Okay, all you hardworking, wonderful drivers out there. I'm not a trucker but my uncle was and I'm curious. The old Bruce's truck stop in Bakersfield, California--everyone seems to agree it was a dump in its final years, but for those of you who have been in the industry a long time--was it ever a decent place? The Scotsman restaurant intrigued me in that I know it had ####tails, which is unusual for a truck stop diner. Thanks in advance for your answers! Thanks for keeping America happy and we appreciate the work you do!
The Scotsman was Ok for what it was. Yes, they served booze, but that wasn't a major deal. They had a good menu and truck driver's were served fast. I didn't drink so i didn't matter to me. My first stop there was in the late 80"s. The truck stop itself was never GREAT. the showers were OK, but not like what they are now at the chains. It was the place to stop after loading produce to get a weigh. The Weigh station up at Keene was open a lot more back then than it is now. Especially when produce was running hot. I stayed there waiting for appointments at Bolthouse and other Kern county sheds. But after loading it was get weighed and get the Heck out of California. Usually running east at night. And back then the "Ladies" were a lot better looking. A lot were high school age girls and college girls. Just my observation, of course.
Interesting, Buzzard. Thanks for the info. I know Bruce himself had partnered with another truck stop in Tulsa, but that one was taken down by a tornado or something like that. Sad story.
Yeah Bruces (he had two locations) The other over by Buttonwillow. It was so-so truck stop. Truck wash across the street. Much better than Chevron sta down the street.
Thanks, kind sir! I had no idea he had a location in Buttonwillow. I had only heard through the grapevine he was connected with the Bruce's Texaxo truck stop in Tulsa back in the 90's.
Throwback Tulsa: The devastation of the deadly 1993 tornado that hit Catoosa and Tulsa A few pictures of Bruce's Truck Stop in Tulsa.
I spent a good bit of time there in the 2000's , Food was good and the shop was decent,showers were ok there was a whole bunch of folks living in tents not far from there that came around at night and provided some great entertainment watching them all run from the law , There were some really good folks out there and some not so much
Thanks, ButterBean! I like supporting the mom and pop truck stops, even if they are affiliated with AmBest or Roady's, which I don't think Bruce's was. The mega chains are all so boring. And I am SICK of Subway! Every exit the same thing!
I hate it closed, Lots of good times there, It was a place where they knew you by name, Bill's in Lexingtom NC is another good one
