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Ridgecrest, California · Indian Wells Valley · Est. 1963
Desert
Born.AdventureBound.
Gateway to Death Valley. Home of the darkest skies in Southern California. Where the Mojave meets the Sierra — and NAWS China Lake guards the horizon.
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Annual Sunshine
300+
Days of clear skies / year
Death Valley
60min
World's hottest place, nearby
Night Sky Rating
★ Darkest
SoCal dark sky zone
// 01 — Upcoming
City Events
// 02 — Explore
Your basecamp for
California's greatest wonders.
From the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere to the highest peak in the contiguous US — all within 90 minutes of Ridgecrest.
// 03 — Our Roots
A city forged
by the desert
& the nation.
by the desert
& the nation.
Ridgecrest grew from a frontier settlement into one of the most strategically vital cities in California. Its story is written in gold rushes, world wars, Native American heritage, and the relentless spirit of the high desert.
1910s
First Settlers ArriveHomesteaders drawn by fertile valley land establish the first community at Crumville in Indian Wells Valley.
1926
Named RidgecrestThe community adopts the name Ridgecrest, referencing the Sierra Nevada ridge visible to the west.
1943
Naval Station EstablishedThe U.S. Navy establishes Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake, transforming the region overnight.
1963
City IncorporationRidgecrest officially incorporates as a city in Kern County, California.
1999
NAWS China LakeRedesignated Naval Air Weapons Station — the Navy's premier weapons research center.
2019
Ridgecrest EarthquakesThe city weathers the largest SoCal earthquake in 20 years and rebuilds stronger.
Est.
1963
1963
// 04 — Latest
City News
& Updates
& Updates
// Connect
Ridgecrest Social
