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Location DB > United States > California > Lexington > Lexington (Reservoir Ruins)
 Name
Lexington (Reservoir Ruins)
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by cambrianguy on 12/7/2008 10:04 PM
last modified by Emperor Wang on 8/29/2023 9:01 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Many old concrete foundations, an old bridge (from 1926), old tree stumps, the old Santa Cruz Highway 17 (which built in 1940 and then rerouted in 1950 to avoid the rising waters when the Lexington Dam was constructed and completed in 1952.

There is also a large water pipeline which is owned by the San Jose Water Company and is used to transport water from the upstream Lake Elsman (owned by SJWC) through/under Lexington Reservoir and over the Lenihan Dam and into San Jose. Though Elsman drains into Lexington, they are owned and operated by two different water agencies and hence the pipeline to segregate the water.
 Basic Information
Type: Outdoors
Status: Abandoned, normally under water
Accessibility: Easy, when water level is below 5% capacity
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
 Physical Information
Address
Old Santa Cruz Highway
Lexington, California
United States
Owner: Santa Clara Valley Water District
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • unsafe flooring
  • flooding
  • water
  • dust, slippery footing, mud
  •  Interesting Features
    Many old concrete foundations, an old bridge (from 1926), old tree stumps, the old Santa Cruz Highway 17 (which built in 1940 and then rerouted in 1950 to avoid the rising waters when the Lexington Dam was constructed and completed in 1952.
     Security Measures
     Historical Dates
    Built: 1848
    Closed: 1952
     Required Equipment
  • mud boots
  •  Recommended Equipment
    camera, hiking stick, light snack, water
     History
    (From Wikipedia)

    Lexington, California is a ghost town in Santa Clara County, now submerged by the Lexington Reservoir. It is located at latitude 34°11'47"N, longitude 121°59'14"W; decimal degrees: latitude 37.19639, longitude -121.98722. Originally located along Los Gatos Creek, the town was 550 feet above sea level.

    Lexington started out as a sawmill built in 1848 by Isaac Branham and Julian Jank. Zachariah "Buffalo" Jones bought the mill for $3000 and laid out a town called "Jones Mill". In 1860 John P. Hennings bought some of the property and changed the name to Lexington, after his home town of Lexington, Kentucky.

    Lexington was a stop on the stagecoach route from Los Gatos to Santa Cruz. In the 1860's, the saw mills moved up into the hills and Lexington began to lose importance. In 1880, a narrow gauge railroad from Los Gatos to Santa Santa Cruz was completed, bypassing Lexington and leading to its gradual decline. It's sister city Alma remained until much later, until the 1950s. The visible ruins under Lexington reservoir are actually those of Alma, not Lexington. The railroad ceased operations in March 1940, following major damage by a winter storm and the completion of State Route 17 that same year. When the Lexington Reservoir was created in 1952, Lexington and Alma were officially abandoned and SR 17 was rerouted to its present location; building foundations and original pavements of roads are sometimes visible during droughts. Another ghost town, Alma was south of Lexington and was also submerged by the reservoir.
     Media Coverage
    http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11156535
     Future Plans
    None. The reservoir will fill back up with the coming rains during the winter and spring season. The only reason it is this low (<5% capacity) is due to the new outlet being constructed for the dam.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    December 7, 2008
    Sun, Dec 7th, 2008
    posted by cambrianguy
    24 pictures
     


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Panoramas

    Nearly Drained Lexington Reservoir
    Sun, Dec 7th, 2008
    posted by cambrianguy
     Web Links
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_California

    http://en.wikipedi...exington_Reservoir

    http://www.valleyw...irs/Lexington.shtm

    http://www.valleywater.org/lenihan/
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
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     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 8/29/2023 9:01 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Aug 29 23 at 21:01, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Aug 29 23 at 21:01, Emperor Wang changed the following: Web Links
  • on Aug 29 23 at 21:00, Emperor Wang changed the following: History, Future Plans, Description
  • on Dec 16 08 at 5:24, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Dec 16 08 at 5:23, Emperor Wang changed the following: Web Links
  • on Dec 16 08 at 5:22, Emperor Wang updated the main picture
  • on Dec 8 08 at 1:29, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Dec 7 08 at 23:21, cambrianguy made this location available
  • on Dec 7 08 at 23:21, cambrianguy updated gallery picture Lexington Reservoir's Secrets
  • on Dec 7 08 at 23:20, cambrianguy added some pictures to a gallery
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