Mckittrick – Oil History, Tar Seeps and Historic Sites

Mckittrick combines an unusual oil history with a landscape defined by brown hills, oil production equipment and natural tar pits. For families and other travelers who want to get to know a place not only as a base for overnight stays but also in its historical context, the area offers several different points of connection. When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home in Mckittrick, you can therefore consider whether your trip should be shaped more by industrial history, landscape or orientation along the regional roads.

Oil History with Concrete Traces

California Standard Oil Well 1 was among the early wells that established the new McKittrick Field in 1899. During its first six months, the well produced approximately 150 barrels of oil per day. Production ended in April 1929. These dates give the oil history a clear time frame and make the site particularly interesting for anyone who wants to connect technological development with regional history.

Oil processing also played an early role in the wider regional surroundings of McKittrick. Buena Vista Refinery was one of California's first commercial oil refineries. From August 1864 to April 1867, approximately 4,000 gallons of illuminating oil were shipped from there to San Francisco. Anyone interested in the development of California's oil industry will therefore find not just a single historical point of reference here, but also a regional history with early trade connections.

Tar Seeps, Hills and Cultural History

The McKittrick Tar Seeps lie in the foothills of the Temblor Range, immediately west of the city of McKittrick in Kern County. Local Yokuts from the southern San Joaquin Valley were the first people to use the Tar Seeps. The landscape therefore represents not only the later oil industry but also a much longer history of human use.

The brown hills in western Kern County are characterized by oil production equipment, which is more prominent there than trees. This landscape character distinguishes Mckittrick from classic vacation regions and suits travel planning focused on unusual surroundings, geology and industrial history. The McKittrick Brea Pit is designated as 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.

Guidance for Choosing Your Accommodation

State Route 33 runs through McKittrick and is therefore an important reference point for planning your arrival. The southern entrance to Carrizo Plain National Monument is accessed via Soda Lake Road from State Route 33/166. If you are looking for a vacation rental in Mckittrick, it helps to first organize the experiences you want: Should the trip focus primarily on the oil history and sites in the immediate surroundings, or would you like to consider Mckittrick as a starting point for broader landscape planning?

A Historic Gathering Place in the Region

The McKittrick Hotel and Penny Bar is the direct successor to the Headquarters Hotel and Saloon, built by Armando Bandattini in 1898. It was rebuilt by Hugh Gene Devine in 1929. In its earlier function, the McKittrick Hotel provided oil workers and cattle ranchers in western Kern County with rooms, equipment, livery supplies, dry goods, as well as food and beverages. This history complements the wells, refineries and Tar Seeps with the social life of a region where the oil industry and cattle ranching were closely connected to the historic townscape.

If you would like to compare other places for your travel planning, you can find Boron, Taft, Mojave, Lost Hills, Lebec, Ridgecrest, Pine Mountain Club and Buttonwillow here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kern.