Former California State Route 41 past Bates Station

When California State Route 41 was commissioned during August 1934 it was aligned along the then existing Fresno-Yosemite Road north of the San Joaquin River. Within the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, the original highway alignment ran past Bates Station via what is now Madera County Road 209, part of eastern Road 406 and Road 207. Bates Station was a stage station plotted during the early 1880s at what was the intersection of the Coarsegold Road and Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The modern alignment bypassing Bates Station to the east would be reopened to traffic during late 1939.

Part 1; the history of California State Route 41 past Bates Station

Bates Station was featured as one of the many 1875-1899 Madera County era towns in the May 21, 1968, Madera Tribune. Post Office Service at Bates Station is noted to have been established on November 23, 1883 and ran continuously until October 31, 1903. The postal name was sourced from Bates Station owner/operator George Bates. Bates Station was located at the intersection of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road (now Madera County Road 406) and old Coarsegold Road (now Madera County Road 209).

Bates Station can be seen along the Fresno-Coarsegold Road in Township 10 South, Range 20 East on the 1891 Thompson Map of Fresno County. Madera County would split from Fresno County north of the San Joaquin River on May 16, 1893.

Bates Station can be seen at Township 10 South, Range 20 East on the 1914 Madera County Surveyor Map.

The Fresno-Yosemite Road was added to the State Highway System via 1933 Legislative Route Number 767 as a component of Legislative Route Number 125 (LRN 125). The original definition of LRN 125 was as follows:

1. LRN 56 near Moro to LRN 4 (US Route 99 near Fresno via Stratford

2. LRN 4 near Fresno to Yosemite National Park

The Fresno-Yosemite portion of LRN 125 was announced as a component of California State Route 41 in the August 1934 California Highways & Public Works. California State Route 41 was one of the original Sign State Routes designated.

California State Route 41 can be seen passing through the site of Bates Station south of Kelshaw Corners on the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Madera County.

The alignment of California State Route 41 around Bates Station was featured in the December 1939 California Highways & Public Works. The corridor described in the article began at Kelshaw Corners along Coarsegold Creek and extended ten miles southwest. The previous alignment is displayed as being routed past Bates Station via what is now Madera County Roads 209, 406 and 207. The new alignment saved three miles and was noted to be complete during late October 1939.

Part 2; a drive along former California State Route 41 on Madera County Road 209

Modern California State Route 41 intersects the pre-1939 alignment on Road 209 a short distance north of California State Route 145.

Northbound Road 209 approaches the Sierra Nevada foothills and intersects Road 208.

Northbound Road 209 enters the foothills and begins to follow the course of Cottonwood Creek. An abandoned older alignment can be found in the brush approaching Craig Ranch.

A second larger old alignment of Road 209 can be found north of Craig Ranch.

Northbound Road 209 terminates at Road 406 where Bates Station once stood. California State Route 41 would have originally continued on what is now eastbound Road 406 to Road 207.

Part 3; a drive along former California State Route 41 on Madera County Road 207

Modern California State Route 41 intersects the pre-1939 alignment on Road 207 south of Yosemite Springs Parkway near Coarsegold.

Road 207 passes through a valley filled with ranch lands and ascends to a closed gate at the boundary of the San Joaquin Experimental Range property. Road 207 no longer connects as a through route to Road 406.