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Teaser issue for the relaunching of the Valley Views Magazine. Will be the 42nd issue of the central valley's first regional lifestyle magazine.
Citation preview
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 1
7 21762 37097 1
FALL 2014 • $2.95
YOSEMITE CELEBRATES150TH Anniversary ofthe Yosemite Grant
LUXURY HOME SPOTLIGHT
PERSONAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCE GUIDE
WILDLIFE REFUGES OFVALLEY AND FOOTHILLS
WALKING TOUR MAPS
IN SEARCH OF THE BESTBURGER ON HWY 132
Produced by Valley Views Magazine, Local Media Pros and Sabre Design
$2.95
featuring GATEWAYS & GETAWAYSfeaturing GATEWAYS & GETAWAYS
2 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 3
4 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
FALL 2014
ValleyViews.biz
PUBLISHER: Stan Countz
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
ADMINISTRATION: Diana Ringer
Articles/Features
DIGITAL DIRECTOR:
WRITERS: Diana Ringer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Karen Lovelady
Photography
SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR: David Wilkinson
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sean Lovelady,
David Wilkinson, Christina Wilkinson, Diana Ringer,
Design/Art, Production Team
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Christina Wilkinson
ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR:
GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST: Bethany Wilkinson
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS: Christina Wilkinson,
Advertising & Marketing
AD SALES: Gail S. Wilson
MARKETING: Stan Countz
Corporate Office
1501 Roosevelt Drive
Modesto CA 95350
Phone: 209.554.7211
Email: contact@valleyviews.biz
PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE
Welcome to the 42nd issue ofValley Views magazine.
The very first issue of Valley Views magazine was published by Stan C. Countz in March of 1980. It featured a full-color photo of Modesto’s McHenry Mansion on the cover and was, by all esti-mations, the central San Joaquin valley’s first regional magazine. Countz published 30 issues of Valley Views from 1980 to 1983 be-fore “desktop publishing” was even a word in the dictionary. “When we referred to ‘cutting and pasting’ back then,” Countz recalls, “we were cutting with an Exacto knife and pasting with hot wax.”
Fast-forward 20 years later and Countz published Valley Views again from the spring of 2003 to the summer of 2006. The magazine grew to 100 pages in three issues and stayed strong until the summer of 2006. In 2004, Countz launched http://www.valleyviews.biz – the website and, in 2005, he produced four episodes of a half-hour cable TV show entitled Valley Views Spotlight which served as an audio-video extension of the magazine. In 2010, Countz established the 209 area code’s local business portal: http://www.localfirst.biz. Local First 209 is a site designed to promote locally owned and operated businesses based in the 209 area code.
In 2014, Countz decided to investigate whether or not the economy was making a slight comeback and so he began prepa-rations to publish the 42nd issue of Valley Views as an interactive multimedia magazine. He will be designing and printing the magazine but will also be producing audio and video-enhanced content to embed in the digital edition of Valley Views. Countz brainstormed with Gold Country Adventures publishers David and Christina Wilkinson and The Best of Country Escapes and Wine Spoken Here publisher, Gail Wilson, to ascertain what they felt the market wanted and needed. He then recruited their help in selling advertising and designing a lifestyle magazine worthy of the name Valley Views. Wilkinson and Countz also felt that a magazine within a magazine could be created and decided to create Gateways & Getaways as a destinations and getaways section initially with the idea of spinning it off as a separate magazine if it really catches on.
If you own or operate a business or venue along the way to or from Yosemite or in or near a “gateway” community, contact us to make sure your business is properly represented in our multimedia promo-tional destination marketing campaign. Or if you have a community,
a destination, a business, non-profit organization or a story that you think might be of interest to Valley Views readers, subscribers, viewers or listeners, feel free to contact us.
Call or text 209-554-7211 or email contactus@valleyviews.biz
Stan CountzPublisher / Editor-in-ChiefValley Views MagazineGateways & Getaways
CONTENTS | FALL 2014
16
10 282610 THE BEST BURGER We ate at more than half a dozen
restaurants along Highway 132, and these
are the three best burgers.
16 NATURAL BRIDGESA majestic watershed wonder hidden in
Calaveras County.
26 BIG CREEK MEADOW RANCHHome to livestock and open to the public
as a bed and breakfast. Enjoy your stay
at this rustic inn just outside of Yosemite
National Park near Groveland.
28 INTO THE WILDGreat one day getaways for sightseeing,
flora and fauna. Photographers enjoy
these locations.
22 HIGHWAY 132Discover historic bygones along this
quaint road traveling through Coulterville,
LaGrange and Robert’s Ferry.
DEPARTMENTS
4 PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE 6 GOLD COUNTRY MAP 7 OUT & ABOUT 8 GROVELAND CA 15 MARIPOSA CA 30 LUXURY HOME SPOTLIGHT
ON THE COVERThe Ahwanhee Hotel in Yosemite Valley. Book early if you wish to stay at the Ahwanhee as the hotel is a very popular destination in Yosemite National Park. Photo courtesy of David Wilkinson Photography.
FALL 2014 GATEWAYS & GETAWAYS | 5
6 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOSEMITE
LEGEND
CENTRALVALLEY YOSEMITE
NATIONALPARK
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 7
Yosemite’s 150th
Yosemite’s 150th Anniversary
On June 30, 1864, in the
midst of the Civil War, Con-
gress enacted the Yosemite
Grant Act, establishing Yosemite Valley
and Mariposa Grove as the first pro-
tected wild land for all time. This grant
marked the first California State Park.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the
Yosemite Grant Act. From the begin-
ning, this act was a legacy for our nation.
Today, the preservation of Yosemite
inspires the world. The Yosemite Grant
was the first land grant to protect wild
lands for the enjoyment of people. With
the help of many partners and friends,
Yosemite and the gateway communities
hosted a nation-wide commemorative
effort to honor the 150th anniversary of
this significant event that spurred the
national park idea. In 1890, the land
surrounding these two tracts was des-
ignated Yosemite National Park. Early
conservationist John Muir’s persuasive
words to President Roosevelt and state
authorities led to combining Yosemite
Valley and Mariposa Grove with Yosemi-
te National Park in 1906. Visionaries like
Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt,
John Muir, and Galen Clark under-
stood that the wonders of the American
wilderness are not only our inheritance,
but our responsibility. Now, 150 years
later, the promise of the Yosemite Grant
endures as this beloved national park
opens its arms to over 4 million people
annually who marvel at the awe-inspir-
ing beauty and gain a new understand-
ing of the importance of preserving
our wild lands. California State Parks
commemorates the 1864 establishment
of the first state park in the world. On
June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lin-
coln signed a bill granting 39,000 acres
of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big
Tree Grove to the State of California.
Never before had land been set aside to
protect its natural state for the public
to enjoy. This historic legislation was
the beginning of not only the California
State Park System, but the national park
idea we know today. Visitors arrived by
1869, and camping, hiking and swim-
ming in the park became more popular
every year. As roads and campgrounds
were established, the number of visitors
exploded. The federal government took
control of Yosemite Valley and Mariposa
Grove in 1906. This year, the National
Park Service also celebrates the 150th
anniversary of the signing of the Yo-
semite Grant. The National Park Service
remains partnered with California State
Parks in preservation of natural and his-
toric resources Yosemite Gateway Part-
ners is composed of citizens, communi-
ties and organizations throughout the
greater Yosemite region that acknowl-
edge their mutual interdependence, and
collaborate with each other to create
sustainable area-wide cultural, natural,
and economic prosperity.
Powderhouse Street
Back Street
Hopper Street
Fe
rretti R
oad
Elde
r Lan
e
Bisordi Street
Ponderos a Lan
e
Garrotte Creek
Hetch Hetchy Railroad (Historic Path)
Tann
ahill
Cree
k
MARY LAVERONICOMMUNITY PARK
STATE HIGHWAY 120
25 Miles TO YOSEMITE
MAIN STREET
15
11
10
5
22
22211 20
25
2
2
1 1 12
11
1
1
TO PINE MOUNTAIN LAKE COUNTRY CLUB,GOLF COURSE, STABLES, CAMPGROUNDS,AND AIRPORT
8 | VALLEY VIEWS FALL 2014
GROVELAND, CA
Powderhouse Street
Back Street
Hopper Street
Ferre
tti Road
Elde
r Lan
e
Bisordi Street
Ponderos a Lan
e
Garrotte Creek
Hetch Hetchy Railroad (Historic Path)
Tann
ahill
Cree
k
MARY LAVERONICOMMUNITY PARK
STATE HIGHWAY 120
25 Miles TO YOSEMITE
MAIN STREET
15
11
10
5
22
22211 20
25
2
2
1 1 12
11
1
1
TO PINE MOUNTAIN LAKE COUNTRY CLUB,GOLF COURSE, STABLES, CAMPGROUNDS,AND AIRPORT
FALL 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 9
1. Mary Laveroni Community Park2. The Tannahill Home, 18573. Calpingers’ Texaco Service Station, est.19354. Original Post Office, 1936. 5. The Hotel Charlotte, 19216. Casmir Reboul’s Trading Post & Restaurant, 1849 to 1852 7. The Cassaretto Home built in the turn of the century. 8. The Community Hall, 1918. Both the Justice Court and the library were downstairs until the 1990s.9. The Lumsden House (was once Baird’s Hotel complex), 1920.10. United Mortgage and One Hour Photo 11. The Groveland Jail12. The Reid Home, 1903.
13. The Sutton House, 188114. The Margaret Simmons Home (All Seasons Groveland Inn), 190015. School House, 191616. The Gilliam Home, 190317. Francis Martin established a ranch and in 1877 erected a small frame house. Now it’s the home to Mountain Sage Garden, Gallery & Gear.18. The Yosemite Title Co. office is what remains of the Henry Michael DeFerrari Home, 1899. 19. Groveland Gas Station, 1921 20. & 21. In 1933, a serious fire leveled the original 1921 structures which were rebuilt and destroyed again in 1989. 22. Tuolumne Meat Market
23. Watts and Tannahill had this two-story adobe erected, 1851 c. It’s now Coffee Time and Petal Pushers24. Iron Door Saloon, 185225. The Groveland Hotel, 184926. Groveland/Yosemite Gateway Museum and Library
10 | VALLEY VIEWS FALL 2014
FOOD EDITOR, DIANA RINGER
The BESTI love my job! Blending the best of both worlds,
travel and food, appealed to me from the very beginning.
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 11
WORTH THE WAITIronically, the top three burgers reside at the end of
132. Nestled between LaGrange and Coulterville, I tasted
three “destination worthy” burgers.
The Jeffrey Hotel5001 Main Street
Coulterville, CA 95311
(209) 878-0461
hoteljeffery.com
The Cowboy Burger
I drove a little more than
an hour east of Modesto to ex-
perience an artistic twist on the
American classic “bacon cheese-
burger.” Situated at the south-
ern tip of Main Street, just past
the intersection of highways
132 and 49, lies the Jeffrey Ho-
tel. The Magnolia Saloon which
a part of the Hotel Jeffery, is
the oldest working saloon in
California, complete with the
original “bat wing” doors like
you see in old westerns like Bonanza and Gunsmoke.
Inside this historical building is a classically trained
culinary artist who likes to add his own fresh twist on
American Classics, such as burgers and fries.
The Cowboy Burger is an impressive 1/3 lb fresh
ground patty, with hickory smoked bacon, fried onion
rings, BBQ sauce and your choice of cheese. Served with a
side of hand cut French fries, coleslaw or potato salad.
My personal suggestion would be to experience the
French fries. As a hardened “fast food junky” I thought I
had tasted it all, fry wise, until I tried the house fries. Un-
believable! I charmed the secret out of the chef, but only
on the grounds I keep it a strict secret. I can’t tell you how
he does it, but they are worth every calorie and more. I
would skip a lot of fries to make my way back to those!
Other burger offerings, all of them delicious, include:
a mushroom burger, a blue cheese melt and a classic
burger. Want to match creative wits with the chef, then the
“build a burger” (at a modest $11)
is a perfect fit for you.
Not into burgers? No problem.
The Hotel Jeffrey has something for
everyone, from steaks and chicken,
to pizzas and sandwiches. With
drinks and desserts, you can count
on spending around $15-$20 per
person.
The Lumber Yard3473 Merced Falls Rd
La Grange, CA 95329
(209) 852-0146
lumberyardcafe.com
The Lumberjack Burger
When I look back on the Lumber Yard Café, I think
great food, good times, and somewhere I want to go back
to on a regular basis.
First and foremost, their burgers pack the one-two
punch of high quality, and quantity. All but the heartiest
appetites will be happy to share their 1 lb Lumberjack
burger, piled so high with fresh tasty toppings you wonder
how you are going to get your jaw around it! Their more
Burger on 132
aljfalfjaflkjdalfjkadlf;kja
12 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
modest ½ lb burger doesn’t skimp on
taste or fixings either.
This is probably the best place of
them all if you enjoy people watching,
or mingling with a group of people
you probably won’t otherwise have a
chance to associate with. Situated near
Lake Don Pedro, on any given night,
you see a mix of boaters (with young
families) and road loving bikers. In
the summer, you are likely to see large
groups of European tourists (on a
lay-over before heading onto Yosemite
National Park). These tourists have
literally made this place “world fa-
mous” by encouraging family, friends,
and strangers alike to stop in and
experience the super tasty, supersized
American cuisine.
I loved the atmosphere so much, I
had to find an excuse to come and sam-
ple the food twice. The second time, a
local band was playing out front, and I
enjoyed a cool summer evening listen-
ing to live music and sipping a brew.
That night, they were also serving these
miniature cupcakes that shouldn’t even
be legal (yes, they were that good!!)
The Lumber Yard also offers Kara-
oke on Friday nights, so if you feel like
singing for your supper, they can hook
you up!
Not all your travelers want burg-
ers? No problem. The Lumber Yard can
satisfy a variety of tastes from tri-tip to
linguicia sandwiches, a tri-tip burrito,
and slightly lighter fare like nachos,
quesadillas, hot dogs and salads. They
also offer a very special Rib-Eye steak
dinner that is out of this world for just
under $20/per person. Top your per-
fect meal off with a selection of beer,
soda or ice tea. Picking up the tab? You
can count on $15-20 per meal, if you
skip the steak dinner.
The LaGrange SaloonLa Grange Saloon and Grill
30048 Yosemite Blvd
La Grange, CA 95329
(209) 853-2114
https://www.facebook.com/
pages/Louies-Place-Saloon-and-
Grill/368748569828519
The third best burger I tasted, and
it’s nearly impossible to rate them, is
in the city of LaGrange itself. This his-
toric bar is deceiving from the front.
Walk through its old time western
façade, and you find yourself trans-
ported back in time. Its old saloon feel
allows you to believe that your favorite
western character is just going to walk
in any minute and belly up to the bar
for a cold one.
Walk past the pool table in the back,
and through the screen door, to the
back yard, and you are transported once
again. A narrow walkway leads to a large,
lush backyard with a gazebo and plenty
of green lush grass to dance upon. The
Saloon, also known “Louie’s Place” has
an active entertainment calendar, so I
encourage people to call ahead.
The saloon boasts one of the old-
est, intact bars anywhere, but the kitch-
en is the real secret to their success.
When I went there, I had an opportu-
nity to meet the cook, an incredibly
vibrant woman that brings passion and
Valley ViewsFood Editor, Diana Ringer
A life-long burger enthusiast, Diane takes her love and deep appreci-
ation of food very seriously. Visit her online blog at www.valleyviews.biz/
blogs/foodiediaries
Visit the blog and give her ideas for future articles / reviews.
Lumberjack
LaGrange
“...you find yourself transported back in time.”
FALL 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 13
precision to everything she gets her
hands on.
Of course, I had to order a bacon
cheeseburger, with all the fixings.
The end result was well worth the
wait. I wasn’t even hungry, but I
found I couldn’t help myself. It was
all just too good! I tried to have a
shred of restraint, and shared it with
a friend. It was unanimous, 2-0, this
was definitely one of the best burg-
ers on Highway 132 or anywhere
else for that matter.
The take away from La Grange:
Great burger making technique,
impeccable plating style, and great
ingredients!
OTHER GREAT BURGER CHOICESALONG HIGHWAY 132
Just because my top three shared
a common geographic theme, doesn’t
mean that there aren’t great burgers
to be found on the valley floor. Of the
dozen plus burger places I tried, from
west of Modesto to Coulterville, there
are many great burger places. These
restaurants deserve their own special
awards along the way.
For the rest of the story, visit
http://online.valleyviews.biz/best-
burgers
14 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 15
16JONES ST.
13th
St.
12th
St.
11th
St.
10th
St.
9th
St.
8th
St.
7th
St.
6th
St. 5t
h St
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4th
St.
3th
St.
Quar
tz St
.
BULLION ST.
CHARLES ST.JESSIE ST.
HIGHWAY 140
MariposaCemetery
Visitor Center
Post Office
E D15
1
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Mariposa Creek
Long GulchMissouri Gulch
94
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041YAWHGIH
1. Mariposa Mine, 18492. Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 18623. Duff House4. Old Jail, 18585. Bertken Cottage, 19016. Gann House, 2nd Mason’s Lodge, 18647. Bruce Bro. Shop (location)8. Methodist Church So., 1893 a. Methodist Church Parish Hall, 19419. Fort Sumpter Garage (location)10. Old Post Office, c. 188611. a. Express Drug and Variety (location) b. MacDermott and Co., 1858 c. Mariposa County Arts Park12. a. Zeller Building, 1892 b. Stolder Building, 1901 c. Old CHP Office, 1936
d. Bogan & Co., 1867 e. Meat Market, 1867 f. Capital Saloon, 1867 g. Fremont Adobe, 185013. a. Schlageter Hotel, 1867 b. Trabucco Store, 1896 c. Old Post Office (original location) d. Trabucco Store add., 1949 e. El Capitan Saloon, 1895 f. Charley Walker’s Garage, 1900 g. I.O.O.F. Hall #39, 1867 h. Methodist Church (original location) i. Van Campen Residence (location) New Methodist Church, 196214. a. Patten House, 1880 b. Mariposa Theater, 1936 c. Garber Property d. Gallison/J.J. Cook Residence (location)
15. a. Fremont Motel b. Masonic Hall #24, 1917 c. Doctor’s Residence d. Presbyterian Church, 1889 & Concert Hall (location) e. D.C. Ashworth Lot f. John Higman’s Store, 188316. Mariposa Gazette (location)17. John Trabucco Res., 193418. Emile Trabucco Residence, 193219. Mariposa Opera House (location)20. Schlageter House, 185921. Mariposa Elementary School22. Mariposa High School23. Jones House, 185824. a. Judge Schottky House, 1935 b. Carl G. Lind House, 1870 c.25. A.H. Washburn House (location)
26. Counts House (location)27. Adair House, 1900 c.28. J.J. Trabucco Home, 190129. Mariposa Gazette30. Tiscornia & Irves Funeral Home, 193531. Thorn House, pre 190032. Mariposa Courthouse, 185433. Henry Garber Jr., 189634. Henry Garber Sr., 1861 c.35. Milburn House, 189836. George Lind House, 189737. Ellingham House, 1930 c.38. Tressider House/Mariposa Brewery39. Lourvre Hotel, 189640. Mariposa Museum & History Center
16 | VALLEY VIEWS FALL 2014
NaturalBY SEAN & KAREN LOVELADY
FALL 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 17
BRiDGESof Calaveras County
Just a little over an hour from
Modesto, California, situat-
ed in the Sierra Foothills of
Calaveras County are some
spectacular limestone
caverns known as “Natural Bridges.”
My family and I happened to find
these beautiful caves some years
ago after googling “fun places to go
around Modesto.” This area left such
an impression on us we’ve been back
numerous times with various relatives
and friends.
Natural Bridges is actually com-
prised of two amazing limestone
caverns located on Coyote Creek. The
more well-known of the two is the
Upper Natural Bridge. It is located
just about a mile from Parrot’s Ferry
Road and the trail head is very easy to
find. The trail winds through a forest
of grand old oaks and has a gradual
descent of about 300 feet. (So keep
in mind that if you are descending
on the way in … you’re going to be
ascending on the way out.) Having
said this, just about anybody can do
this hike. In fact, our daughter was
five the first time we came ~ and she
didn’t need any help at all.
As you near the bottom of the
trail you will find a small picnic area
surrounded by a profusion of black-
berry bushes. You hear sounds of
running water. And then you see
it ~ a wide, moss covered cavern
(about 15 feet high and 40 feet wide),
hundreds of beads of water dripping
from the mossy entrance of the cave!
It is the Upper Natural Bridge… and
it is breathtaking!
As you approach the entrance to
the cavern, you can’t help but at least
take your shoes off. This place is too
fascinating to not explore. But one
word of warning: the water is ICE
COLD (though eventually, you get
used to it)! Coyote Creek runs all the
way through the cavern (about 100
feet). Visitors float through the cave
on rafts; others swim. We like to go in
late June or early July when the water
is down. Also, you will notice trout
in the water at the entrance to the
cave. The last time we came to Natural
Bridges, I had 10-20 trout swimming
18 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 19
“...you find yourself transported back in time.”
around me. So I grabbed a bag of
bread and dropped a few pieces into
the water. It was apparently a hit ~
because they gobbled them up! From
then on I had a little entourage going.
If you choose to venture about a
half mile downstream, you will find
another limestone cavern known as
Lower Natural Bridge. Ferns hang
down over the arched entrance but
this cavern looks more like a tall,
round subway tunnel. The cavern is
250 feet long from one end to the
other. You can swim through it and
reemerge on the other side, but this
cavern has dark, deep pools along the
way. We haven’t ventured this one yet.
One last note: Keep an eye out
for the yellow snails and strange
spiders in the vegetation around
the banks of Coyote Creek. I’ve also
heard that the little squirrels along
the way are known for their thiev-
ery ~ though I’ve never seen them
carting off a whole ice chest. Over-
all, we really enjoyed ourselves! I
give Natural Bridges a Five (out of
Five) stars!
Directions from Modesto: Head north on McHenry toward Burchell Ct -> Turn east onto Claus Rd (8.9 miles) -> Turn R onto CA-108 E (continue 35.8 miles) -> Make a slight left onto Jamestown Rd (continue 3.9 miles) -> Turn onto Shaws Flat Rd (continue 1.2 miles) à Continue straight onto Springfield Rd (0.7 miles) Make a slight left onto Parrots Ferry Road (continue 3.5 miles to trail head).
Enjoy!!
20 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
COLUMBIA CAPa
rrotts
Fer
ry R
oad
Main
Stre
et
Colu
mbi
a Stre
et
Jackson Street
State Street
Fulton Street
Washington Stree
t
1. Fallon Theatre, Fallon Hotel, Ice Cream Parlor2. Columbia Gazette Office3. Eagle Cottage4. Masonic Hall5. Miner's Cabin6. Wells Fargo Building7. A.N. Fisher Stage Line & Stable8. D.O. Mills Building9. Columbia Candle & Soap Works10. Jack Douglass Saloon11. J.C. Miller Carpenter Shop12. Nelson's Columbia Candy Kitchen13. Native Sons of Golden West 14. Justice Court15. Angelo's Hall16. Columbia House Restaurant17. Odd Fellows Building18. Papeete Firehouse19. Drug Store Exhibit20. Dentist Office Exhibit21. Photo Studio22. Towle & Leavitt Gifts23. Brown's Coffee House & Sweet Saloon24. City Hotel25. What Cheer Saloon26. California Store Exhibit27. St. Charles Saloon28. Mercantile29. Main Street Firehouse30. Jailhouse31. Wilson-McConnel Home32. Butcher Shop Exhibit33. Chinese Herb Shop Exhibit34. Bowling Alley35. Columbia Museum36. Devon's Bakery37. Lickskillit Cafe38. Livery Stable Exhibit39. Parrott's Blacksmith Shop40. Fancy Dry Goods & Clothing Store41. Barber Shop42. Columbia Booksellers & Stationers43. Candle Making Courtyard44. Tibbit's House45. Martinez Home46. Brady Building/Pioneer Emporium47. Matelot Miners Supply, Gold Panning48. Horse Riding Stables
1
2 3
4
5
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89
1011
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1314
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17 1918 20
21 22
2324
25
26
27
28
Parking Lot
2930
31
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Parro
tts F
erry
Roa
d
Main
Stre
et
Colu
mbi
a Stre
et
Jackson Street
State Street
Fulton Street
Washington Stree
t
1. Fallon Theatre, Fallon Hotel, Ice Cream Parlor2. Columbia Gazette Office3. Eagle Cottage4. Masonic Hall5. Miner's Cabin6. Wells Fargo Building7. A.N. Fisher Stage Line & Stable8. D.O. Mills Building9. Columbia Candle & Soap Works10. Jack Douglass Saloon11. J.C. Miller Carpenter Shop12. Nelson's Columbia Candy Kitchen13. Native Sons of Golden West 14. Justice Court15. Angelo's Hall16. Columbia House Restaurant17. Odd Fellows Building18. Papeete Firehouse19. Drug Store Exhibit20. Dentist Office Exhibit21. Photo Studio22. Towle & Leavitt Gifts23. Brown's Coffee House & Sweet Saloon24. City Hotel25. What Cheer Saloon26. California Store Exhibit27. St. Charles Saloon28. Mercantile29. Main Street Firehouse30. Jailhouse31. Wilson-McConnel Home32. Butcher Shop Exhibit33. Chinese Herb Shop Exhibit34. Bowling Alley35. Columbia Museum36. Devon's Bakery37. Lickskillit Cafe38. Livery Stable Exhibit39. Parrott's Blacksmith Shop40. Fancy Dry Goods & Clothing Store41. Barber Shop42. Columbia Booksellers & Stationers43. Candle Making Courtyard44. Tibbit's House45. Martinez Home46. Brady Building/Pioneer Emporium47. Matelot Miners Supply, Gold Panning48. Horse Riding Stables
1
2 3
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5
67
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1011
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1314
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17 1918 20
21 22
2324
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Parking Lot
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46
47
48
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 21
MAI
N ST
REET
(Stat
e Hwy
49)
Bosto
n Al
ley
Broa
d St
.
Cole
St.
Gold
Dus
t Tr.
Gree
nsto
ne T
er.
Sutter Creek
Badger
Fairfield
Church St.
Eureka
Broadway
Randolph St.
Nickerson
Anna
Worley
DennisElm
Old Amador
N. A
melia
Ameli
aHayd
en
Keyes
Gopher Flat Rd.N
1. Post Office2. Soracco & Co. 18693. Originally Boro's Saloon & Restaurant 18964. Originally Bank of Amador 19155. Native Sons Hall6. Klima Bldg 18927. The Richards' Building 18988. Ratto Theater 19199. F. Coblentz & Brother c. 186510. Store 185811. Brinn Store 188812. Corbett Bldg (orig. Sutter Creek Hotel) 187013. City Hall/Auditorium 192814. Private Homes c. 186015. Tibbitts Foundry c. 1850's16. Pinotti Bldg 17. Hubble Bldg. 186518. Oddfellows Hall 185919. Masonic Hall 186520. Drug Strore 185021. Originally American Exchange Hotel c.1860 22. Originally Butcher Shop 188823. 189824. 188825. Brignole Building c. 188026. Originally Keyes Home c. 185927. The Brinn House c. 185028. 1903 Victorian29. Mahoney Granary 186630. Private Home c. 190031. Trinity Episcopal Church 189732. Immaculate Conception Church c. 1850's33. The Down's Mansion 1870 34. Herman House 185935. "Catalog" home 193036. McIntire Home37. Monteverde Store (Museum) 189838. The Randolph Home39. The Old Mint Saloon c. 1890's40. Lagomarsino (Inn) 191441. Knight Foundry 187342. Private Home 189843. Swift Home 189544. Kingdom Hall 1872
1
23
12
1315
21
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282930
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33 - 36
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39 40 41
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16-2
0
14
4567891011
Parking
Parking
Parking
Parking
Parking
MAI
N ST
REET
(Stat
e Hwy
49)
Bosto
n Al
ley
Broa
d St
.
Cole
St.
Gold
Dus
t Tr.
Gree
nsto
ne T
er.
Sutter Creek
Badger
Fairfield
Church St.
Eureka
Broadway
Randolph St.
Nickerson
Anna
Worley
DennisElm
Old Amador
N. A
melia
Ameli
aHayd
en
Keyes
Gopher Flat Rd.N
1. Post Office2. Soracco & Co. 18693. Originally Boro's Saloon & Restaurant 18964. Originally Bank of Amador 19155. Native Sons Hall6. Klima Bldg 18927. The Richards' Building 18988. Ratto Theater 19199. F. Coblentz & Brother c. 186510. Store 185811. Brinn Store 188812. Corbett Bldg (orig. Sutter Creek Hotel) 187013. City Hall/Auditorium 192814. Private Homes c. 186015. Tibbitts Foundry c. 1850's16. Pinotti Bldg 17. Hubble Bldg. 186518. Oddfellows Hall 185919. Masonic Hall 186520. Drug Strore 185021. Originally American Exchange Hotel c.1860 22. Originally Butcher Shop 188823. 189824. 188825. Brignole Building c. 188026. Originally Keyes Home c. 185927. The Brinn House c. 185028. 1903 Victorian29. Mahoney Granary 186630. Private Home c. 190031. Trinity Episcopal Church 189732. Immaculate Conception Church c. 1850's33. The Down's Mansion 1870 34. Herman House 185935. "Catalog" home 193036. McIntire Home37. Monteverde Store (Museum) 189838. The Randolph Home39. The Old Mint Saloon c. 1890's40. Lagomarsino (Inn) 191441. Knight Foundry 187342. Private Home 189843. Swift Home 189544. Kingdom Hall 1872
1
23
12
1315
21
22232425
26
27
282930
31
32
33 - 36
37
38
39 40 41
42
43
44
16-2
0
14
456789
1011
Parking
Parking
Parking
Parking
Parking
SUTTER CREEK CA
22 | VALLEY VIEWS FALL 2014
FALL 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 23
ROUTE 132
Living in the middle of Cali-
fornia’s vast San Joaquin
Valley puts you squarely
between two of this
planets most impressive sights. A
hundred miles to the west is the
Pacific Ocean and about the same
distance to the east is spectacular
Yosemite National Park. Getting
to the ocean is not complicated
or tricky. Getting to Yosemite is.
There are three routes you can
take from the Stockton/Modesto
area. Being a veteran of all three, I
can confidently tell you which one
of them is best.
The most common route is by
way of Groveland after a narrow
ascent leaving Highway 108 past
Oakdale. The second most used
is Merced through Mariposa. The road
to Groveland is full of twists and turns
and is both dangerous and tedious.
The road past Mariposa has a 15
minute wait in order to bypass a
decades old rockslide by navigat-
ing a single lane makeshift bridge
as you dutifully take your turn
crossing the Merced River. Traffic
is often heavy on both. Either
way makes getting to Yosemite an
ordeal.
There is a much better alternative.
I suggest taking the “road less
traveled,” as the poet Robert Frost
put it. Leaving Modesto and wind-
ing its way through Waterford and
up into the beating heart of the
California Gold Rush and easily,
simply, blithely being ushered in
the North Entrance to Yosemite is
ROUTE 132BY LYNN SAMPSON
“The Road Less Traveled...”The Historic and Scenic Route
24 | VALLEY VIEWS FALL 2014
H I G H WA Y 4 9
HI G
HW
A Y 4 9
MA I N
ST R E E T
B R O A D WA Y S
T R E E T
HIG
HW
AY
13
2
H I GH W
A YJ 1 3 2
T OY
OS
EM
I TE
F E R R YR
D
WA T E R
S T R E E T1
2
4
3
2423
57
8910
1112
6
2021
22
13
14
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16
1718
19
26
27
28
29
32
31
3025
1. Coulter Hotel2. Wells Fargo/McCarthy's Store3. Fire Dept.4. Barrett Blacksmith Shop5. E.E. Warne Store6. Powder House7. Post Office8. Bruschi Brothers Warehouse9. The Mint (burned down)10. Gazzolo Store11. Gazzolo Building12. Commissiona Store13. Ellis House14. I.O.O.F. Building15. Canova House16. Candy's Place17. The Boardwalk18. Canova Warehouse19. Grenfell House20. Harlow House21. Yosemite Garage22. Sample Family House23. Bruschi Store24. Hotel Jeffrey, Magnolia Saloon, Old Johnny Haigh Saloon, Old Barber Shop,Cigar Store, Café, & Chinese Laundry25. Methodist Church26. The Old School House27. Musante House28. James Gazzolo House29. Coulterville Service Center30. Catholic Cemetary 31. Tiscorgnia House32. Coulter House
PUBLIC
PARK
& POOL
Coulterville
RV Park
OLD
CHIN
ATOW
N&
CEM
ETER
Y
humble, uncongested, scenic, unsur-
passed, and historic Highway 132. Not
only is the trip far more enjoyable,
but when you arrive, you are greeted
with the unparalleled sight of Yosemi-
te Valley from high atop its rim as the
road snakes down to the valley floor.
If you are one of the many unlucky
travelers who enter via Mariposa, you
arrive at ground level and Half Dome,
El Capitan and all the rest are far less
remarkably viewed from below than
from above.
Along the way there is a bracing
meal with which to start your journey
at the Fruit Yard just past Empire,
quaint stops among the old-style street
lanterns of downtown Waterford, fine
gourmet nuts and candied a the Rob-
erts Ferry Nut Company, two perfectly
preserved Old West saloons in La
Grange and Coulterville, the welcome
respite of the General Store in Greeley
Hill, fabulous views, sweeping vistas,
and intimate pine forests to photo-
graph and gaze upon.
Do yourself a favor and next time
take 132. You’ll be in excellent compa-
ny. That is exactly the way the father of
Yosemite National Park and America’s
most famous outdoorsman chose to
get there. When you arrive just tell the
ranger who greets you at the gate that
John Muir sent you.
THE FRUIT YARD 7948 YOSEMITE BLVD MODESTO, CA 95357 (209) 577-3093
WATERFORD’S DOWNTOWN LOCATION
ROBERT FERRY NUT CO. 20493 YOSEMITE BLVD WATERFORD, CA 95386 (209) 874-3247
LOUIE’S PLACE SALOON & GRILL 30048 YOSEMITE BLVD LA GRANGE, CA 95329 (209) 853-2050
HOTEL JEFFREY 5001 MAIN ST COULTERVILLE, CA 95311 (209) 878-0461
GREELEY HILL GENERAL STORE LYNN SAMPSON
FALL 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 25
COULTERVILLE CA
26 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
THE END OF THE ROAD – BEGINNING
OF ADVENTUREBig Creek Meadow Ranch —
Hwy 120 at Smith Station Road
The Big Creek Meadow Ranch10551 Smith Station Rd
Groveland, CA 95351Phone: (209) 962-1942
Non-Smoking Facility, Pet Friendly (Under 25 lbs)
BY DIANA RINGER
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 27
Situated on Highway 120
and Smith Station Road, Big
Creek is a 165-acre work-
ing sheep and guest ranch.
Smith’s Station was originally a pop-
ular stop in the 1800’s for stages and
horse-drawn freight wagons. The orig-
inal hotel once served guests on their
way to Yosemite. Among the visitors
signing the guest register at Smith’s
was Teddy Roosevelt. Smith’s was a
toll station for Big Oak Flat Toll Road,
but you can travel it for free today!
Turn left and you’ll be in Groveland in
6.3 miles. Turn right and you’ll be in
Yosemite National Park in 17 miles.
With only three bedrooms, the
ranch house feels more like a home.
Each guest receives their own key
with private access to their suite. Each
room comes equipped with a private
bath, a hearty buffet breakfast, TV,
complimentary WIFI, air conditioning,
coffee station, refrigerator, hair dryer
and iron. Room rates range from $129-
$159 per night.
The large 36 foot natural wood
back deck overlooks expansive pas-
tures, features a dozen or so cute-as-
can-be sheep. Off to the side is a full
12 x 24 working performance stage,
perfect for intimate theatre experienc-
es and impromptu backyard concerts.
Big Creek Meadow Ranch is a
perfect venue for special events,
gatherings, retreats and weddings.
The spacious, yet cozy grounds offer
a breath-taking view of beautiful Big
Creek Meadow with the majestic Smith
Peak in the background. The gardens
include a variety of mature shade and
fruit trees. Gardening enthusiasts will
appreciate the thoughtful landscape
design. The flower beds provide a con-
tinuous display of color throughout
the spring and FALL months, replaced
by warm and golden hues in the fall.
Flowering shrubs provide compli-
mentary splashes of color and gentle
fragrances.
Nearby activities include rafting,
hiking, fishing, badminton, horseback
riding, swimming at Rainbow Pool.
Onsite activities include stargazing
with a telescope, enjoying the mead-
ow from the deck, horseshoes and
croquet. The ranch staff is also very
helpful in identifying points of interest
in nearby cities and vineyards. The
ranch is only 20 miles from Yosemite.
“Cool evening breezes, serene pastures and breath-taking views.”
That is how I describe my experience atBig Creek Meadow Ranch in Groveland.
28 | VALLEY VIEWS FALL 2014
INTO THE WILD
Fall 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 29
INTO THE WILD
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CAMPUSColumbia College features an amaz-
ing variety of flora and fauna. Through-
out the year, you can catch a multitude
of aquatic life in the San Diego Reservoir
in the middle of the campus.
Western Pond Turtles can be seen
sunning year-round, along with many
varieties of fish native and non-native.
Flame Skimmer dragonflies are hard to
miss with their brightly colored fiery
orange red bodies.
Canada Geese wander all over and
if you’re lucky during the spring, you
might just catch a glimpse of the fami-
lies that have had gosslings.
Trees around the campus include
many different oaks, pines, coastal
redwoods, white alder (around the
reservoir) and many others.
11600 Columbia College Dr, Sonora, CA
MERCED WILDLIFE REFUGEYou’ll want to get to this location
early in the morning to be able to enjoy
the day. Don’t forget snacks and water.
The Refuge features an auto tour
route and three nature trails for the
public to view and photograph wildlife
in a natural setting. The Refuge also has
a large waterfowl hunting program.
The Refuge plays host to the
largest wintering populations of lesser
Sandhill cranes and Ross’ geese. Each
autumn more than 20,000 cranes and
60,000 arctic-nesting geese terminate
their annual migrations from Alaska
and Canada to make the Refuge home
for six months. Here they mingle with
thousands of other visiting waterfowl,
waterbirds, and shorebirds – making
the Refuge a true winter phenomenon.
7376 Wolfsen Rd, Merced, CA
LA GRANGEAnother great location for bird-
ing or just plain relaxation is near
LaGrange. Find the parking area just
off of Lake Road as you travel from
Yosemite Blvd (Highway 132).
On foot, you’ll be able to walk
across a large bridge over Tuolumne
River, as well as explore marshes
across the other side of Lake Road.
This general location is great for
spotting hawks (buteos and accipi-
ters), as well as many other smaller
bird species. You may even get lucky
and see a bald eagle soaring above
with the turkey vultures.
Be sure to bring plenty of water
and your own food for the day.
Maintained restrooms are on the
premises.
Corner of 132 and Lake Rd
Wildlife Locations in the Valley & Foothills
30 | VALLEY VIEWS FALL 2014
PINE MOUNTAIN LAKEGroveland CA
Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, game room,observation tower and an amazing view.
LUXURY IN 4800 SFThis beautiful custom home is
located in the heart of Groveland in
the Pine Mountain Lake area.
Master Bedroom SuiteThe master suite boasts over
700 square feet on its own. You’ll
be able to enjoy nature with the
on-suite master bath, complete with
a roman tub overlooking pines and
oaks. The tile shower includes a
rainfall shower head with a bench
and several other features.
Also included in the master is a
private office and large walk-in cedar
closet with enough room for several
wardrobes.
Chef’s KitchenJust off the main living area is a
large kitchen with a kitchen nook.
Game RoomThe house includes two game
rooms. There is one located on the
main floor, complete with pine ceil-
ings and a bar. It overlooks the pri-
vate garden area off the back deck.
The main game room is on the
bottom floor of the home. It has a
marble-topped bar area with a tap,
neon lights, pool table, three bed-
rooms, a bathroom and a complete
cozy kitchen with its own pantry.
Just for fun, there’s also an old
working stove.
Guest RoomsFeaturing five guest rooms and
three bathrooms.
Observation TowerYou will love this! Has a custom
built in shelving unit to house all
your books for an enjoyable and
private space for reading.
If you’re not into reading, this is
a great location in the home to view
the great outdoors from the comfort
of home.
FALL 2014 VALLEY VIEWS | 31
Luxury HomeSpotlight
32 | VALLEY VIEWS Fall 2014
Great Hotels in Sonora
ASK ABOUT OUR SEASONAL PACKAGESYosemite • Romance • Theatre • Snow Play • Gas Card and More...
SONORA
SONORA
350 S. Washington St.Downtown Sonora 95370
209-532-3633 • 800-251-1538SonoraInnsofCalifornia.com
19551 Hess Ave at Mono WaySonora 95370
209-533-4400 • 800-532-1944BWSonoraOaks.com
Enjoy your stay in the Gold Country from the comfort of our cozy ful-ly-equipped rooms. • In-room microwaves and refrigerators • FREE high-speed Wi-fi• Heated pool & spa • FREE Continental Breakfast• Walking distance to downtown restaurants and unique shops
Award-winning accommodations and meeting rooms for all occasions. A full-service hotel nestled in a grove of ancient oaks and central to all attractions, including Yosemite Nat’l Park. • Sparkling pool & spa • FREE Wi-fi • Complimentary deluxe Continental Breakfast, served tableside in our popular on-site restaurant and lounge
SONORA
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