I-10
Desert Center, CA 92239
Land For Sale · 1,034.78 AC

The original town was founded in 1915 by Stephen Ragsdale, aka Desert Steve, a preacher and farmer and his wife, Lydia. Desert Center was the only stop with gas and food for 50 miles in either direction. Steve came across that area by accident when his car broke down on a business trip in 1915 to Los Angeles from Arkansas where he was living at the time. He ended up at “Old Desert Center” called Gruendyke’s Well, which was merely a hand-dug well by a prospector named Bill Gruendyke. While waiting for his vehicle to get repaired, he offered a place to stay, food and water by Gruendyke. Upon his return, Ragdale bought out Gruendyke and moved his family to the remote spot, where they constructed a small shack with a lean-to that served as a repair garage. A Model T Truck was modified to serve as a tow car. Gasoline was pumped by hand from a 55 gallon drum. Lydia served food & refreshments to thirsty & weary travelers. In 1921 US Route 60 was relocated (now Ragsdale Rd.) a modern “high speed” highway. Ragsdale abandoned “old Desert Center” and built a poured concrete cafe in the adobe style with an attached gasoline station & a huge service garage. Across the road, a series of wooden structures were built, including a market (which at one time was the largest Coleman camping equipment dealer in the county), and a post office. He also built several cabins for travelers, and a large “plunge” (swimming pool) next to the cafe where travelers could escape the desert heat. By 1942 the direction of Maj. General George S. Patton, established the Desert Center Army Air Field & the Camp Desert Center to support operations in the CA-AZ Maneuver Area. In 1948 the site of Kaiser Steel Eagle Mountain Mine, which was one of the largest open-pit iron mining operation in the world is located about 13 miles north of Desert Center and closed down in 1982.