Posts Tagged ‘Gold Rush’
Angels Camp, Noteworthy Stop in Gold Country
Angels Camp a noteworthy stop in Gold Country
By Bobbie Green
In the late 1840’s the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills area of California brought on a rush of gold seekers, the miners established many new towns. These historical little towns are testimony to American development and make informative and fun get-a-ways and vacations.
Angels Camp, one of the Gold Rush town founded in 1849, is located in Calaveras County along Hwy 49. In the towns hey day there were about 4, ooo miners. Today its population is around 3,000. The entire town is honeycombed with miles of mine tunnels. Tourist can visit the past at the Angels Camp Museum featuring carriages, wagons and gold mining equipment, and Main Street is still functioning within original buildings. However unlike Columbia, this town is not all historic, this is the place visiting golfers and wine enthusiast can get their fix.
Calaveras County is home to many vineyards, especially around the little town of Murphys. Only a short drive from Angeles Camp on Hwy 4, visitors can enjoy the quaint little town that is known for wine tasting from the local vineyards.
Visitors park their cars and walking up and down the main street will find 12 wineries spread in between the boutique shops and best of all the tasting is free and served by a friendly host.
I recommend the good food, and a unique menu found at the Murphys Historic Hotel Restaurant.
From the town of Murphys there is a sign saying Ironstone Vineyards, this is one vineyard visitors do not want to miss. Only a few minutes by car this family owned winery has achieved a level of fame not only for their wines but also for the beautiful culture & arts milieu they have created on their grounds.
The Visitors center has a 36 foot long tasting bar and an enormous stone fire place 42 feet high 13 feet deep and 16 feet wide. Visitors are given a free tour of the winery and grounds, do not miss it. The tour includes the Amphitheatre and lakeside park with multitudes of seasonal flowers. They have a 1927, 15 rank pipe organ in the Alhambra Theatre which is played for guests on the tour.
This winery is phenomenal. The small museum houses local Native American art and, books etc. and the largest specimen of crystalline gold in the world. It was found in near-by Tuolumne County in 1992. Crystalline gold is the rarest form of gold and a rare treat to see. This 1150 acre winery estate is home to many special events, concerts, weddings, car shows and such.
Also in this area there are two caverns to visit, Moaning Cavern offers visitors a chance to repel 165 feet down into the cave or take a guided walking tour. Mercer Caverns is a subterranean wonderland with unusual crystalline formations, stalactites and stalagmites. There are many stairs, but they are graduated.
Angeles Camp is the perfect location for your stay while visiting these sites.
Greenhorn Creek Vacation Cottages proved to be the perfect place for us.
These rentals sit on the 18-hole, par 72 tree lined Greenhorn Creek Golf Course. The stay includes all the amenities like pool, fitness center etc. for guest to enjoy. This Trent Jones redesigned golf course was built around three historical sites, the Rock Wall and Well on #4, the Chinese Oven on #5 and the Tree Well on #17.
A dedication and monument on the #1 hole honors the firemen lost on 9/11. The Andy Fredrick’s Memorial Golf Tournament is held here each year.
I found Greenhorn Creek to be very inviting and I especially liked the French Onion Soup served in the Camps Restaurant.
Angel Camp is home to the annual “Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee” the third week May. This event is attended by 4000 frogs and 50,000 people during the 5 day event.
Gold Country is still beckoning to fulfill visitor’s dreams, be it a hole-in- one or a fun filled day at the winery or finding a gold nugget.
IF YOU GO
Calaveras Visitors Bureau
800-225-3764
Greenhorn Creek Resort
209-729-8159
www.greenhorncreekvacationcottages.com
Ironstone Vineyards
209-728-1251