Palmdon, Jackrabbits, Fig Orchards and El Torre Chingon

Palmdon Palmdon, Jackrabbits, Fig Orchards and El Torre Chingon

Palmdon Drive? Palm. don. Can we agree it’s the worst street name in Fresno? I get it, I get it, it’s a blend of Palm & Herndon. Yeah well it’s terrible.

I don’t think it’s a legit street name. When you look it up in Google Maps, it will show where Palmdon Drive is but it won’t place the name on the street. I think the street sign holds as much validity as an “Only Bulldog Fans Can Park Here” novelty sign.

This block used to be a fig orchard. NW Fresno used to be filled with fig orchards. They are all but gone now. I lived in the neighborhood behind it when I was a kid and that fig orchard was our park.

I used to hit golf balls, play wiffleball, let my dogs run around and attempt to catch jack rabbits, and even hide from tween life. In later years it became a place to have “fig parties” but that’s a story for another time.

Now it’s just offices, car dealerships, Starbucks and of course, the Univison Tower:

the-tower Palmdon, Jackrabbits, Fig Orchards and El Torre Chingon

Back in 2009 we dubbed it: “El Torre Chingon” (That Fucking Tower).

Not really sure why I feel like it would be better if there were still fig orchards around. It just feels wrong that they are all gone. Particularly this one.

Naming the street “Palmdon” doesn’t help.

Found Fresno: Old Cedar Lanes Signs

Location of an old Fresno sign graveyard.

Of course you know about Cedar Lanes being no more. All of Fresno misses Cedar Lanes already, even if you never bowled there. There is nothing left but a crappy-ass Wal Mart trying to be a Trader Joe’s.

But what happened to the classic signs Cedar Lanes signs? They found their way to the Commercial Neon sign graveyard:

afe4e-6a00e54ee89e6c8833016767f22d4a970b-400wi Found Fresno: Old Cedar Lanes Signs

You can check it out for yourself at 5547 North Golden State Blvd. All lanes are open.