Paso Robles Area Historical Society: History of the Cuesta Pass

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(TOP R) In 1876, SLO County issued bonds to raise $20,000 for the construction of the dirt road over the Cuesta Grade. (TOP L) A grader being pulled by horses pushes and levels dirt in 1913 on the new two-lane dirt road on the eastern slope of the Cuesta, completed in 1914. (BOT R) Construction continues on the Cuesta Grade in 1914. (BOT L) An open HISTORY OF TH touring car is seen on Cuesta Road pre-1922. Archived photos from PRAHS and Museum.

By Camille DeVaul and the

Paso Robles Area Historical Society and Museum

Linking Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo has always been the Cuesta Grade. However, the steep pass went through various transitions to become what we know today.

Being one of the earliest roads, Old Cuesta Road climbed through the center of the valley. Its broad trail was used by hundreds of horses, pack animals, and cattle being driven north to supply the gold mining regions. Many travelers opted for flatter routes in the Central Valley, yet a horse stage wagon did make the weekly ascent up the Cuesta to carry mail between San Luis Obispo and Monterey.

Passengers of this wagon would often have to assist the stage by pushing it up the steep slope or by holding its sides to keep it from overturning on hillsides. In rainy weather, passengers would help the driver by digging the wagon out of the mud. Coaches often flipped over on the precarious turns of the road, spilling passengers, baggage, and freight.

In 1872, a Cuesta toll road was proposed, and by 1876 “The Stagecoach Road” was born. The new road was built using $20,000 in bonds on the west side of the canyon.

Contractors J. Lemon and W. Wing were hired to build a 15-foot wide road for $11,100. Once the new road was completed, a buggy ride to the top of the Cuesta Pass became a doable day’s outing. In 1877 the Bean 16 | pasoroblesmagazine.com

Brothers built a two-story hotel, the Eight Mile House, over the Cuesta, eight miles from San Luis Obispo.

However, the new road came with new challenges plaguing travelers. Horse teams disappeared at full speed down the slope, turning over wagons. And with Wells Fargo Express boxes being transported on the route, the Cuesta Pass became a hunting ground for stage robbers. Passengers were encouraged to leave their valuables at home.

Then the world entered the 20th century, and a new era brought new challenges. As “horseless carriages” became more popular, it became clear a new road was needed over the Cuesta Grade. In 1912, Cuesta Road became part of the California State Highway System. By 1915, a two-lane concrete surface roadway winded up the east side of the canyon.

By 1928, the Cuesta Grade became part of the federal intrastate road system and received its new number, 101.

Trucks were hauling products by 1938 and had replaced freight wagons. Greyhound buses replaced the wooden stages. The increase in traffic led to doubling traffic lanes to four at the cost of $1,050. The newly improved Cuesta Road was celebrated with banquets, speeches, and finally, a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was stated by District Engineer Lester Gibson that “modern engineering has at last conquered the Cuesta. The last traffic bottleneck has been eliminated from the main highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.”

The El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society and Museum are honored to be located in the historic Carnegie Library at the center of City Park. To learn more, visit pasorobleshistorymuseum.org. Paso Robles Magazine | May 2022