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Once upon a scorching time in the Mojave Desert, there stood a quirky little place called the Kelso Depot. Its sooooooooooooo far out in the middle of nowhere that even if you wanted to brag about it on social media, your cell phone will give up on you. Talk about a digital dead zone! Back in the day, it was the hotspot for train passengers and railroad employees, serving up some much-needed water and a place to chow down. The architecture is a wild blend of Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Its like the eccentric lovechild of a flamenco dancer and a church bell tower. Fast forward to the present, and the Kelso Depot has transformed into the now current... Mojave National Preserve Visitors Center. It's Allll about preserving history. So if you ever find yourself lost in the desert, make a pit stop at this quirky museum and learn about the wacky adventures of desert rail travel. Hopefully they will have some water for you.... Just remember to leave your cell phone at home because reception is as rare as an ice cream truck in Antarctica.
As a railroad buff, I had to seek out the Kelso Depot, the unlikely "Depot in the Desert". It was built in the 1920s to provide services to passengers and railroad employees -- and a water stop for the steam locomotives -- on the railroad in the Mojave Desert between Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Although a passenger train has not stopped here since 1964, visiting Kelso Depot is like stepping back into the 1920s when this was a bustling stop on the Union Pacific. I love the restoration! This oasis in the desert is the main Visitor Center of the Mojave National Preserve.
Kelso Depot is a great place to visit in the Mojave Desert. There are amazing cactus surrounding the area driving into the depot, there are mountains surrounding the Kelso Depot area. The Kelso Depot has a parking area and restrooms, which makes this stop convenient if you are visiting the desert.
Awesome stop if you are visiting the Mojave preserve. Once a train depot now a HQ for the preserve. Due to Covid-19 the actual depot was closed. Bathrooms were still open and there are neat historical plaques describing the history of this place. Make sure to allow yourself some time to wonder around. Oh and this might be the only bit of irrigated grass for a hundred miles! So take a few minutes to enjoy this oasis.
If you are taking the "back way" to Vegas through Amboy and Kelso you might not always beat the train. Great place to get out and stretch, walk the dog, and use the rest room. Not a place to stop if you are alone though. I tend to blast through here either very early or very late, so I have only once experienced the store and snack bar which was unremarkable. During the government shut down the restrooms were closed. Not the cleanest, but good to know they are here if you need them.
If you're driving through the desolation of the Mojave desert, you will pass Kelso so stop in the restored depot that became a visitors center in 2005. Rooms have been converted to historical displays and there is a small gift/book shop. When I'm camping in the area or visiting the nearby dunes, the old depot offers a great respite from the sun.
"I--THINK--I--CAN, I--THINK--I--CAN."~Thomas the Train Kelso Depot seems like a quiet anomaly in the middle of the desert--but for the Union Pacific Railroad, it was a thriving necessity. Since its inception in 1862, the Union Pacific (UP) wanted a foothold on the west coast. After reaching Portland, Oregon, UP turned its attention to the rich California markets and the ports around Los Angeles. To get there, it needed to construct a railroad across the Mojave Desert. The steep two percent grade from Kelso to Kessler Summit (later renamed Cima) meant that "helper engines" would need to be stationed nearby to assist locomotives up the 2,078 foot ascent. Additionally, steam locomotives of the era desperately needed water. Kelso had a reliable water source from a spring in the Providence Mountains, so it became the site of the "helper engine" station. The first depot at Kelso opened in 1905, followed a few months later by a post office, an engine house, and an "eating house" to serve railroad employees and passengers on trains without dining cars. Over time, the town grew as more workers were needed and their families moved to Kelso to join them. Kelso was crucial to reaching that goal. STATS: Free parking Free admission Sunday- Saturday 9 :00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Picnic area Indoor plumbing EXPERIENCE: After a long drive and a relatively short hike, me and The Crew stopped here to get our geek on. What was formerly a working depot is now a three-story museum filled with memories and remnants of the old days at the depot. Walking from the parking lot, a dirt path leads visitors to the front entrance, but not without dropping dead by a couple old jail cells sitting in the exposed sun. Upon entering, there is a visitor's desk on the left and a fountain counter on the right, in the middle of the room. Alas, the fellow who used to work the counter won the lotto and hasn't been heard from since. A back room offers a 20 minute history of the Kelso station, I didn't watch it this time, too much to see and so little time. The first floor has a bookstore with all sorts of knickknacks, local history books as well as nature books. Also on the first level are some artifacts, a horse saddle and lasso. Fun to play with, just don't get caught. The staff members, at least on our visit weren't all that friendly as I rapidly found out when my curiosity made itself known and was thumping round the counter when we first walked in. Anyway, I digress. A mail room and office complete the circuit of the first level. The second level is where employees lived, small rooms with only the very barest of essentials. Down two flights we found ourselves in the bowels of the depot, where a mini-model of the compound was on display. With little houses, post office, general store, lots of train tracks, and maintenance buildings. Upon exiting, I wanted some answers to a few questions about Kelso history, unfortunately the two staff members were annoyed at my interest and didn't have answers. I'm not going to knock this place down for their inability to answer my questions in a professional, that's what Google is for. I enjoyed my self guided tour with a few of The Crew. On our way out to the cars, we wandered around a bit, my favorite role of travelling to places that are no longer and especially relatively in their innate stage. Bearing along a cement slab with a few ground holes and rusty pipes coming up from below, my imagination ran wild, envision what once was. A gas stove or even a pot belly in this corner, a sink in that, the remnants of a brick fireplace screamed living area. Oh, I could go on, but I'll stop here so you can visit and let your imagination run away with thoughts of the simple life the residents of Kelso lived. One more thing, a choo-choo still comes by and if you're lucky, you can go over to the iron fence and pump your arm, they just may toot their whistle. Review 34 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015 #kelsodepot #trains #mojave #museum
This is a great stop when visiting the Mojave National Preserve. Aside from being a beautiful example of early 20th century architecture and construction the former Union Pacific Depot is filled with informative displays and artifacts covering the history of the eastern Mojave Desert from prehistoric to modern times. A well stocked gift shop, informative movie, clean restrooms and friendly park employees make this a worthy stop any time of year. There is even a small library full of books on local history and information and vintage maps that is open to the public.
The Mojave National Preserve made the former Kelso Station into a visitor center. The ground floor houses The Beanery (a lunch counter), the National Preserve Visitor Center, theater and a gift shop. At the southwest corner of the building is the restored ticket office. Downstairs houses temporary exhibits and restrooms (the main restrooms are outside by the parking lot). There are picnic tables and informational displays outside, also. If you are taking a trip through the preserve, it's a good idea to stop here first to watch the brief video and see the museum to see what the area is all about. It is a short drive from there to see the Kelso Dunes.
My family and I were heading over to Vegas from Joshua Tree and took a route that went through the Mojave National Preserve. I don't know why I have never been through here in my entire life, but it was neat to see the landscape and feeling like I was playing Frogger as I was trying to avoid all the potholes in the 2 lane road. One random stop we came across in the middle of the preserve was the Kelso Depot. I only stopped because I saw that there was a restroom that we could use, and then was surprised to see an actual visitor center to peruse. From the signage out front here's the history: "Built in 1924, the Kelso Depot housed a train station, ticket and telegraph office, restaurant, reading room, and dormitory rooms for railroad employees. It was often called the Kelso Club House, a Union Pacific Railroad term for employee boarding and recreational facilities. As railroad technology improved and fewer personnel were needed, the Depot became obsolete. It was closed in 1985, and Union Pacific planned to raze the building. Concerned citizens intervened and the building was saved. It was renovated and reopened as a National Park Service Visitor Center in October 2005." The Depot is currently under construction as of 12/2025, but you can walk around the building and peek in through the windows. Apparently the area around the depot was like a little village during WW II. It's neat to imagine what life would've been like living out here in the middle of nowhere back in the 1940's. There's no internet out in Kelso, but you can log into the NPS Wi-Fi while you're there. read more
This place was a lifesaver! Bathrooms just when we needed them! We were in that Saturday I-15 rerouted to I-40 craziness. Took us 10 hours from Huntington Beach to Vegas. We took a Waze suggestion which ended up saving us two hours. Happened upon the Kelso Depot just at the right time. We're so grateful to these guys keeping their bathrooms open even when the visitor center is closed. read more
Cool spot to stop off and visit while taking a break from a long drive. Cool history to learn from and spots that fill you in on the history. I hear sometimes there is a ranger here so you can go inside to see and get more information but there wasn't when we went. But still a great stop! Beautiful views and just nice to stroll at our own pace and check everything out. Nice restroom stop and stretch as well before getting back on the road. read more
3 years ago
Once upon a scorching time in the Mojave Desert, there stood a quirky little place called the Kelso Depot. Its sooooooooooooo far out in the middle of nowhere that even if you wanted to brag about it on social media, your cell phone will give up on you. Talk about a digital dead zone! Back in the day, it was the hotspot for train passengers and railroad employees, serving up some much-needed water and a place to chow down. The architecture is a wild blend of Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Its like the eccentric lovechild of a flamenco dancer and a church bell tower. Fast forward to the present, and the Kelso Depot has transformed into the now current... Mojave National Preserve Visitors Center. It's Allll about preserving history. So if you ever find yourself lost in the desert, make a pit stop at this quirky museum and learn about the wacky adventures of desert rail travel. Hopefully they will have some water for you.... Just remember to leave your cell phone at home because reception is as rare as an ice cream truck in Antarctica. read more
3 years ago
As a railroad buff, I had to seek out the Kelso Depot, the unlikely "Depot in the Desert". It was built in the 1920s to provide services to passengers and railroad employees -- and a water stop for the steam locomotives -- on the railroad in the Mojave Desert between Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Although a passenger train has not stopped here since 1964, visiting Kelso Depot is like stepping back into the 1920s when this was a bustling stop on the Union Pacific. I love the restoration! This oasis in the desert is the main Visitor Center of the Mojave National Preserve. read more
4 years ago
Kelso Depot is a great place to visit in the Mojave Desert. There are amazing cactus surrounding the area driving into the depot, there are mountains surrounding the Kelso Depot area. The Kelso Depot has a parking area and restrooms, which makes this stop convenient if you are visiting the desert. read more
Awesome stop if you are visiting the Mojave preserve. Once a train depot now a HQ for the preserve. Due to Covid-19 the actual depot was closed. Bathrooms were still open and there are neat historical plaques describing the history of this place. Make sure to allow yourself some time to wonder around. Oh and this might be the only bit of irrigated grass for a hundred miles! So take a few minutes to enjoy this oasis. read more
If you are taking the "back way" to Vegas through Amboy and Kelso you might not always beat the train. Great place to get out and stretch, walk the dog, and use the rest room. Not a place to stop if you are alone though. I tend to blast through here either very early or very late, so I have only once experienced the store and snack bar which was unremarkable. During the government shut down the restrooms were closed. Not the cleanest, but good to know they are here if you need them. read more
4 years ago
Stopped early February of 2022, the station/museum was closed but restrooms are open and clean. It's a neAt and interesting Stop. I recommend to stop and explore if passing by. read more
3 years ago
If you're driving through the desolation of the Mojave desert, you will pass Kelso so stop in the restored depot that became a visitors center in 2005. Rooms have been converted to historical displays and there is a small gift/book shop. When I'm camping in the area or visiting the nearby dunes, the old depot offers a great respite from the sun. read more
11 years ago
"I--THINK--I--CAN, I--THINK--I--CAN."~Thomas the Train Kelso Depot seems like a quiet anomaly in the middle of the desert--but for the Union Pacific Railroad, it was a thriving necessity. Since its inception in 1862, the Union Pacific (UP) wanted a foothold on the west coast. After reaching Portland, Oregon, UP turned its attention to the rich California markets and the ports around Los Angeles. To get there, it needed to construct a railroad across the Mojave Desert. The steep two percent grade from Kelso to Kessler Summit (later renamed Cima) meant that "helper engines" would need to be stationed nearby to assist locomotives up the 2,078 foot ascent. Additionally, steam locomotives of the era desperately needed water. Kelso had a reliable water source from a spring in the Providence Mountains, so it became the site of the "helper engine" station. The first depot at Kelso opened in 1905, followed a few months later by a post office, an engine house, and an "eating house" to serve railroad employees and passengers on trains without dining cars. Over time, the town grew as more workers were needed and their families moved to Kelso to join them. Kelso was crucial to reaching that goal. STATS: Free parking Free admission Sunday- Saturday 9 :00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Picnic area Indoor plumbing EXPERIENCE: After a long drive and a relatively short hike, me and The Crew stopped here to get our geek on. What was formerly a working depot is now a three-story museum filled with memories and remnants of the old days at the depot. Walking from the parking lot, a dirt path leads visitors to the front entrance, but not without dropping dead by a couple old jail cells sitting in the exposed sun. Upon entering, there is a visitor's desk on the left and a fountain counter on the right, in the middle of the room. Alas, the fellow who used to work the counter won the lotto and hasn't been heard from since. A back room offers a 20 minute history of the Kelso station, I didn't watch it this time, too much to see and so little time. The first floor has a bookstore with all sorts of knickknacks, local history books as well as nature books. Also on the first level are some artifacts, a horse saddle and lasso. Fun to play with, just don't get caught. The staff members, at least on our visit weren't all that friendly as I rapidly found out when my curiosity made itself known and was thumping round the counter when we first walked in. Anyway, I digress. A mail room and office complete the circuit of the first level. The second level is where employees lived, small rooms with only the very barest of essentials. Down two flights we found ourselves in the bowels of the depot, where a mini-model of the compound was on display. With little houses, post office, general store, lots of train tracks, and maintenance buildings. Upon exiting, I wanted some answers to a few questions about Kelso history, unfortunately the two staff members were annoyed at my interest and didn't have answers. I'm not going to knock this place down for their inability to answer my questions in a professional, that's what Google is for. I enjoyed my self guided tour with a few of The Crew. On our way out to the cars, we wandered around a bit, my favorite role of travelling to places that are no longer and especially relatively in their innate stage. Bearing along a cement slab with a few ground holes and rusty pipes coming up from below, my imagination ran wild, envision what once was. A gas stove or even a pot belly in this corner, a sink in that, the remnants of a brick fireplace screamed living area. Oh, I could go on, but I'll stop here so you can visit and let your imagination run away with thoughts of the simple life the residents of Kelso lived. One more thing, a choo-choo still comes by and if you're lucky, you can go over to the iron fence and pump your arm, they just may toot their whistle. Review 34 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015 #kelsodepot #trains #mojave #museum read more
8 years ago
This is a great stop when visiting the Mojave National Preserve. Aside from being a beautiful example of early 20th century architecture and construction the former Union Pacific Depot is filled with informative displays and artifacts covering the history of the eastern Mojave Desert from prehistoric to modern times. A well stocked gift shop, informative movie, clean restrooms and friendly park employees make this a worthy stop any time of year. There is even a small library full of books on local history and information and vintage maps that is open to the public. read more
16 years ago
The Mojave National Preserve made the former Kelso Station into a visitor center. The ground floor houses The Beanery (a lunch counter), the National Preserve Visitor Center, theater and a gift shop. At the southwest corner of the building is the restored ticket office. Downstairs houses temporary exhibits and restrooms (the main restrooms are outside by the parking lot). There are picnic tables and informational displays outside, also. If you are taking a trip through the preserve, it's a good idea to stop here first to watch the brief video and see the museum to see what the area is all about. It is a short drive from there to see the Kelso Dunes. read more
7 years ago
17 years ago
An old train depot during the days of the steam engine, and now a museum/restaurant. It's worth visiting if you are touring the Mojave National Preserve. The museum is pretty small but features a great snapshot of the people and history of the depot. Train spotting is an extra feature when visiting this spot. Really a must visit if you are in the area. read more
9 years ago
8 years ago
14 years ago
15 years ago
Stop at the Mojave National Preserve Visitor Center first for some helpful info about routes through the preserve and great sites to see. Kelso Depot was the perfect place to stop for our picnic lunch. We ate on the shaded benches lining the depot--packed a cooler with ice, lunch food, and plenty of water. We have a toddler and were on our way to another location, so we did not go inside the Depot, but the shaded spots were perfect!! There are bathrooms, as well. read more
13 years ago
14 years ago
13 years ago
15 years ago
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