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| Landmark #939-9 | San Bernardino County | Visited: November 17, 2012 | Plaque? NO. 🙁 |
| What is it? | Nothing but the desert! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Calvin and Ruby Black began building Possum Trot in 1954 as an attraction for their rock shop as well as an artistic expression. Calvin carved the dolls, each representing someone important in his life, and Ruby made clothes for them. The animated displays were designed to entertain visitors.
OTHER TIDBITS: “Possum Trot” is a Southern expression for a shortcut between two settlements. Calvin was from Tennessee, and Ruby was from Georgia. They both moved west for Calvin’s health and built their home from discarded lumber in the desert near Yermo! Here, they opened a roadside rock shop and created their magnificent “Birdcage Theater” of life-sized dolls! Calvin practiced ventriloquism and wrote the dialogue, songs, and music for their show, which came to be called the “Fantasy Doll Show!” After Calvin died, Ruby tried to keep their home intact, rather than burn the dolls as Calvin had wanted, but interest waned and the dolls were sold off to private collectors. Now, Possum Trot is little more than a space between two settlements. |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Ghost Town Rd 1.5 mi N of I-15 4 mi NW of Yermo, CA 92398 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~123mi (198km) — 2.1hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |