Near Kernville in Tulare County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Roads End
In 1910 this was Southern California Edison's Camp 8, and in those days it really was the "end of the road". From the uppermost camp S.C.E. constructed the intake for their Kern River No. 3 Power Plant.
In 1922, Earl and Lucille Pascoe started "Pascoe's Pack Station". For the first 5 years the Pascoe's would move to Kernville for the winter, but in 1927 it was their year round home, and by 1934 boasted the Road's End store, Lodge, and guest cottages. Earl built the business to 150 head of horses and mules and 12 or 13 packers and guides in the peak season. A 100-man Conservation Corps Camp (CCC) was brought in by the US Forest Service in 1936 to extend the road further north to build the town of Johnsondale."Pascoe's" had to have a name change when the Post Office was established in 1937. That is when it officially became "Road's End". The Pascoe's retired in 1952, and Skeets and Mildred Byers operated the store until Al and Fran Keegan purchased the resort in 1970, then added a restaurant in 1973. The last owners of the store and cottages were Mike and Marcia Burford in 1996.
Forest Service Fire Patrolman, John T. "Jack" Moore was a permanent fixture from 1944 to 1972. Jack and his wife Loreen lived and worked in the guard station at Road's End during the era when a Ranger's work, private lives, home and office melded into one. Thousands of forest visitors and the native people benefited from his knowledge of the area and remember Ranger Jack as a caregiver, rescuer, firefighter, and friend. Road's End was a popular stop for visitors until July 2002 when the majority of the buildings were tragically lost in a human-caused fire, called "The McNally".
The original plaque was Dedicated September 25, 2005, by the Sequoia National Forest, Southern Calif. Edison, the Kern River Valley Historical Society, & the Dr. Samuel Gregg George Chapter and Peter Lebeck Chapter of E Clampus Vitus.
The original granite plaque was vandalized then totally destroyed, but it has been renewed, minor wording corrections, by the members of the Peter Lebeck Chapter #1866 and the Dr. Samuel Gregg George Chapter # 1855 of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, then rededicated in September 2023.
(original marker inscription:)
In 1910 this was Camp 8 the end of the road. From this uppermost camp a rough wagon track pushed one and one half miles up the river to where Southern California Edison Company constructed the intake for Kern River No. 3 Power Plant.
In 1922, Earl and Lucille Pascoe started Pascoes Pack Station. By 1927 it was a year round operation and by 1934 boasted the Roads End Store, a lodge and guest cottages. Earl built up his packing business to 150 head of horses and mules and 12 or 13 packers and guides in the peak season. A 100 man Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp was brought in by the U. S. Forest Service in 1936 to extend the road north, to build the historic town of Johnsondale. The Pascoes retired in 1952 and sold to Mildred and Skeets Byers. In 1973 new owners Al & Frank Keegan added a restaurant. The last owners to operate the store and cottages were Mike and Marcia Burford.
Forest Service Fire Patrolman John T. Jack Moore was a permanent fixture from 1944 to 1972. Jack and his wife, Loreen, lived and worked in the Guard Station at Roads End during an era when Rangers work, private lives, home and office melded into one. Thousands of forest visitors and natives benefited from his knowledge of the area and remember Ranger Jack Moore as a caregiver, rescuer, fire fighter and friend.
Roads End Resort was a popular stop for visitors until July 2002 when the majority of the buildings were tragically lost in a human caused fire called The McNally.
Erected 2005 by Sequoia National Forest, So. Cal. Edison, Kern River Valley Hist. Soc., Peter LeBeck Chapter 1866 and Samuel Gregg George Chapter E Clampus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 35° 56.106′ N, 118° 29.115′ W. Marker is near Kernville, California, in Tulare County. It is on Mountain Highway 99 3½ miles south of Sherman Pass Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker was mounted on a rock in a river access parking area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1941 Mountain Hwy 99, Kernville CA 93238, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Giant Sequoia National Monument (approx. 6.9 miles away); California Hot Springs (approx. 11 miles away); Bob Powers (approx. 12.9 miles away); Kern River Valley History (approx. 12.9 miles away); The Harley Mine (approx. 12.9 miles away); Camp Nelson (approx. 15.9 miles away).
More about this marker.
From ECV 3/1/25:
Our Road's End Plaque that we reinstalled Sept 16 2023 was stolen again. It was found in a thiefs storage locker in Atascadero (near San Luis Obispo), and was in very good condition. I went and picked it up at the Kern County Sheriff's office in Bakersfield. This is to let everyone know that the plaque was reinstalled again this morning.
Also see . . . A Photo Display of the Roads End Resort. Pictures of the resort before and after the fire. (Submitted on May 29, 2015.)
Additional commentary.
1. Original Plaque
The original marker was smashed into about 40 pieces. Facebook member Michael Gardner Jr recontructed it and found that 2 or 3 pieces were missing. Here is his Facebook post showing the damaged marker. And here is how he found the marker before piecing it back together
Actions are being taken to have the Peter Lebeck and Dr Samuel Gregg George chapters of E Clampus Vitus replace the damaged marker.
— Submitted August 25, 2015, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California.
2. Second Plaque Missing
I am two times past president (Humbug) of the Peter Lebeck Chapter of E Clampus Vitus, and last year, this was one of my plaques to install. We held the ceremony at the plaque site Sept. 16, 2023. Today, August 28, 2024, my wife and I went out to visit the site and found the plaque had been pried off and stolen.
This is in an unmanned traffic turnout along Mountain Hwy 99, about 0.9 miles north of the McNally's Lodge and Restaurant. This was the 2nd plaque for this location. I doubt we will be installing a 3rd one. [Update: Thief arrested -- Plaque recovered
and installed again in 2025.]
— Submitted August 28, 2024, by Alan Price or Jayne Hotchkiss-Price of Caliente, California.
Additional keywords. Roads End
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2015, by Alan Price or Jayne Hotchkiss-Price of Caliente, California. This page has been viewed 1,831 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on April 23, 2022, by Ronald D. (Ron) Trigueiro of Fresno, California. Photos: 1. submitted on October 17, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on May 29, 2015, by Alan Price or Jayne Hotchkiss-Price of Caliente, California. 4. submitted on October 17, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on September 5, 2024, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.




