Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2026

32 2026 Scenic 395 336. N. Main St., Bishop, CA 93514 (760) 872-4433 Cookware • Bakeware Cookbooks • Cutlery Cooking Tools • Textiles Candles • Gourment Foods Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-4 annemarieshomeboutique.com BISHOP & Recreation 1337 N China Lake Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 446-9260 Family-friendly restaurant & bar offering American grill fare, housemade BBQ sauces & sports on TV. Open: Mon. 3:00 pm-9:30 pm Thurs.- Sun. 11 am–9:00 pm Check us out on Facebook RIDGECREST 501 N China Lake Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 384-3131 Colorful ice cream parlor chain known for its many flavors plus sorbet & yogurt. Vegan choices available! Open: 7 Days a week, 11am-10pm baskinrobbins.com RIDGECREST 11030 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238 (760) 376-6131 JUST FOR YOU, SUPER FOOD & FRIENDLY, TOO! Kern County Small Businesswoman of the Year 2010 Open: Sun.-Thurs. 7am-8pm Friday & Sat. 7am 9pm KERNVILLE 11252 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238 (888) 372-6399 PULL THRU SITES SHOWERS SWIMMING ACTIVITES FISHING TENT SITES Visit our website at: frandy.net KERNVILLE EDIBLES GUMMIES 136 E. Line St., Bishop, CA 93514 (760) 873-4337 DINE IN TAKE OUT VEGAN OPTIONS FULL BAR Authentic Mexican Restaurant Open: Daily 11am-9pm BISHOP 442 N. Main Street Big Pine, CA 93513 (760) 582-2633 VOTED BEST BBQ IN CA MULTIPLE YEARS RUNNING! www.coppertopbbq.com Open: Thur-Mon 11-8 BIG PINE 772 N. Main St., Bishop, CA (760) 872-4227 Brisket • Tri Tip • Ribs • Pulled Pork Sausage • Potato Salad Mac N Cheese • Smokehouse Beans Cornbread Baked Potato 49 Big Blue Rd. Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6683 Open Thursday thru Sunday 10am to 4pm & Recreation 1337NChinaLakeBlvd,Ridgecrest,CA93 555 (760) 446-9260 Family-frien dly restaurant &bar offeringAmerica ngrill fare, housemadeBB Qsauces& sportson TV. Open:Mon. 3:00 pm-9:30pm Thurs.-Sun. 11 am–9:00pm CheckusoutonFacebook RIDGECREST 501NChinaLakeBlvd,Ridgecrest,CA93555 (760) 384-3131 Colorful icecreamparlor chain known for itsmany flavors plussorbet& yogurt. Veganchoicesavailable! Open: 7Days aweek, 11am-10pm baskinrobbins.com RIDGECREST 11030KernvilleRd,Kernville,CA93238 (760)376-6131 JUST FOR YOU, SUPER FOOD & FRIENDLY, TOO! Kern County Small Businesswoman of the Year 2010 Open: Sun.-Thurs. 7am-8pm Friday & Sat. 7am 9pm KERNVILLE 11252KernvilleRd,Kernville,CA93238 (888) 372-6399 PULL THRU SITES SHOWERS SWIMMING 136E.LineSt.,Bishop,CA93514 (760) 873-4337 DINE IN TAKE OUT VEGAN OPTIONS 442N.MainStreetBigPine,CA93513 (760)582-2633 VOTED BEST BBQ IN CA MULTIPLE YEARS RUNNING! dgecrest, CA 93555 260 Family-friendly restaurant & bar offeringAmerican grill fare, housemade BBQ sauces & 11030 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238 (760) 376-6131 JUST FOR YOU, SUPER FOOD & FRIENDLY, TOO! B S a e t S d e c s k A designation as a National His- toric Site in 1992. The Manzanar park is open from sunrise to sunset. The camp is located at 4,000 feet above sea level, with extreme heat in the summer and very low temperatures in winter. High winds are also common. There are few amenities avail- able; guests should bring their own water and toiletries and should dispose of their own trash. There are no admission or entry fees. Guests may ask any ques- tions they have of the available ranger in the visitors center. Inside there are many exhib- its covering the history of the internment camp, from the racism experienced by Japanese-Americans to daily meals within the barbed wire. An amazing miniature model of the camp is on display, as well as a large wall with the names of everyone who was imprisoned at Manzanar. A replica barrack was construct- ed allowing guests to see what the living spaces were like, with a special attention to how children survived in the camp. A short film called “Remem- bering Manzanar” can be seen at the visitor center or online at Youtube. There is also a three-mile auto tour around the camp. Two of the barracks have been reconstructed, and there are Japanese gardens and orchards to visit. Behind the camp is the cemetery, which maintains the famous monument: a white obelisk bearing the Kanji char- acters “I REI TO” (“soul-con- soling tower”) on the front. Most of the remains in the cemetery have been removed, but a few are still buried at the location, in particular Matsu- nosuke Murakami, the first person to die at Manzanar. Manzanar is not a destina- tion for fun. It is a lesson in bigotry and callousness that must be remembered and learned from so that it is never repeated. American Muslims joined the Manzanar Pilgrim- age after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, suffering similar discrimination in the wake of another foreign attack on the United States. Together they reminded a furious, wounded nation that injustice cannot be permitted as an answer for injustice. Continued from Page 30 Manzanar ABOVE: The famous white obelisk in the cemetery at Manzanar. The cemetery still holds the remains of the first person to die at the camp, but most of the remains have been transferred to other final resting places. Andrew L. Bergman, The Daily Independent In 2013, father-son duo Henry Otten and Matthew Kerley-Otten teamed up to launch a backyard-style BBQ business in Big Pine. Matthew, having recent- ly returned fromworking as an English teacher and translator in Japan, partnered with his father to create a dining experi- ence specialized in a welcoming, “friends and family” atmosphere. The concept proved explosive. By 2015, Copper Top BBQwas named the No. 1 Restaurant in the USA by Yelp. The accolade brought droves of new custom- ers eager to try the now-famous Santa Maria-style tri-tip and St. Louis-style ribs. Matthew and Henry quickly pivoted to match the skyrocketing popularity, expanding operations while maintaining the quality that put them on the map. Accolades continued to roll in, includ- ing “Best BBQ in California” for multiple consecutive years and features in Sunset Magazine. In 2020, Henry retired, passing the torch entirely to Matthew. Under his sole leadership, the business has not only car- ried on the family legacy but evolved into a modern culinary landmark. Today, Copper Top BBQ has trans- formed the quiet town of Big Pine into a genuine tourist destination. Listed in travel guides worldwide as a “must- stop,” its reach arguably rivals that of Schat’s Bakery in nearby Bishop. Matthew has continued to innovate, in- troducing high-tech additions like a 24/7 BBQmeat vending machine, a “Reverse Tap” bottom-fill beer station, and a real shaved ice station. With vacuum-sealed shipping now sending their famous BBQ anywhere in California and neighboring states, Matthew is taking the Copper Top experience far beyond the Eastern Sierra. Copper Top BBQ: from backyard to bucket list Ribs fresh off the grill are seen at Copper Top BBQ. Courtesy Photo Big Pine