🏜️ 20 Fun and Fascinating Facts about Mrs. Orcutt’s Driveway
1. The Property Has No Formal Street Address
To this day, Margaret Orcutt’s former home is not assigned a standard street address. Visitors must rely on GPS coordinates, maps, or local guidance.
2. Her House Sat Along Historic Route 66
Before the construction of the interstate, her home faced America’s legendary Route 66—an iconic road known as “The Main Street of America.”
3. When the Interstate Came, It Was Built Around Her
Rather than move, Margaret stayed put. Highway engineers curved the I-40 offramp around her property, leaving her driveway untouched.
4. She Cared for a Few Desert Tortoises
Margaret kept two or three desert tortoises in safe, enclosed areas near her home. They were not allowed to roam the full property.
5. She Raised Goats, Chickens, and Built a Man-Made Lake
Her self-sufficient desert lifestyle included livestock and a hand-dug lake complete with a small island in the center.
6. Her Home Was Built of Cinder Block and Bituminous Rock
The structure was made with rugged cinder blocks and locally sourced, tar-like bituminous stone—strong and suited for the Mojave’s harsh conditions.
7. Temperatures in the Mojave Were Extreme
Daily temperature swings could exceed 80°F. Summers reached 110–115°F, while winter mornings could fall below freezing.
8. She Lived Without Many Modern Utilities
Margaret relied on a water well and experienced frequent power issues. Her desert living conditions were spartan at best.
9. Kenneth, Her husband, Ran a Chinchilla Business Before Her Move
Before relocating solo to Newberry Springs, Kenneth operated a chinchilla ranch—raising animals prized for their soft fur.
10. The House Was Surrounded by a 4.1-Mile Driveway
Her long, arrow-straight asphalt driveway extended from the home to the interstate—a rare and impressive private road.
11. The Driveway Was Used for 200 MPH Car Testing
From the 1970s to early 1980s, Car and Driver magazine and other groups secretly used the driveway to test high-speed vehicles.
12. The Road Still Exists, Though Cracked and Quiet
Though nature is reclaiming it, the long stretch of pavement remains visible today and is often visited by travelers and photographers.
13. She Passed Away on December 7, 1986
Margaret Orcutt died peacefully after decades of solitary life on the land she refused to give up.
14. Her Story Was Largely Unknown for Years
Until car journalists rediscovered the driveway’s history, Helen’s story was mostly forgotten outside the region.
15. The Property Is Located Near Newberry Springs, California
It sits just east of Barstow, off the final exit of Interstate 40, nestled in the open Mojave Desert.
16. Her House Had a Minimal Footprint
The structure itself was modest, functional, and focused on survival—designed more for resilience than comfort.
17. There Were No Children, but Many Visitors
Margaret never had children, but welcomed occasional travelers, reporters, and engineers over the years.
18. The Desert Was Her Chosen Companion
Surrounded by open silence, Margaret lived deliberately and independently, far from the pace of city life.
19. She Made No Public Speeches—but Made a Statement
Her refusal to sell or move made a quiet yet powerful mark on the American landscape.
20. The Driveway Endures as a Monument to Sovereignty
Even in disrepair, it remains a rare symbol of personal freedom, resistance, and the right to stay put.
