March 19, 2026

The Barn in Newberry Springs: A Gathering Place to Celebrate History and Community Spirit

Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In this special episode, we're visiting the iconic Barn in Newberry Springs, California, for a heartfelt conversation with Renee Kaminski, owner of The Barn and president of the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce. Known for her infectious energy and deep-rooted love for her community, Renee shares her personal journey from Brooklyn to California, how she fell in love with the Mojave Desert lifestyle, and why she’s committed to keeping the ...

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Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In this special episode, we're visiting the iconic Barn in Newberry Springs, California, for a heartfelt conversation with Renee Kaminski, owner of The Barn and president of the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce. 

Known for her infectious energy and deep-rooted love for her community, Renee shares her personal journey from Brooklyn to California, how she fell in love with the Mojave Desert lifestyle, and why she’s committed to keeping the spirit of Route 66 alive.

Renee shares the history and unique culture of Newberry Springs—from the surprising man-made lakes to the lasting legacy of roadside establishments along Route 66. Renee reveals highlights of the upcoming Route 66 centennial celebrations, community events, and the importance of preserving The Barn as a civic hub and gathering place for residents and travelers alike. 

Whether you’re a road trip enthusiast, a lover of community stories, or just craving tales of resilience and adventure, you’ll love this episode spotlighting the magic and hospitality of Newberry Springs. So grab your favorite snack, settle in, and join us as we get our kicks on Route 66!

DISCUSSION

00:00 "Discovering Newberry Springs Lakes"

03:13 "Building a Dream in Newberry"

08:46 Route 66 Barn Restoration Grant

10:11 Horse Rescue Fundraiser Highlights

15:37 "Newberry Springs: A Desert Haven"

16:41 "Newberry's Family-Friendly Appeal"

20:25 "The Barn in Newberry Springs"

LEARN MORE

To learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Pistachio Festival, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/ or on these social sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamber
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/

The Mother Road e-Newsletter: https://motherroadnewsletter.com/newsletter/

Smokes' Equine Oasis
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/smokesequineoasis/ 

NEXT STEPS

Visit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.

KEYWORDS

Renee Kaminski, The Barn, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Smokes' Equine Oasis, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview

#ReneeKaminski #TheBarn #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #SmokesEquineOasis #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview

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WEBVTT

00:00:07.884 --> 00:00:08.574
Hello everybody.

00:00:08.574 --> 00:00:16.285
This is Howard and I am back for another podcast episode in beautiful, uh, Newberry Springs, California.

00:00:16.285 --> 00:00:29.844
It is the evening time the sun has set, and now I am in a location, it's called The Barn, which is a very well-known establishment here in Newbury Springs.

00:00:30.230 --> 00:00:31.429
and I have the pleasure.

00:00:32.030 --> 00:00:34.700
I don't know if she knows this, but I've actually seen her before.

00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:36.229
I know she's a YouTube star.

00:00:37.009 --> 00:00:39.079
her name is Renee Kaminski.

00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:42.380
She is the owner of the barn.

00:00:42.409 --> 00:00:45.049
she's a resident of California.

00:00:45.049 --> 00:00:48.829
She has a couple homes, but she loves spending time here.

00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:49.009
Yeah.

00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:53.070
in Newbury Springs, she's also, the Chamber of Commerce, uh, president.

00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:53.549
Yes.

00:00:53.549 --> 00:00:55.649
I'm the president of the Chamber for Newbury Springs as well.

00:00:55.649 --> 00:00:56.159
Yes, I

00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:56.219
am.

00:00:56.219 --> 00:00:56.549
Excellent.

00:00:56.835 --> 00:01:03.195
So, uh, folks, uh, I have the pleasure of, again, introducing you to Renee Kaminski.

00:01:03.195 --> 00:01:05.525
Oh, thank you so much for chatting with us this evening.

00:01:05.614 --> 00:01:07.474
Oh, Howard, it's, no, it's my pleasure.

00:01:07.474 --> 00:01:11.555
I'm so happy to have you with us here in Newbury Spring, so it's our pleasure.

00:01:11.555 --> 00:01:14.075
It's my pleasure that you're here, so thank you actually.

00:01:14.174 --> 00:01:17.655
you're making me, uh, blush and thank God this is a podcast.

00:01:17.655 --> 00:01:18.435
It's audio.

00:01:18.614 --> 00:01:18.825
Yes.

00:01:18.885 --> 00:01:28.578
And the video photographer can't see me blush, so that's a good thing all kidding aside, I had the pleasure of seeing you, uh, and Carla with Wonder Hussy.

00:01:28.728 --> 00:01:28.789
Yeah.

00:01:28.789 --> 00:01:28.879
That

00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:29.364
was such a fun

00:01:29.364 --> 00:01:29.524
day.

00:01:29.524 --> 00:01:30.649
And the impromptu wedding.

00:01:30.649 --> 00:01:33.049
I was thinking, you know, something, I've never been married.

00:01:33.049 --> 00:01:37.593
Maybe I could have an impromptu marriage here today And I can tell all my friends I got married.

00:01:37.653 --> 00:01:37.774
Yes.

00:01:38.853 --> 00:01:39.575
On Route 66.

00:01:39.575 --> 00:01:39.968
On Route 66 in,

00:01:39.989 --> 00:01:40.409
in the barn.

00:01:40.409 --> 00:01:40.653
In the barn.

00:01:41.403 --> 00:01:41.614
Yeah.

00:01:42.813 --> 00:01:43.864
That would be so much fun.

00:01:43.864 --> 00:01:45.123
I think that would be very cool.

00:01:45.213 --> 00:01:45.334
Yeah.

00:01:45.334 --> 00:01:46.084
So first off.

00:01:46.774 --> 00:01:48.573
Give us a little bit of your backstory.

00:01:48.573 --> 00:01:53.914
you're a resident of California, you've got a home farther, uh, west towards the ocean.

00:01:54.194 --> 00:01:54.698
you, you love.

00:01:55.384 --> 00:01:57.843
Newbury Springs, but tell us a little bit about your background.

00:01:58.384 --> 00:02:03.754
Well, I, I came to Newbury Springs 37 years ago when my husband and, um, he's actually Italian.

00:02:03.754 --> 00:02:03.873
Mm-hmm.

00:02:04.293 --> 00:02:11.403
And so when we were dating his friend, when he came from Italy, one of his very good friends from high school had a home out here on Lake Jodi.

00:02:11.433 --> 00:02:11.524
Mm-hmm.

00:02:11.794 --> 00:02:15.688
And so anyway, so when we started dating my, a very outdoorsy person mm-hmm.

00:02:15.769 --> 00:02:16.008
Very.

00:02:16.774 --> 00:02:18.843
Yeah, I, yeah, I'm very outdoorsy.

00:02:18.843 --> 00:02:22.563
So anyway, my husband said, I wanna take you place someplace super cool.

00:02:22.864 --> 00:02:23.734
And I was like, where are we going?

00:02:23.734 --> 00:02:25.503
And he is like, it's a place called Newberry Springs.

00:02:25.503 --> 00:02:29.158
And I was like, okay So we drove up here and I was like, where are we going?

00:02:29.669 --> 00:02:35.718
But anyway, we arrived at Lake Jody and no one really knows us, but Newberry Springs has seven now.

00:02:35.718 --> 00:02:42.489
There's seven manmade, um, lakes that you can water ski, fish, wakeboard, Pot, it's potable water.

00:02:42.489 --> 00:02:45.639
They do put dye in it to keep the algae down and everything.

00:02:45.639 --> 00:02:52.838
But anyway, so I, once he took me up here and just the sunsets and the sunrises was just absolutely amazing.

00:02:53.288 --> 00:02:54.818
I just loved everything about it.

00:02:54.818 --> 00:02:56.438
So I wanted to come up here all the time.

00:02:56.739 --> 00:03:06.098
And so when we eventually got married, um, and I grew up in Brooklyn too, and I, we had a home, well, it was a shack actually covered in calamine lotion and mosquito bites.

00:03:06.274 --> 00:03:08.044
Out in, in, uh, the Hamptons.

00:03:08.044 --> 00:03:09.243
Before it was the Hamptons.

00:03:09.243 --> 00:03:09.824
Right, right.

00:03:09.933 --> 00:03:10.954
And I grew up like that.

00:03:10.954 --> 00:03:12.873
I don't even remember my parents, our parents being there.

00:03:12.873 --> 00:03:14.794
It was just feral kids running everywhere.

00:03:14.794 --> 00:03:15.604
All my cousins.

00:03:15.963 --> 00:03:19.443
So I, you know, I, those, and those were the best days of my life really.

00:03:19.533 --> 00:03:21.334
I was like being in Disneyland when you were a kid.

00:03:21.334 --> 00:03:21.753
So, sure.

00:03:22.144 --> 00:03:25.294
When I came up to New Perry, we came to Lake Jody.

00:03:25.533 --> 00:03:29.373
I just, and we got married and we decided that we wanted to have kids too.

00:03:29.644 --> 00:03:34.413
I wanted to recreate that lifestyle that, and have those experiences for our own kids.

00:03:34.413 --> 00:03:35.163
Mm-hmm.

00:03:35.164 --> 00:03:35.175
So.

00:03:35.769 --> 00:03:39.368
As we, as we grew through our careers, because I'm actually a registered nurse as well.

00:03:39.758 --> 00:03:39.788
Okay.

00:03:39.788 --> 00:03:44.618
I became an administrator and so, but I always just love Newbury Springs so much.

00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:52.288
And so when we started developing our retirement plan, our plan was four months in, in Newbury, four months in, um, orange County.

00:03:52.318 --> 00:03:54.179
'cause we have, we live in Fullerton as well.

00:03:54.179 --> 00:03:56.639
And then, uh, four months, wherever our kids are.

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Right.

00:03:57.568 --> 00:03:57.598
Okay.

00:03:57.598 --> 00:03:59.128
And so that was our plan that we've worked.

00:03:59.229 --> 00:04:02.438
We, we've been working on for the last 20, 25 years.

00:04:02.449 --> 00:04:10.597
Okay So anywho, I would come up every weekend to work on the lake house and I just became, we just grew to love this place more and more.

00:04:10.597 --> 00:04:11.736
And then, um.

00:04:12.537 --> 00:04:16.826
I started spending a lot more time up here, and then my husband and I were at the lake.

00:04:16.826 --> 00:04:18.836
The kids have kind of grown up, right?

00:04:18.956 --> 00:04:30.357
And so I just thought, I told my husband I like, I wish there was a place that we could go just have a beer and listen to some music and just kind of play some pool and just kind of chill out like we sometimes do at home, right?

00:04:30.357 --> 00:04:30.367
Mm-hmm.

00:04:30.447 --> 00:04:32.487
And so my husband was like, let's go to the barn.

00:04:32.487 --> 00:04:34.016
And he's like, no, it's always closed.

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I'm like, no.

00:04:35.096 --> 00:04:36.026
It's gonna be open today.

00:04:36.026 --> 00:04:36.447
Let's go.

00:04:36.927 --> 00:04:36.956
Oh,

00:04:36.956 --> 00:04:37.137
really?

00:04:37.137 --> 00:04:42.447
So we came down here and I walked in and you know, this place is so cool.

00:04:42.447 --> 00:04:45.687
It's, it's that it's the typical roadside dive bar essentially.

00:04:45.687 --> 00:04:48.146
But, um, when I walked in.

00:04:48.911 --> 00:04:50.951
I saw that the platters had played here.

00:04:51.192 --> 00:04:54.041
There's a, there was a marquee, the platters had actually played here.

00:04:54.341 --> 00:05:02.052
They stayed at one of the lake houses, got dressed up in their tuxedos and drove in limousines over here to the barn and actually played here at the barn.

00:05:02.086 --> 00:05:02.466
Oh, wow.

00:05:02.502 --> 00:05:14.322
And it just, I don't know, something I guess touched my soul then, because when I was a little girl, we grew up in Brooklyn and my mom and dad would tell us stories when we were little girls about how they would go to the Copa Cabana.

00:05:14.687 --> 00:05:16.547
And they would dance there.

00:05:16.547 --> 00:05:16.997
Right.

00:05:17.057 --> 00:05:20.807
And my, there's pictures of my mom and dad there with my grandmother and Dr.

00:05:20.807 --> 00:05:24.257
And drink Manhattans, and they listened to the platters at the Copa Cabana.

00:05:24.526 --> 00:05:26.807
So even right now telling you this story, it gives me chills.

00:05:26.812 --> 00:05:27.232
Getting chills.

00:05:27.466 --> 00:05:27.737
Yeah.

00:05:27.737 --> 00:05:30.713
So when I saw that, I was like, oh my God, this place is so.

00:05:30.723 --> 00:05:30.963
that's a sign.

00:05:31.833 --> 00:05:32.973
It was, yeah.

00:05:32.973 --> 00:05:37.293
And then the thing, I was an administrator and the barn actually sits on five acres.

00:05:37.293 --> 00:05:39.752
So you can camp here for free at, you know, the one sign.

00:05:40.023 --> 00:05:45.992
We've got like three and a half acres of wide open space, you know, I own next to the, to the gas station.

00:05:45.992 --> 00:05:46.173
Right.

00:05:46.173 --> 00:05:46.608
So I let people.

00:05:47.413 --> 00:05:50.083
Come and stay here, but, um, for free.

00:05:50.382 --> 00:05:55.903
So when I was, I was a, when we, before I, we've owned the barn now about six years.

00:05:56.173 --> 00:05:59.860
But the thing is, what's super cool, I said, you know, you can have the Red Cross come here.

00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:01.269
You can have mobile mental health.

00:06:01.269 --> 00:06:05.259
Come here, you can have mobile primary care, uh, services come here.

00:06:05.589 --> 00:06:05.709
Mm-hmm.

00:06:05.711 --> 00:06:09.129
So I told the owner all of these things,'cause I was managing health clinics at the time.

00:06:09.189 --> 00:06:09.649
Right, right.

00:06:09.910 --> 00:06:12.850
And she's like, oh, she thought the place is for sale.

00:06:12.850 --> 00:06:14.110
Why don't you buy it?

00:06:14.709 --> 00:06:15.144
And I was like.

00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:17.415
What a great idea.

00:06:17.415 --> 00:06:18.704
Don't even think about it.

00:06:19.004 --> 00:06:19.725
Seriously.

00:06:19.964 --> 00:06:26.324
And I, but I thought about it honestly, Howard, for two years, every day and every time I'd come up here, it was just like, call my name.

00:06:26.324 --> 00:06:26.415
Mm-hmm.

00:06:26.714 --> 00:06:28.464
Because it didn't look like this when I bought it.

00:06:28.464 --> 00:06:28.689
Mm-hmm.

00:06:28.769 --> 00:06:33.944
Well, we bought when we bought it, but it's kind of, my husband's kinda like he lets me run, which is really great.

00:06:33.944 --> 00:06:39.404
But, um, so I just, I bought it and then I just came in here.

00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:42.389
Started cleaning it up and make, trying to honor it.

00:06:42.394 --> 00:06:42.615
Mm-hmm.

00:06:42.694 --> 00:06:42.975
For what?

00:06:42.975 --> 00:06:45.540
I think it's, I think it's, these places matter.

00:06:45.750 --> 00:06:45.839
Mm-hmm.

00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:53.040
I think the barn is one of the, uh, longest running, fully operational bar restaurants on Route 66 in California.

00:06:53.069 --> 00:06:53.160
Mm-hmm.

00:06:53.459 --> 00:06:58.410
You know, it was pretty dilapidated when I bought it, just, and so I just wanted to.

00:06:58.574 --> 00:06:59.355
Preserve it.

00:06:59.355 --> 00:07:01.425
I knew we weren't gonna make millions of dollars here.

00:07:01.430 --> 00:07:01.579
Mm-hmm.

00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.154
But I think these places actually really matter.

00:07:04.365 --> 00:07:08.355
And what's so cool about the barn, there's so much positive energy here too.

00:07:08.654 --> 00:07:12.165
And I think it's because it sits at the bottom of the Newberry Mountains right here.

00:07:12.524 --> 00:07:12.824
Right.

00:07:12.824 --> 00:07:16.420
And that's where all the indigenous people would come and worship, you know?

00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:17.730
A thousand years ago, right?

00:07:17.730 --> 00:07:17.819
Mm-hmm.

00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:24.834
And I always loved, every time I drive through the Mojave, I think, how did these people survive How did these pioneers make it through here?

00:07:24.925 --> 00:07:25.014
Mm-hmm.

00:07:25.254 --> 00:07:26.875
It's such, such a harsh environment.

00:07:26.875 --> 00:07:29.545
I, I don't know, I just thought it was fascinating to me.

00:07:29.904 --> 00:07:30.295
So anyway.

00:07:31.269 --> 00:07:36.040
And I, I, there is a lot of really positive energy here, and I think it's because of the mountains.

00:07:36.250 --> 00:07:39.129
There's petroglyphs, you know, at right at our doorstep.

00:07:39.430 --> 00:07:44.620
And I think because the whole, we, we sit on aquifer, you know, Newberry Springs used to be called water.

00:07:44.625 --> 00:07:44.735
Mm-hmm.

00:07:44.814 --> 00:07:46.420
Because there's so much water here.

00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:49.120
Um, not so much anymore, but that's for another.

00:07:49.615 --> 00:07:51.504
Another obsession, I guess another conversation.

00:07:51.504 --> 00:07:51.904
Yes, yes.

00:07:51.925 --> 00:08:02.004
But, um, you know, what's, what's super cool too about the barn and where we're at is that the, the original, um, route 66 hugged the bottom of the Newberry Mountain.

00:08:02.004 --> 00:08:02.095
Right.

00:08:02.095 --> 00:08:04.375
Because this whole area used to be all Marsh.

00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:04.420
Right.

00:08:04.764 --> 00:08:05.245
Right.

00:08:05.514 --> 00:08:06.295
So, I don't know.

00:08:06.295 --> 00:08:15.115
I just find the whole thing just fascinating and positive and, and I will share everyone that I've met, um, in Newbury Springs are all I.

00:08:16.074 --> 00:08:18.415
Just amazing people, survivors.

00:08:18.415 --> 00:08:22.375
There's, they will give you the shirt off your back if you're at the side of the road.

00:08:22.375 --> 00:08:34.075
Everyone here really helps each other, and, and so the barn, I just wanted to create the barn to be like a, a civic hub that I, I hope eventually everyone knows they'll never, there.

00:08:34.134 --> 00:08:35.634
Never even when we're closed.

00:08:36.174 --> 00:08:37.044
We will take you.

00:08:37.284 --> 00:08:41.034
We will take you in, we'll feed you, water you, and make sure that you're safe.

00:08:41.125 --> 00:08:41.154
Okay.

00:08:41.485 --> 00:08:42.835
So that's kind of, yeah.

00:08:43.014 --> 00:08:45.445
So that's what, yeah, that's what the Barn's all about.

00:08:45.534 --> 00:08:46.044
I love that.

00:08:46.434 --> 00:08:48.475
How are you preparing now for the.

00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:52.120
The celebration of the hundred hundredth anniversary of Route 66.

00:08:52.210 --> 00:08:53.409
Oh, so many things.

00:08:53.409 --> 00:08:56.710
I, so many things we're, we're so busy right now.

00:08:56.710 --> 00:08:56.950
Imagine it.

00:08:56.950 --> 00:08:58.000
Like my hair's on fire.

00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:58.360
Yeah.

00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:05.259
Um, one, I feel so blessed and I wanna say thank you so much, but the, um, historic.

00:09:05.264 --> 00:09:14.355
Preservation Society gave them, and with the help of the California Route 66 Historic Association in California, I was able to get a grant.

00:09:14.355 --> 00:09:24.134
I applied for a grant and they were actually the Route 66 Historical Association was really instrumental to, in helping me get this grant to actually paint.

00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:27.799
And, uh, uh, replaced a lot of the wood on the outside of the barn.

00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:29.570
Everything that faces Route 66.

00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:29.690
Mm-hmm.

00:09:29.929 --> 00:09:31.825
So we're in the process of that right now Okay.

00:09:32.304 --> 00:09:36.595
So, and the, the main water line was from, we're over 72 years old too.

00:09:36.985 --> 00:09:40.254
So we're doing some infrastructure and then we're doing some exterior work, right.

00:09:40.254 --> 00:09:43.674
For the, in preparation for the, um, centennial.

00:09:43.705 --> 00:09:43.794
Mm-hmm.

00:09:44.034 --> 00:09:52.975
We also, the county of San Bernardino was so gracious to give us also half of, um, they, they are, uh, paying for half of the sign.

00:09:53.154 --> 00:09:56.784
We're having a big LED Route 66 sign installed here at the barn.

00:09:56.784 --> 00:09:57.205
Right.

00:09:57.210 --> 00:09:57.259
Oh,

00:09:57.264 --> 00:09:57.654
oh, wow.

00:09:57.715 --> 00:09:58.014
I know.

00:09:58.014 --> 00:09:58.914
Isn't that cool?

00:09:59.034 --> 00:10:00.259
So you'll be able to see it from the freeway.

00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:03.960
So we're so grateful for that and honored for that.

00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:06.870
And then, so then we're planning all these different events.

00:10:06.870 --> 00:10:15.629
So we have the, the March 22nd, I think I shared with you, and I'm not sure if we're we're on the air or recording for this, but you know, we're gonna have a.

00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:16.169
I'm

00:10:16.169 --> 00:10:16.500
checking.

00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:17.309
We are recording.

00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:18.690
Okay, cool.

00:10:18.690 --> 00:10:20.565
Well, well, because we talked before we started, but Yes.

00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:24.809
But no, there's, what's really cool about Newbury, we're also very agricultural.

00:10:24.809 --> 00:10:27.330
We're military based, agricultural based.

00:10:27.389 --> 00:10:27.480
Mm-hmm.

00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:32.129
Um, and so, and then history based with Route 66, but, um.

00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:37.350
One of our, actually she, she's one of my bartenders and she's becoming my friend.

00:10:37.649 --> 00:10:41.610
She has this, um, fund, a foundation that rescues horses.

00:10:41.610 --> 00:10:43.710
It's called Smokes, equine OA Oasis.

00:10:43.710 --> 00:10:43.799
Mm-hmm.

00:10:44.070 --> 00:10:50.940
We're gonna have a fundraiser for her on March 22nd, because this young lady, she takes in horses and she will provide for them.

00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:57.519
Food, water, and medical to, you know, until they pass away so they can, these horses have been abused.

00:10:57.580 --> 00:10:57.669
Mm-hmm.

00:10:57.909 --> 00:11:00.100
So that they can spend their last years in peace.

00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.519
Right?

00:11:00.524 --> 00:11:00.544
Mm-hmm.

00:11:00.909 --> 00:11:08.769
And she's in the Guinness Book of World Records because her, she does, she has one horse called Smokes that doesn't even have any eyeballs due to cancer.

00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:11.440
And so she's been in Guinness for barrel racing.

00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.669
This horse trusts her so much that she'll, she'll, she's in the BURG world, right.

00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:19.009
World records for barrel racing with her blind horse.

00:11:19.014 --> 00:11:20.000
So, so that's kind of cool.

00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:21.620
Okay, so that's March 22nd.

00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:21.769
Mm-hmm.

00:11:22.009 --> 00:11:29.360
Then every weekend though, here we have live, we have, um, karaoke and then we have live music, um, once a month.

00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:29.509
Mm-hmm.

00:11:29.809 --> 00:11:34.370
So we, we always have community events going on anyway, we do a lot of fundraisers out of the barn.

00:11:34.375 --> 00:11:34.664
Okay.

00:11:34.669 --> 00:11:36.835
cause I support the community a hundred percent sure.

00:11:36.894 --> 00:11:41.485
So we do a lot of fundraisers here, but so March 22nd we have an event.

00:11:41.725 --> 00:11:46.495
We're gonna have the big birthday bash, I think I'm gonna give you a flyer and May 2nd a bunch of information before you go, right?

00:11:46.495 --> 00:11:46.554
Yeah.

00:11:46.764 --> 00:11:47.875
So that's May 2nd.

00:11:47.875 --> 00:11:48.985
Everybody you wanna come?

00:11:49.195 --> 00:11:50.845
Yeah, because it's gonna be off the hook.

00:11:51.085 --> 00:11:54.565
So we're gonna try to close, we're route, we're gonna close Route 66.

00:11:54.565 --> 00:11:56.034
We can dance on Route 66.

00:11:56.245 --> 00:11:58.705
If you want to, we probably marry you back here really quick.

00:11:58.975 --> 00:12:03.835
You married at the barn on Route 66, but no, we're gonna have out two, we've got two outdoor stages already.

00:12:03.835 --> 00:12:03.985
We've.

00:12:04.269 --> 00:12:05.649
We're gonna have the stage in here.

00:12:05.929 --> 00:12:18.409
we're gonna have horseback riding, we're gonna have gunfights, we're gonna have live music, we're gonna have dancing acts, or we're gonna have a bunch of fun stuff for the kids, and we're gonna have balloon animals and magician just amazing things.

00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:20.059
On, on, on May 2nd.

00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:22.039
So that's happening in May.

00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:25.820
And then, um, in October, it's kind of fun.

00:12:25.820 --> 00:12:27.440
We're gonna have a meet and greet with one, Josie.

00:12:27.769 --> 00:12:30.679
We're gonna have like a, a mini music festival then.

00:12:30.684 --> 00:12:30.794
Mm-hmm.

00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:32.909
so music for two days.

00:12:32.945 --> 00:12:34.325
We're shooting for two days.

00:12:34.325 --> 00:12:38.674
It may only end up being one, but I'd love to have music for two days for that entire weekend.

00:12:38.975 --> 00:12:40.235
And that's in October.

00:12:40.565 --> 00:12:44.884
And then we're gonna have our annual Pistachio Festival that's in November.

00:12:45.154 --> 00:12:45.695
Right.

00:12:45.695 --> 00:12:47.825
And that's always super fun too.

00:12:48.245 --> 00:12:54.274
So, um, so the P Possession Festival is really awesome because Newbury Springs is known for our pistachios.

00:12:54.345 --> 00:12:54.404
Uh,

00:12:55.215 --> 00:12:56.355
I was learning about that.

00:12:56.384 --> 00:12:56.565
Yeah.

00:12:56.565 --> 00:12:57.945
Sorry, I'm talking really fast.

00:12:58.634 --> 00:12:58.784
That's okay.

00:12:58.784 --> 00:12:59.269
I don't wanna monopolize this conversation.

00:12:59.269 --> 00:12:59.924
No, I was learning about that

00:13:00.465 --> 00:13:00.914
actually.

00:13:01.184 --> 00:13:07.455
I, I learned so much that, that California is number 10 in the world for producing tree nuts.

00:13:07.725 --> 00:13:08.565
I did not know that.

00:13:08.745 --> 00:13:10.125
I know I love pistachios.

00:13:10.125 --> 00:13:14.715
So next time I have my pistachios, I'm gonna wonder, do they come from California?

00:13:14.715 --> 00:13:15.345
So that that's

00:13:15.345 --> 00:13:15.524
good.

00:13:15.585 --> 00:13:15.705
Oh, yes.

00:13:15.705 --> 00:13:16.335
I'll get you some.

00:13:16.335 --> 00:13:16.904
There you go.

00:13:16.904 --> 00:13:17.835
And do you like sweetss?

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:18.200
Y

00:13:19.129 --> 00:13:20.360
Yes, but I can't,

00:13:20.450 --> 00:13:21.169
oh, darn it,

00:13:21.169 --> 00:13:21.620
darn it.

00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:27.980
Because we have an amazing that I, that I have one of our local girls make it's homemade and she's Mormon.

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.480
She grinds the flour.

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.745
This is Newberry Springs, right?

00:13:30.889 --> 00:13:32.269
She illustrates Newberry Springs.

00:13:32.690 --> 00:13:35.629
She grinds the grains to make the flour.

00:13:35.990 --> 00:13:39.049
She makes the, the sugar cookies with the flour.

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:45.559
And then, um, she makes homemade and I sell them here for, I sell them here now, um, with, um.

00:13:46.235 --> 00:13:49.955
Pistachio ice cream and then dark chocolate rolled in salted pistachios.

00:13:50.375 --> 00:13:50.825
Oh my God.

00:13:50.825 --> 00:13:51.485
It's delicious.

00:13:51.544 --> 00:13:54.605
So it's like, well, literally for me it'll be to die for it, but, uh,

00:13:54.725 --> 00:13:55.024
yeah,

00:13:55.085 --> 00:13:55.264
no.

00:13:55.325 --> 00:13:55.654
Oh

00:13:55.684 --> 00:13:56.705
no, I, I, I'm kind of joking

00:13:56.705 --> 00:13:56.825
then.

00:13:56.825 --> 00:13:57.634
You're not gonna have one.

00:13:57.634 --> 00:13:57.815
Sorry,

00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:58.039
I'm kind of

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:58.120
joking.

00:13:58.125 --> 00:13:59.434
I'm also a registered nurse, so

00:13:59.705 --> 00:14:00.184
something happens.

00:14:00.184 --> 00:14:00.274
Yes.

00:14:00.634 --> 00:14:03.455
I just, I just, when you get old, you gotta watch your sugar.

00:14:03.455 --> 00:14:14.985
So i's like, that's the way it's, but I love the fact, number one, your energy is just in, in a way, it's intoxicating because you know you are a testament, Carla.

00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:21.330
A testament to the vibrancy and the importance of this community and, and seeing that it thrives.

00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:21.809
Yes.

00:14:21.870 --> 00:14:27.090
And the fact that it is on Route 66, it's a part of the, this celebration.

00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:42.000
And, and I love the fact of doing these interviews with folks like yourself, Carla, uh, the, the, the mayor of Route 66, just, and, and mark from the, from the, uh, the, the, um, Baghdad Cafe and.

00:14:42.735 --> 00:14:45.289
It is just wonderful and I'm just, it's, it's, thank you.

00:14:45.315 --> 00:14:49.174
It's, this could easily have been a one episode, uh oh my.

00:14:49.174 --> 00:14:54.904
I, but the fact that I get to come and just get to meet and be a part of this community, I think that is, that's what makes it really wonderful.

00:14:55.294 --> 00:15:01.058
Is there a website that folks who want to learn more,'cause this episode will be up fairly quickly.

00:15:01.629 --> 00:15:07.326
If they wanna learn more about Newbury Springs, the events that are taking place, where would you suggest they go?

00:15:07.375 --> 00:15:10.285
the best place probably would be the Chamber of Commerce website.

00:15:10.316 --> 00:15:13.826
Okay, so we're making that a little more splashy right now, you know?

00:15:13.916 --> 00:15:14.005
Good.

00:15:14.066 --> 00:15:22.796
I've been in the president, um, for the last year, so we really wanna engage the communities and, and families.

00:15:23.216 --> 00:15:28.105
Um, so, but the best place to answer your question would be the, the Chamber of Commerce website.

00:15:28.105 --> 00:15:30.115
There is an a link for events there.

00:15:30.505 --> 00:15:30.535
Okay,

00:15:30.535 --> 00:15:30.625
good.

00:15:30.625 --> 00:15:34.316
And that'll kind of take you to places to say, we have some super cute Airbnbs out here.

00:15:34.316 --> 00:15:34.706
Love it.

00:15:34.956 --> 00:15:40.177
But it's, um, I, I think it's important that, you know.

00:15:40.927 --> 00:15:42.787
I, so, I'm so happy you're here, Howard.

00:15:42.792 --> 00:15:43.121
Thank you.

00:15:43.361 --> 00:15:44.241
I really am know, I,

00:15:44.282 --> 00:15:44.402
I

00:15:44.402 --> 00:15:44.682
excited.

00:15:44.682 --> 00:15:45.427
I'll tell you why.

00:15:45.427 --> 00:15:50.226
Because Newbury Springs, you know, I, I'm actually, I'm 61 years old now, right?

00:15:50.437 --> 00:15:50.466
Okay.

00:15:50.527 --> 00:15:54.096
And as we make plans in California, I love California desperately.

00:15:54.096 --> 00:16:00.067
I, I did a lot of things for the feds and the state and the county in California and throughout my career.

00:16:00.517 --> 00:16:06.427
And I, and I have, like I shared, I do have a beautiful home down Orange County, but what I see here.

00:16:06.817 --> 00:16:13.986
In Newberry Springs is an opportunity for families to really have an alternative to leaving California.

00:16:14.076 --> 00:16:14.167
Mm-hmm.

00:16:14.407 --> 00:16:19.326
One, to raise your children here in the I you, you learn to love the desert.

00:16:19.326 --> 00:16:20.557
At first you think, oh my gosh.

00:16:20.736 --> 00:16:22.927
But no, it's absolutely gorgeous.

00:16:22.956 --> 00:16:24.606
It's July and August, it's tough.

00:16:24.726 --> 00:16:24.937
Right.

00:16:24.966 --> 00:16:26.886
But the rest of the year is absolutely fabulous.

00:16:26.886 --> 00:16:28.147
You're even here right now, right?

00:16:28.326 --> 00:16:29.736
The weather is so amazing.

00:16:29.736 --> 00:16:30.606
The weather is amazing.

00:16:30.606 --> 00:16:31.626
I, I literally.

00:16:31.667 --> 00:16:32.807
That later this evening.

00:16:32.807 --> 00:16:33.976
Can't wait to see the stars.

00:16:34.006 --> 00:16:37.096
'cause that's, that's why one of the reasons when I moved to Las Vegas.

00:16:37.687 --> 00:16:39.427
Is I wanted to see the stars.

00:16:39.427 --> 00:16:39.486
Yeah.

00:16:39.697 --> 00:16:41.647
And dark sky go car camping.

00:16:41.647 --> 00:16:45.652
So knowing that I was gonna be out here for, two nights, it's like, okay, this is cool.

00:16:46.011 --> 00:16:46.192
I know is cool.

00:16:46.417 --> 00:16:46.567
It's

00:16:46.567 --> 00:16:47.376
like magic.

00:16:47.376 --> 00:16:47.706
Yeah.

00:16:47.797 --> 00:16:49.746
And the wind starts blowing through the trees.

00:16:49.746 --> 00:16:52.356
And Newbury isn't all just dried up desert.

00:16:52.356 --> 00:16:58.211
I mean, there's beautiful homes here and then with the ski lakes and it's just, it's just amazing here And what to me.

00:16:58.851 --> 00:17:10.521
One, I think for families,'cause I'm all about, I, my biggest goal as a chamber president is to wanna entice families to come to Newbury so that you can raise your kids on two acres.

00:17:10.521 --> 00:17:10.791
Right.

00:17:10.791 --> 00:17:14.067
And have, and have animals and teach the kids all about that and mm-hmm.

00:17:14.152 --> 00:17:23.061
Have motorcycles and learn all about the desert, respect the desert and the environment and learn, if you're on the one of the ski lakes, learn how teach your kids how to water ski.

00:17:23.271 --> 00:17:25.612
I mean my, you know, my kids were on the boat all the time.

00:17:25.612 --> 00:17:27.082
You could teach them to drive.

00:17:27.517 --> 00:17:29.856
Nine, 10, you teach'em to drive the boat.

00:17:29.856 --> 00:17:35.896
It just gives you a whole different lifestyle versus what we're, we're trained to think that, you know, that, that.

00:17:36.906 --> 00:17:38.557
What we're supposed to do all the time.

00:17:38.586 --> 00:17:38.767
Right.

00:17:38.856 --> 00:17:39.096
No,

00:17:39.096 --> 00:17:39.277
I love it.

00:17:39.277 --> 00:17:41.376
You're supposed to buy a three bedroom, two bath house.

00:17:41.376 --> 00:17:41.856
You're supposed to.

00:17:42.186 --> 00:17:50.166
We're supposed to do all these things, but Berry Springs offers you so many of these amazing other opportunities that are still affordable in California.

00:17:50.227 --> 00:17:50.317
Mm-hmm.

00:17:50.676 --> 00:17:52.626
And you don't have to leave California.

00:17:52.626 --> 00:17:54.612
There are little oasis that you can find.

00:17:55.146 --> 00:17:55.537
I love it.

00:17:55.682 --> 00:17:56.491
Yeah, I

00:17:56.491 --> 00:17:56.692
love it.

00:17:56.751 --> 00:17:56.971
So,

00:17:57.152 --> 00:18:00.051
you know, I was kind of joking with Carla earlier when we first.

00:18:01.416 --> 00:18:08.557
Met, you know, via the phone and I, I did go out to Zillow and say, okay, what's, what's it like to live in, uh.

00:18:08.616 --> 00:18:10.507
In, in Newbury Springs.

00:18:10.507 --> 00:18:11.586
So who knows?

00:18:11.707 --> 00:18:13.507
I'm always looking for my next place to live, so,

00:18:13.507 --> 00:18:17.376
oh, well you just have to find, you have to have things that you do.

00:18:17.527 --> 00:18:17.767
Right.

00:18:17.826 --> 00:18:25.446
You know, if you're, whether you're an artist, I mean, but the thing, the peace and the serenity and there's no traffic, there's, it's just, yeah.

00:18:25.446 --> 00:18:26.826
It's just, it's magic.

00:18:26.886 --> 00:18:27.186
I love

00:18:27.186 --> 00:18:27.247
it.

00:18:27.247 --> 00:18:29.821
Sometimes when I head home, I'll start twirling my hair.

00:18:30.132 --> 00:18:30.192
Yeah.

00:18:30.701 --> 00:18:31.811
You know, like, oh my God.

00:18:32.142 --> 00:18:36.136
But then I start driving up to Newberry and it's like, ah,

00:18:36.576 --> 00:18:37.096
I feel good.

00:18:37.326 --> 00:18:41.682
Well, I, I love the fact that you've shared a little bit of that magic with us, so thank you so much.

00:18:41.741 --> 00:18:42.521
Oh, my pleasure.

00:18:42.521 --> 00:18:44.172
Thank No, thank you for being here.

00:18:44.172 --> 00:18:46.481
And please come anytime you like.

00:18:46.541 --> 00:18:46.751
I love it.

00:18:46.751 --> 00:18:50.082
And you're always welcome to come stay at, at lake Jody.

00:18:50.321 --> 00:18:50.711
I love it.

00:18:50.981 --> 00:18:51.251
Thank you.

00:18:51.251 --> 00:18:52.241
You know, you know that right?

00:18:52.626 --> 00:18:53.047
You do

00:18:53.051 --> 00:18:53.102
okay?

00:18:53.106 --> 00:18:53.737
I do now.

00:18:54.247 --> 00:18:54.606
Oh.

00:18:55.326 --> 00:18:56.557
Do you know where you're staying tonight?

00:18:56.622 --> 00:18:57.576
I, I think I do.

00:18:57.787 --> 00:18:58.086
Okay.

00:18:59.497 --> 00:18:59.826
Right.

00:18:59.826 --> 00:19:00.426
That's good.

00:19:00.426 --> 00:19:02.106
You're gonna have dinner at my house tomorrow too.

00:19:02.106 --> 00:19:03.636
Oh, fantastic, Jon.

00:19:03.686 --> 00:19:04.076
Jody.

00:19:04.467 --> 00:19:05.126
That's okay.

00:19:05.126 --> 00:19:05.457
Renee.

00:19:05.457 --> 00:19:08.936
That's know you're, you're probably interviewing so many different people.

00:19:08.936 --> 00:19:09.207
Howard.

00:19:09.207 --> 00:19:09.896
I don know how you keep everything straight.

00:19:09.957 --> 00:19:10.076
Well,

00:19:10.076 --> 00:19:11.031
that's why I have a pen and paper.

00:19:11.311 --> 00:19:11.511
I know.

00:19:12.686 --> 00:19:15.086
You should, you know, you should have everybody put their name tag right here.

00:19:15.146 --> 00:19:15.686
Yeah.

00:19:15.686 --> 00:19:16.707
It can't be a sticker though.

00:19:16.707 --> 00:19:17.636
It's gotta be a lanyard.

00:19:17.636 --> 00:19:18.747
I hate, I hate those stickers.

00:19:18.896 --> 00:19:19.007
Oh, I know.

00:19:19.007 --> 00:19:19.767
My hair gets stuck

00:19:19.767 --> 00:19:20.096
in all the time.

00:19:20.606 --> 00:19:21.176
I hate that.

00:19:21.356 --> 00:19:23.186
But no, Renee, thank you so much for spending time.

00:19:23.491 --> 00:19:23.731
Oh my pleasure.

00:19:23.731 --> 00:19:24.836
It was certainly my pleasure.

00:19:24.926 --> 00:19:25.076
Alright,

00:19:25.076 --> 00:19:27.596
so and sincerely, I sincerely thank you for coming.

00:19:28.227 --> 00:19:28.497
Very

00:19:28.497 --> 00:19:29.186
good being with us.

00:19:29.277 --> 00:19:37.737
Okay, listen, we're gonna do a real quick close, and then I know you've got, uh, some, the barns, the barn is happening right now, and Yes.

00:19:37.737 --> 00:19:38.247
Thank you.

00:19:38.247 --> 00:19:38.912
And so we,

00:19:38.967 --> 00:19:40.406
the barn is a great place.

00:19:40.406 --> 00:19:42.626
We have Amazing, can I give a little plug on the bar?

00:19:42.626 --> 00:19:42.636
Bar?

00:19:42.636 --> 00:19:43.166
Give a, give a plug.

00:19:43.166 --> 00:19:43.946
Oh, okay.

00:19:43.946 --> 00:19:46.376
Because it, the barn is magic too.

00:19:46.586 --> 00:19:48.596
It's, and it's the people that are here too.

00:19:48.602 --> 00:19:48.791
Mm-hmm.

00:19:49.017 --> 00:19:54.807
And what's really fantastic, oh, what's our, our pizza as I shared a Maryan Italian gentleman.

00:19:54.807 --> 00:19:55.166
Right.

00:19:55.436 --> 00:19:56.017
And so we.

00:19:56.576 --> 00:19:58.946
We're a food desert out here in Newberry Springs.

00:19:58.946 --> 00:19:59.757
That's the other thing.

00:20:00.057 --> 00:20:03.717
So I wanted to create a place that Newberry can be proud of.

00:20:03.717 --> 00:20:03.807
Mm-hmm.

00:20:04.047 --> 00:20:07.676
That people could come and walk in and go, wow, that was so cool.

00:20:07.676 --> 00:20:08.547
That was amazing.

00:20:08.606 --> 00:20:11.787
And, and so, we make amazing pizza.

00:20:12.146 --> 00:20:13.196
Everything is fresh.

00:20:13.196 --> 00:20:14.067
Our dough is fresh.

00:20:14.067 --> 00:20:15.041
It's proofed.

00:20:15.112 --> 00:20:19.436
It's, we, I've had people drive nine hours out of their way to come back for a pizza.

00:20:20.217 --> 00:20:22.477
So I, even though I am watching my carbs, I won't make a, I will.

00:20:23.561 --> 00:20:26.146
I'll make a point of having a, at least a slice of piece, so, okay, good.

00:20:26.146 --> 00:20:26.892
Thank you so much.

00:20:27.342 --> 00:20:30.942
Okay, listen, we're gonna do a real quick close and then yes, we can kind of, uh, have a final chat.

00:20:30.942 --> 00:20:31.152
Okay

00:20:31.297 --> 00:20:31.656
Sure.

00:20:31.777 --> 00:20:32.196
Alright.

00:20:32.737 --> 00:20:35.676
Alright folks, we have just been chatting with Renee Kaminski.

00:20:35.676 --> 00:20:49.207
She is the owner of the barn, this iconic venue here in beautiful Newbury Springs, and really, it's just so great to, I mean, if you could see this, I mean, I've only seen it via YouTube video until today.

00:20:49.612 --> 00:20:57.652
Where, I mean, you've got pool tables, you've got a wonderful bar, you've got a back room, which is perfect for bands and dancing and just entertaining.

00:20:58.011 --> 00:21:16.363
Uh, again, there's been a couple weddings here, uh, but just, uh, wonderful to, to learn more about the barn, learn about Renee, and really why this, this city, this town of Newberry Springs, it has such a place in her heart and we look forward to the continuing the celebration of.

00:21:16.373 --> 00:21:25.192
route 66 and everything that, that she and her, her colleagues, friends, are helping to make, have an impact in the community.

00:21:25.673 --> 00:21:37.042
And of course, you know, as the president of the Chamber of Commerce, very big role because that, that involves really being the spokesperson for bringing people, families, and businesses into the community.

00:21:37.778 --> 00:21:38.738
It can thrive.

00:21:38.738 --> 00:21:41.978
And that's really also the vision of, of Renee.

00:21:41.982 --> 00:21:52.585
And, and as you've heard in other episodes of, of the community leaders, is how do we make Newberry Springs, uh, thrive Now folks, I want you to, to check out the show notes.

00:21:52.585 --> 00:21:55.464
We'll have back links to the Chambers, uh, website.

00:21:55.464 --> 00:21:58.855
We'll have, we'll have any links back to the barn itself.00:21:59.154 --> 00:22:02.394


And of course, you can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcast from.00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:06.039


And also on our website, outdoor adventure series.com.00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.589


Alright, folks, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, go out there.00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:18.315


Have A fantastic day, and we look forward to sharing more episodes with you from Newberry Springs, California, and we are on Route 66.00:22:18.345 --> 00:22:20.384


We're getting our kicks on Route 66.00:22:20.384 --> 00:22:21.674


Yes, come see us.00:22:21.674 --> 00:22:22.214


Come see us.00:22:22.365 --> 00:22:22.785


All right.00:22:22.994 --> 00:22:23.595


Take care now.00:22:23.625 --> 00:22:23.835


Thank00:22:23.835 --> 00:22:23.924


you.00:22:23.930 --> 00:22:24.150


Bye-bye.00:22:24.410 --> 00:22:24.630


Bye.