Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2026

2026 Scenic 395 31 Fort Independence A new chapter for travel plaza at Fort Independence By Andrew L. Bergman The Daily Independent Since 2008, the Fort Indepen- dence Travel Plaza has been a favorite for travelers and truckers driving along northern Highway 395. 2026 should be a big year for the Travel Plaza with the opening of substantial new facilities and a rebrand to the Oak Creek Travel Center. “It should be similar to Love’s or Pilot; we’ll be able to accommodate a lot more traffic,” said Craig Dahlberg, Chairman of the Fort Independence Indian Com- munity of Paiute Indians. A whole new travel center is under con- struction — the foundation laid, under- ground fuel tanks installed, the electrical and plumbing taken care of. Steel frames are up, as are the walls and roof as of this writing. The new travel center will have a larger lot for diesel trucks to pull through and park, and 10 new pumps to keep commercial deliveries moving. A trucker lounge with showers and other ameni- ties is planned as well, vital comforts for those who do demanding work far from home. There will also be a restaurant with a drive-through, offering fresher foods for guests. The restaurant will be an inde- pendently owned small business, likely under their Oak Creek brand, rather than a larger franchise chain where familiar- ity comes at the cost of money leaving the community for the coffers of distant corporations. “It’ll be our own restaurant, our own brand, and we’ll hire the right people to come and run it,” Dahlberg said. In addition to serving the truckers and motorists passing through, there is a new community park, which opened in late summer 2025. This park features a com- munity building, pavilion, and amphithe- ater. It also features sports facilities for pickleball and basketball, with softball and baseball fields planned for the future. They have the lot acquired but need to install the irrigation and build the bleach- ers. The park also features a concession stand, playground, and water activities for the summer. Currently, times are lim- ited and the park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but operating hours should expand in the future. The existing Travel Center has strived to have the lowest fuel prices possible for their eight gasoline and four diesel pumps to facilitate travel along these long stretches of highway running up and down California. They’re open 24/7 for whoever comes along. Currently, the plaza has a convenience store and a diner that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Nearby, Kumazaa Nobi Indian Tacos sells tribal dishes to guests seeking something different. A small casino offers entertainment and excitement, and the Owl Creek Dispensa- ry sells pharmaceuticals. The Travel Plaza is located at 135 S. US- 395, Independence, CA 93526. The new facilities will be located just north of the dispensary. A newwebsite is under construction, and oakcreektravelcenter.com should be operational this year. ABOVE: The Fort Independence Travel Plaza stands ready to serve customers on their travels along Highway 395. BELOW: The new Oak Creek Travel Plaza is rapidly progressing toward its targeted 2026 opening date. Photos by Andrew L. Bergman, The Daily Independent A rendering shows what the new Oak Creek Travel Plaza will look like once com- pleted. Courtesy Photo