A big “Thank you” to Mike Rouw and Melanie Mitchell for organizing the Kern River run to McNally’s Restaurant and Fairview Lodge. They were so generous in providing, also, the raffle prizes of which there were numerous items to be given away. Approximately 15 Corvettes and a “tin car” made the procession up the Kern River Canyon to Kernville and then 15 miles north on the Kern River highway/Sierra Way. It was a beautiful day and the drive was magnificent. The weather was perfect. We made a pit stop in Kernville where we went to visit a couple of the shops including the Kern Valley Museum where we saw many artifacts from the old pioneer days. While at the museum, we met up with a couple of the COB members who live in the area and were docents in the museum.
John McNally came to the Kern River Valley in the early 1930s and established an estate called Fairview on the Kern. In 1940s his son Johnny started a steakhouse and six room lodge which would become famous for fine steak dinners. Johnny McNally wore many badges which included farming and ranching, working for Southern California Edison, a logger and, also, worked on the Isabella Dam until its completion. The other badge he wore was when he became the only deputy sheriff in the remote Southeast Tulare County; the nearest jail facility being two hours away. He became very adept to tracking lost deer and cattle and especially lost people…hunters and hikers who needed rescue. He was a big man and very well known in the area.
The new owners, James Thurin and Darlyn Thurin with Paul Frankforter were exceedingly gracious hosts that catered to our every whim. They employed a large staff and reserved the whole restaurant to serve the Corvettes of Bakersfield members with delicious steaks and excellent service. The long drive through the canyon to the restaurant was very worthwhile and delicious event.
For more pictures of this event, Click on this link to our Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/158760832@N02/albums/72157704828251452
