With the new hotel and coming gas station at the LA Bay turn off my mind goes back to the brief period when the Pemex was opened there. Who else used
it while it was operational? Who knows why it was closed 30 years ago now?
[Edited on 1-3-2025 by towntaco]AKgringo - 1-2-2025 at 09:11 PM
I used it in February 1986 when we dd a family road trip down from Alaska. It stands out in my memory of that trip as a filty, badly mis-managed
station.BornFisher - 1-2-2025 at 10:38 PM
Yeah it was pretty sketchy but had good shade.
Heck, back in the day when gas was scarce, we would go to the landing strip in Santa Inez and buy aviation fuel. I remember my old Chevy truck
running like a rocket ship after 5 gallons of that stuff! chippy - 1-3-2025 at 06:57 AM
I used that station alot in the late 70s eary 80s when surfing Santa Rosalillita and points nearby. I remember it getting sucked dry by convoys of
motorhomes and having to go to the same (as above) Santa Inez airstrip for fuel and yes my baja bug seemed to have an extra gear!
Convoys of motorhomes
AKgringo - 1-3-2025 at 07:40 AM
Getting trapped behind a long convoy of motorhomes is something that seems to have gone away. It was the same in Alaska during the tourist season!watizname - 1-3-2025 at 07:51 AM
The last time I got gas there, prolly late eighties, there was one pump working, which was powered by an extension cord coming from behind the
officina. I distinctly remember the wires hanging out of the pump with the extension cord, coming across the ground and up to where the wires were
just twisted together, no tape- no nothing. The operator had to give the pump pully a tug by hand to get it started after starting the generator, as
the generator wasn't powerful enough start it. Where there's a will there's a way I guess. mtgoat666 - 1-3-2025 at 09:45 AM
I have no memory of that station operating.
I think it would be a poor location for a station, not sure it is a wise location for maximizing sales. Most long-haul travelers will fuel elsewhere,
and there is little local population to support a station. Fatboy - 1-3-2025 at 11:18 AM
It was not a 'GAS STATION" when I first started going down in 1992 as I recall. You could buy gas there from 5 gallon cans I believe back then.
Strange part is that I am sure I would have gotten gas there in 1992, since we were riding dualsport motorcycles with limited range, and I do remember
running out of gas north of there on that trip.
30 plus years ago, crazy to me and to think there are others on here that have been traveling down Baja for well over 50 years!!!!David K - 1-3-2025 at 11:45 AM
We got gas there, in the 70s.
I learned the reason it closed was that the ejido it was given to did not pay Pemex for the gas delivered, more than once. Other issues with the
failed stations in the central desert were the lack of employees and distance to banks/ fear of robbery.KurtG - 1-3-2025 at 01:12 PM
Bought gas there regularly in the 70's.winnebago 2 - 1-3-2025 at 01:26 PM
1978. Making a 24 hour run to Cabo towing a boat. After almost crashing at the two Catavina arroyo"s its midnight when we reach the punta prieta
la bay gas station. One attendant is inside behind the cashier window. We fill up and its time to pay. I send my future wife to the cashier to pay
because she is fluent in spanish. She returns to the truck with a ghostly face. She started arguing with the atteendant about the exchange rate and
the amount of change. After 30 seconds he pulls his pistol out and starts waving it.
Ok. We let him keep the change. I would like to see the station open again.
Love Baja. 4x4abc - 1-3-2025 at 09:22 PM
I remember very well getting gas there
I have a total of 14 Pemex stations in my data base that were built together with the paved highway in 1973 - they are all still standing.
2 of them still pump gas
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I have a total of 14 Pemex stations in my data base that were built together with the paved highway in 1973 - they are all still standing.
2 of them still pump gas
There's one that I can think of that is not open now was at San Augustin about 15 miles north of Catavina as I remember.David K - 1-5-2025 at 09:54 AM
I have a total of 14 Pemex stations in my data base that were built together with the paved highway in 1973 - they are all still standing.
2 of them still pump gas
There's one that I can think of that is not open now was at San Augustin about 15 miles north of Catavina as I remember.
The mini-parador of San Agustin also had a RV park, near the gas station, which stayed open long after the station closed.
From my Kilometer Guide at Vivabaja.com:
KM 145 San Agustin, abandoned gas station and RV park.
