Grapevine, Rural settlement along Interstate 5 in Kern County, United States.
Grapevine is a small roadside settlement at the base of the Tejon Pass in California, made up mostly of gas stations, motels and restaurants that cater to travelers on Interstate 5. The buildings line up near highway exits at around 1,500 feet (457 meters) elevation and serve as a last stop before or after the pass.
The name comes from wild grapevines that once grew in the canyon, giving it the Spanish name La Cañada de las Uvas. The settlement developed as a stopping point after the completion of Interstate 5 in the 1960s, serving growing north-south traffic through California.
The settlement marks the beginning of the San Joaquin Valley, connecting Southern California with the agricultural Central Valley region.
The gas stations, restaurants and motels sit directly at the highway exits and stay open around the clock, especially useful before the steep mountain stretch. Truck drivers often use the area as a rest point before tackling the climb northward or the long descent to the south.
The interstate features emergency escape ramps for trucks on both directions, designed for a stretch of about five miles (eight kilometers) with a six percent grade. The route climbs or descends around 1,600 feet (490 meters) and ranks among the most challenging sections of California highways.
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