California Welcome Center, Daggett California

This peculiar little building was built in the 1920's and used as a state welcome center. The same building design was also used on another welcome center on the California-Arizona border near Yuma, but this one may be the only welcome center from that era that is still standing. It was built across the street from the old California Agricultural Inspection station which was immortalized in Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath". But that roof. It's not just a roof, it's a personality. Sloping dramatically like a ski jump in the middle of the desert. It's the reason the building is still a Route 66 icon. It's been called the Russian House, Ski Lodge and Ski Slope and this quirky little building has worn more hats than a Hollywood costume rack. Starting as a visitors' information center, then the home of poet Alice Richards Salisbury, then Ma Millet's Cafe and today a private residence. You won't miss it, complete with the grapes of wrath era truck and vintage fire truck sitting outside, on County Road 66 in Daggett, CA