Discover Mckittrick: Oil History and Tar Pits

Mckittrick is closely connected to the oil history of western Kern County. The town offers a clear historical focus for your trip: early drilling, California Standard Oil Well 1, and the McKittrick Brea Pit, designated a California Historical Landmark. The McKittrick Tar Seeps are also part of the area's geological and cultural history. These topics offer several points of reference to help you understand the character of the town and choose the focus of your trip.

Oil History: Well 1 and the Buena Vista Refinery

California Standard Oil Well 1 was one of the early wells that established the new McKittrick Field in 1899. During its first six months, it produced about 150 barrels of oil per day. Well 1's final production took place in April 1929. These three facts highlight different milestones for the same well: its role in establishing the oil field, its initial production volume, and the date of its final production.

An earlier chapter in the region's oil history is connected to the Buena Vista Refinery. It was located ten miles north of McKittrick and was one of California's first commercial oil refineries. From August 1864 to April 1867, about 4,000 gallons of lamp oil were shipped from there to San Francisco. The refinery's history therefore predates the drilling that established McKittrick Field in 1899. The shipping and drilling details refer to different places and activities.

The Historic McKittrick Hotel and Penny Bar

The McKittrick Hotel and Penny Bar is also part of the town's history, but it is no longer in operation. It immediately followed the Headquarters Hotel and Saloon, built by Armando Bandattini in 1898. In 1929, the McKittrick Hotel and Penny Bar was rebuilt by Hugh Gene Devine. Historically, the hotel provided rooms, equipment, supplies for teamsters, dry goods, food, and drinks to oil workers and ranchers in western Kern County. These services at the time show the role the hotel played in providing for people working in the region's oil and cattle industries.

McKittrick Brea Pit and Tar Seeps

The McKittrick Brea Pit is designated a California Historical Landmark. It is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of State Highway 33 and State Highway 58, 0.5 miles south of McKittrick. The McKittrick Tar Seeps are another, separate point of reference: they lie in the foothills of the Temblor Range, just west of the town in Kern County. For orientation, both the Brea Pit's location at the intersection and the Tar Seeps' location to the west are relevant.

The history of the Tar Seeps also includes their use by people: local Yokut from the southern San Joaquin Valley were the first people to use them. This connects the geological site with cultural history. The brown hills in western Kern County are also marked by oil production facilities, which are more prominent there than trees.

Mckittrick and the Broader Kern Destination

State Route 33 runs through Mckittrick. The broader Kern destination offers other, distinct natural and cultural points of interest. The southern entrance to Carrizo Plain National Monument is via Soda Lake Road from State Route 33/166. In eastern Kern County, Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area is next to State Route 14 at the western edge of the Mojave Desert.

The broader Kern destination also includes Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park. It is open to the public exclusively through guided tours; check tour dates before your trip. Recreation at Lake Isabella is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. These regional topics complement Mckittrick's local focus without equating the town's history or location with other parts of Kern.

Discover more destinations: Inyokern, Lamont, Boron, Shafter, Wofford Heights, Taft, California City, Mojave.

For the broader travel overview: Kern.