amazing. Im from Nottingham, UK.

@kirkwilson5900 1 day ago

Some of the best part of your videos are also the people in the comments sharing personal experiences and family ties and other history of all the places you go for us, your fans. Love it.

@bastiancampbell-21215y 1 day ago

Hey Steve, fun fact my great-grandmother back in the day worked at the Goff's schoolhouse as a teacher

@PaladinPierce 1 day ago

All of the lost buildings, railroad monuments, mining devices and signs seem to be here! I am glad they all have a home at Goffs.

@zoeybest7152 1 day ago

That was the greatest story ever Toad!

@MilesRowanVlogs 1 day ago

Goffs lost its passing trade partly because cars could climb hills that trains had avoided. Early Route 66 followed the railway’s longer route around the Piute Mountains, until the 1931 realignment took a steeper shortcut. I have a channel exploring overlooked British places and hidden history, and this is exactly the sort of detail that makes me stop and look again. A bend in an old road can explain why a whole community existed. What saved motorists a few miles cost Goffs the people who would have stopped there!

@johnbatliner827 1 day ago

Again an Awesome historical lesson
Thank you

@defel1 1 day ago

Best series since Huel Howser.

@lynnleavitt478 1 day ago

It's no surprise that Steve has three hundred and ninety-four thousand subscribers. You have to be really good to attract that many people. I would venture to say that many of those are from around the world.

@Glen.Danielsen 1 day ago (edited)

Steve: Among other things that lend magic and wonder to your video pieces, your intro itself is iconic to me: “Hi everyone, welcome to Sidetrack Adventures, this is Steve.” Thank you for yur channel, brother 🫡

@paul9156c 1 day ago

Thanks Steve 👍
Your content is always enjoyable.
It brings a little bit of peace during difficult times.

@samuelingalls5424 1 day ago

As always great! While the wheeled vehicles have bypassed Goffs, it still plays an important role as a waypoint for the highways in the sky. Ask any pilot, worldwide, who has flown i to or out of the busy Southern California airspace and they will know the name well for the GOFFS VOR, one of those important ground-based airspace markers for those highways in the sky. As a pilot myself, I have frequently flown high above this marker. It is wonderful to now know more about it from ground level!😊🛫

@firesurfer 1 day ago

Desert tortoises are most active during the spring (March to June) and fall (September to October), spending the rest of their time underground in burrows. Their hibernation is called brumation (hibernation for reptiles).

@Nilsson_1664 1 day ago

I'm not even from the US, but I love watching your historic videos. Keep up the good work!:)

@lucindaloudon989 1 day ago

Thank you, Steve! Great content, as usual. Shortly out of high school, I spent a few years long haul trucking with my Dad from Washington State to Lucerne Valley, CA. Twice per week we trucked through the Mojave. I'm now 63 and my dear Dad is gone, but your adventures around California sure bring back memories, and I finally get to see some things that Dad and I always promised to come back and explore as we flew by road signs in the truck. Thank you!

@Scott-w6r 1 day ago

Good stuff, Steve. Thank you.

@harrybrock1538 1 day ago

Another excellent video!

@kivasmyangel2 1 day ago

Thank you so much for visiting Goff's. I was a Friend of the Mohave Road starting in about 1993-4. I even led 4x4 trips along the Mojave Road and all 4 Segments of the trails. I knew the Casebier's and was there for their wedding. I spent days on the porch of the schoolhouse doing research for Dennis. I have told the story of the man hanged twice but no one believed me. I am so glad they are displaying and keeping the memory alive. I used to even know the people who owned the caboose out on the north 40. They have done a lot of great stuff out there at Goffs. I am glad you shared it. Thank you! Oh and BTW I have used the phone in the phone booth back before it became famous! Great memories!