Weird California
Weird California
Weird California - By Joe Parzanese

Barstow Station

Map 1611 East Main Street, Barstow, California 92311

Barstow Station is made out of several train cars!
Barstow Station is made out of several train cars!

Barstow Station
Barstow Station

As you head off on Interstate 15 towards Las Vegas, you'll pass by the town of Barstow. There you will find a unique stop consisting of several fast food places and shops called Barstow Station. Officially opened on July 10, 1975, the first and main tenant is McDonalds, although today you can also find Wetzel's Pretzels, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, and other eateries and stores.

Barstow Station is built to look like a fake train station, complete with multiple train cars, a caboose, and even a water tower. The station is built out of 16 strung together train cars which are utilized as dining areas. The caboose is utilized as a bathroom.

Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station

The station was conceived and built by Fred Rosenberg who somehow acquired a McDonalds in the 1960s, then out in the middle of nowhere on your way to Las Vegas. The McDonalds dates from at least 1969, but it didn't take long for Rosenberg to put together the entire station as it sits now.

If you believe some of the legends, Fred might have actually won the McDonalds in a card game from Ray Krock, the businessman responsible for turning McDonalds into the fast food juggernaut it is today.

Barstow Station is still owned 40 years later by the Rosenberg family. It is extremely busy pulling in travelers to and from Vegas. As an added bonus, actual freight trains pass on real train tracks behind Barstow Station.

Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station
Barstow Station



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First Created: 2016-03-06
Last Edited: 2016-03-06


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