TRONA, CA — Trona High School’s first basketball games were played on courts that were across the street from Austin Hall in downtown Trona. In the mid 1950s the gymnasium, that was located on the north side of the campus was completed.
For decades, the Trona High School gymnasium stood as more than just a sports venue; it was the reinforced heart of a community forged in the harsh, salt-crusted landscape of the Searles Valley. However, following years of structural instability exacerbated by the violent 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, the iconic gymasium has finally met its end.
The demolition marks a somber milestone for the town of Trona, where high school athletics—particularly the legendary sand-football games and high-intensity basketball matchups—have long served as the primary social glue for the remote desert outpost.
A Legacy of Resilience
Built to serve a booming mining community, the gym was famous throughout the high desert for its unique atmosphere. Visiting teams often found the environment intimidating, not just because of the fierce local pride, but because of the gym’s architecture and the intense heat that mirrored the valley outside.
“In Trona, the gym was our living room,” said one local alumnus. “It was where we celebrated graduations, held community meetings, and cheered on the Tornadoes. Seeing it come down feels like losing a piece of our own history.”
The Turning Point: July 2019
The fate of the structure was effectively sealed in July 2019, when a magnitude 6.4 earthquake followed by a massive 7.1 temblor rocked the region. The quakes caused significant damage throughout the town, rupturing water lines and rendering many older buildings unsafe.
While the high school itself suffered across-the-board damage, the gymnasium was hit particularly hard. Subsequent engineering assessments revealed deep structural compromises that made renovation cost-prohibitive for the Trona Joint Unified School District. For several years, students were forced to utilize a section of the elementary school or outdoor facilities, waiting for a permanent solution.
Demolition and the Path Forward
The demolition process is part of a broader effort to modernize the campus and ensure student safety. While the removal of the old gym is a visual reminder of the town’s recent hardships, school officials see it as a necessary step toward renewal.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and various state grants have been instrumental in funding the removal of unsafe structures across Trona. For the school district, the goal is to replace the old facility with a modern, seismically sound multipurpose building that can serve the next generation of Tornadoes.
Preserving Memories
As the dust settles over the demolition site, residents have been seen stopping by to take photos or salvage small pieces of debris as keepsakes. There are talks of incorporating materials from the old gym—perhaps pieces of the hardwood floor or championship banners—into the new facility to maintain a bridge to the past.
Trona has always been a town defined by its ability to endure. From the boom-and-bust cycles of the potash and borax mines to the literal shifting of the earth beneath its feet, the community remains. The gym may be gone, but the spirit of the Tornadoes, much like the salt flats surrounding the town, remains unshakable.
By the Numbers:
- Built: Mid-20th Century
- Damaged: July 2019 (Magnitude 7.1 earthquake)
- Impact: Served over 70 years of Trona students and residents.
