Bagdad, California

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Bagdad, California is a small, nearly empty town in the Mojave Desert located east of Barstow.

Once a thriving town along famous Route 66, Bagdad was mostly bypassed by the coming of Interstate 40 to the north. Its fame, however, spread beyond its bypassing. The Bagdad Café was located there and became the setting of both a popular novel and a motion picture (live action for which was actually shot at Roy's Motel and Cafe on Old National Trail to the east).

Bagdad also holds the record for the longest dry streak in United States history with 767 straight days without rain, in the 1910's.

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The desert community of Bagdad California enjoyed life from 1883 until the early 1970's when the interstate opened. At its peak Bagdad boasted 600 hearty residents, a hotel, railroad depot, and of course the famous Bagdad Cafe, made famous in movies and television. Today the only semblence that there was ever anything there, is a single large tree, and if one takes the time to cross the railroad tracks a lonely cemetery. The location of the cafe used in the movie is about 40 miles west of the original Bagdad site on historic Route 66 outside the town of Newberry Springs. The cafe was originally named the Sidewinder Cafe, but after its use as a filming location was later changed to the Bagdad Cafe. It is currently owned by Andre Pruet. The townsite has been reclaimed by the desert but for those that might want to locate it, the easiest way is to start at Roy's Cafe in Amboy. After leaving Amboy, head west, check your mileage as you cross the railroad tracks, travel 7.2 miles and you'll find a large tree set back about 200 feet from the road on the right side. At this point you're standing in downtown Bagdad.