Loop Overlook project completed

With an official ribbon cutting on Monday, July 26, Friends of the Depot (FOTD), representatives from Kern County and major donors celebrated the completion of the Loop Overlook project.

FOTD Vice President Keith Sackewitz initially envisioned the project several years ago after seeing a photograph of an older woman attempting to cross the road to view the historical Tehachapi Loop railroad marvel. It was obvious that the narrow road handled too much traffic for people to view the Loop safely. He approached the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council for their support with the project. With their support and that of the City of Tehachapi, FOTD began to raising the $100,000 needed to complete the project in September of 2020. Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner appointed his representative Laura Lynne Wyatt to chair the fundraising committee made up of representatives from FOTD and members of the business community. In the middle of a pandemic the group amazingly met their goal by June 2021.

Everything came together perfectly when Griffith Construction had the availability to build the new viewing platform in July, making the ribbon cutting a possibility less than one year from the start of the fundraising campaign.

In spite of threatened rain, Sackewitz donned his conductor's uniform and, as Master of Ceremonies, introduced Supervisor Zack Scrivner and Tehachapi City Manager Greg Garrett. They were joined for the cutting of the ribbon by the Overlook Committee, members of the Tehachapi City Council and many of the major donors to the project.

Since attendance at the ribbon cutting was kept to a minimum, the public was invited to the Depot Museum immediately following for hors d'oeuvres. Sackewitz recognized the many volunteers and donors who helped with the fundraising.

The Loop Overlook is about 9 miles from Tehachapi on Woodford-Tehachapi Road.  Take Woodford-Tehachapi Road northwest towards the town of Keene. The Loop Overlook will be on your right. There are two monuments there indicating the historical significance of the Tehachapi Loop.

Tehachapi Depot Museum is located at 101 W. Tehachapi Blvd., Tehachapi, open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.