What's So Special
About Newberry Springs?
by Rich Stock
Reprinted from Desert Life, July 1993
The Bill Delaney Collection
That appears to be a popular question among Barstow residents and even some local
residents as they are witnessing an increased pace of growth. Not just property buyers and
investors, but people buying property who plan to immediately develop it and live on it.
Several articles have been written about Newberry Springs, exposing its virtue to
people in other areas of the U.S. and especially in the "down below" communities
of Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, etc., etc.
Perhaps other growth factors near Newberry Springs promise employment with new
industry, large military facility expansion, trucking, distribution centers, and many
other businesses offering to sustain larger community growth.
Also, this area is being promoted for its many days of sunshine through establishment
of the world's largest commercial solar energy facility. People from all over are visiting
this project and inquiring about other assets of this area.
It's then that they are informed of its unique water abundance; and with that topic,
Newberry Springs definitely comes into the conversation. With very little information,
except sunshine, water, and available land, they drive to Newberry Springs to see this
oasis in the desert.
After driving on their own throughout the valley, they are further encouraged by green
landscaping, private home-size lakes, new homes popping up in any direction they drive,
orchards of all kinds, etc. In short, a promising place to live.
It's because of this personal exploration that people are looking to buy here, develop,
and live here. It is happening now! In the late '60s and the '70s, Newberry Springs was
promoted as a "Water-Wonder-land." Land was a little over-priced in those years,
but through effective dedication and persistence, these pioneer developers were buying
some grains of sand for a new and different type of community.
Today, a community is developing that may even be surpassing the early promoters'
expectations. Some of the earlier investors were buying simply to profit from their
investment. A few developed their land and moved here. Others are holding their investment
for future development. Still others are slowly developing their property on a weekend
work project.
Like all new communities, especially country communities, there are growing pains and
setbacks, with the old being replaced by the new. Today, Newberry is experiencing this
transition, sometimes painful yet promising and encouraging to many. A new birth of a new
social, spiritual and progressing plan for a better way of living. New people are
contributing new ideas, new desires, new ambitions, new goals, and new positive actions.
All are necessary ingredients to a lasting, enduring, and growing countryside community.
In addition are the many personal contributions of citizens in expressing their concerns
for an organized growth.
County-level support has also participated in keeping Newberry Springs the unique
country-type community it was intended to be. With no home-site to be on less than a 2 1/2
acre parcel, Newberry will be practically one-of-a-kind in its rancho-home sized
development Especially true in So. California, as the growth demand is exceeding available
desirable land for development. As growth continues at an ever-increasing pace in So.
California, Newberry Springs' desirability makes it a very special place indeed.
Even during the 8-year draught in the '70s, Newberry Springs' water table remained
consistent. In spite of its current growth, it is maintaining that same consistency. You
can be encouraged on this by talking with a local well driller who certainly is
knowledgeable about Newberry Springs water.
Certainly, Newberry Springs is Special! lt is a community for the special people who
still want the freedom of America in their home, pets, gardens, and friends and are
willing to pay the price of some of the inconveniences of pioneering needed to accomplish
these valuable objectives.
Many people, when you talk about a city, county, or community, want to hear something
special or even extraordinary about it. Well, when it comes to Newberry Springs, it is
extremely simple because it requires only experiencing its healthy weather, peace of
city-absence. and abundant available water.
If you are a neighbor here, count your blessings. If you are visiting, please feel
welcomed as a new neighbor, whether you will be or not. That is the good and positive
attitudes we wish to inspire as our citizenship grows to welcome you to our community
family.
Welcome to Newberry Springs!
