Sierra County | Annual Oktoberfest in October

by Writers Workshop

An Annual October Event

Sierra County Annual Oktoberfest

It's time for the annual Oktoberfest in Sierra City!

Come to the mountains and enjoy the fall colors and some good old-fashioned fun Saturday October 12th.

Vendors offer an wonderful array of temptations up and down Sierra City's historic Main Street from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Don't miss the music, magic, crafts, brauts & sauerkraut along with fresh squeezed apple cider.

For more informationall, call 530-862-9009 or visit their website: Sierra County Chamber of Commerce

Railtown 1897 | Excursion Train Rides

by Writers Workshop

Railtown 1897 Excursion Train Rides

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown will present a new season of weekend excursion train rides starting in April. The historic 1265 diesel engine will be operating all weekend and excursion train ride departures weekends is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The weekend train ride season has been extend through October to provide more opportunities for guest to enjoy the unique experience.

Weekend train ride guests will enjoy a memorable six-mile, 45-minute round trip ride on the Sierra Railway through the picturesque Mother Lode countryside. Plus, a limited number of tickets are available to ride inside Sierra Railway caboose No. 7 that was featured in several movies and television shows, including Little House on the Prairie. In addition to the train ride experiences, Park visitors are encouraged to observe train crew operate the turntable at the start and end of each day.

For opening weekend, vintage railroad equipment will be on display with several open to walk through, such as Sierra Railway coach cars No. 3, 5 and 6; these classic cars were featured in numerous movies and television programs including High Noon and Petticoat Junction.

The Park will also be open for self-guided tours and exhibits will include interpretive signage. Excursion trains, programs, and activities will continue throughout the year and visitors are encouraged to plan a historic train ride or a day at the Park to enjoy a tour, picnic, or leisurely stroll around the grounds. The Park will be open daily April through October for its summer season from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for self-guided or docent-led tours throughout the day and exhibits with interpretive signage.

Visitors are encouraged to purchase excursion train ride tickets online in advance. If still available on the day of the train ride, tickets can be purchased at the Depot Store on a first-come, first-served basis. All paid train ride tickets include Park admission and cost $23 for adults, $18 for youth ages 6-17 and are free for children five and under. And for those who want to ride in the Sierra Railway Caboose No. 7.

More information and advance excursion train ride tickets are available via this link. For more information about Railtown 1897's events and activities and the park in general, please visit www.railtown1897.org or call 209-983-3953. For more information about the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, please visit www.californiarailroad.museum.

Real Estate | Meet Sierra Real Estate Brokers & Agents

by Writers Workshop

Find that perfect location

We feature Sierra real estate brokers and agents in the 8 counties that make up the Sierra Foothills.

Our Sierra Brokers and Agents represent the best real estate homes being offered in the foothills. Their properties include communities with lakes, beautiful rolling hills, horse country, and gated communities with golf courses. Some properties have rivers and 4 wheel drive areas located nearby as well as recreational areas.

Note: All proverty displayed is not the actual propery for sale.

Contact a Sierra Real Estate Agent
for more information about property for sale.

Sierra Lodging | Find historical lodging in the Sierra Gold Country

by Writers Workshop

Bar at Jamestown Hotel

Historical Lodging

The Sierra Gold Country is an historic region in California. Lodging was need for the miners and many of the original hotels are still open today. This historic region in the northern California is primarily on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The history of many of the hotels in in this region date back to the gold rush era.

Many of the famed mines produced rich mineral deposits and the gold mines attracted waves of immigrants, known as the Forty-Niners, during the 1849 California Gold Rush.

When gold was first discovered in 1848 many people came from all over the world to find gold. With all the people that flooded California came lots of diseases and violence. There were 500 mining camps which 300 are still unfound as of today. There was 400 million dollars in gold mined between 1849 and 1855.

The transportation in Gold Country grew rapidly due to the Gold Rush. The first railroad in California ran through Gold Country. There were 250 different stage coach companies formed by 1860.

Amador County - At the time of the Gold Rush the Kennedy Mine was the deepest in the world at 5,919 feet. Argonaut Mine was from 1850-1942. In 1922, there was a fire in the area and 47 men were trapped in the mine and died. This mine was shut down due to the war.

Calaveras County - This county was known for the biggest gold nugget found in the United States. The nugget weighed 195 lbs. The nugget was found in Carson Hill. In Copperopolis, 72 million dollars worth of copper was found. Many of the copper mines in this area supplied the Union armies needs in the Civil War.

El Dorado County - This county is the key to the Gold Country. This is where gold was discovered in 1848 by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill. Sutter's fort was destroyed by all the people that came here from the Gold Rush.

Mariposa County - Located in the southern portion of Hwy 49. This county is known for the Ghirardelli Factory dated all the way back 1855-1858. One of the mines that were in Mariposa County was the Princetown Mine which, pulled out 5 million in gold.

Nevada County - This county had the most gold out of all of Gold County pulled out of it totaling 440 million dollars worth. Holbrooke Hotel is one of the oldest hotels still run to this day in Gold Country. It was built in 1851. Empire Mine one of the most known mines in the area. (This mine is now a state park.) This mine runs 200 miles underground. This mine was still in operation after the war. A 100 million dollars was mined out of this mine. Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad was constructed in 1876. This railroad was made so that people can travel faster between Grass Valley to Nevada City.

Placer County - Colfax was known for a main station for supplies from the Central Pacific Railroad. Many of the area was known for Quartz. About 2 million dollars in quartz was found. Placer County was known for the robber " Rattlesnake Dick" in 1850.

Sierra County - Allegheny was known for a 163-pound gold nugget. The mine was shut down during the war but then was opened back up in 1965. This mine is still mined occasionally today. In 1992 seventy thousand dollars was mined out of it. In 1849 gold was first found in the Yuba river in Downieville. A 427-pound nugget was found there. Hydraulic mining happened at Howland Flat and Poker Flat in the 1850's. Seven hundred thousand dollars worth of gold came out of Poker Flat alone.

Tuolumne County - In Knights Ferry there was the largest covered bridge on the west coast dating back to 1862. In Jamestown they found a 75 lb. golden nugget. Sierra Railroad House was built in 1897. It was a very famous site for movie films. Eagle Shawmut Mine had $7.4 million mined out of it. Sonora is the county seat and the only incorporated city in the county.

The Stone House | A unique venue for a Sierra wedding

by Writers Workshop

The Stone House

The Crown Jewel of the gold country is now available for weddings and special events! This fully restored 1857 hot spot radiates nineteenth-century romance while delivering behind the scenes state-of-the-art technology in this charming historical building that will surprise you with its first class renovation. If you are looking for a unique venue to hold your upcoming wedding,

The Stone House is a full-service venue for your welcomed guests! They offer an enriched wedding package that will allow you and your entourage exclusive access to all of the 10,000 square foot facility. Relish in the cascading vines on the stone courtyard and a 3,000 square foot Granite Hall with top-shelf libations and cuisine. DJ's or your favorite band can perform on a premier stage while you take over the dance floor! This venue will transport you and your guest back in time on every level, creating an experience that will keep everyone reminiscing and memories for a lifetime.

For more information, contact them at [email protected] or call them at (530) 265-5050

Bracebridge Dinner | At Yosemite

by Writers Workshop

Yosemite National Park’s Bracebridge Dinner

Yosemite National Park’s Bracebridge Dinner has become a true American tradition since its inception in 1927 in the magnificent Yosemite Valley. This spectacular Christmas pageant takes place in the Grand Dining Room of the Ahwahnee Hotel, which is transformed into the luxuriant Hall of American author Washington Irving’s legendary “Squire Bracebridge".

Each December, the world-famous Hotel takes on the air of eighteenth-century England. The Dining Room of The Majestic, its tables aglow with candlelight, is filled with the warmth and spirit of this special time of year. The evening abounds with a profusion of food and the ringing sound of voices. The cathedral windows look out onto the beauty of Yosemite Valley, and the spirit of all things beautiful cannot help but be felt, as one is enveloped in the joy of the season.

The original Ahwahnee Hotel was completed in 1927. Yosemite Park and Curry Company President Donald Tresidder envisioned a Yuletide celebration in the new Hotel’s Dining Room. He hired Garnet Holme, a California pageant director, to create an “event,” and The Bracebridge Dinner took its initial form, a performance loosely based on Washington Irving’s sketchbook “A Christmas at Bracebridge Hall.” Tresidder and his wife, Mary Curry Tresidder, played the parts of Squire and Lady Bracebridge.

Holmes' untimely death in 1929 left a void in the direction of this new festivity. A cast member of the first two seasons – a part-time Valley resident who had played the part of The Lord of Misrule – was asked by Tresidder to take on the task of reworking the event. This cast member was Ansel Adams, who was well on his way at that time to become one of the world’s finest photographers. Adams did a brilliant job of creating the basic form of the pageant as we know it today. His original script of the “new” Bracebridge Dinner has remained largely intact since the initial performance in 1929. A fine pianist, as well as a photographer, Adams’ knowledge of music, evidenced itself in the meter of the script, which was written with a feeling of four beats per line to reflect the music chosen for the male chorus processions.

Jamestown Hotel | An 1850 style hotel with all modern up-dates

by Writers Workshop

Jamestown Hotel

The Jamestown Hotel is an historic 1850 style hotel with a full service restaurant. It is conveniently located close to everything that is great about the Sierra Nevada mountain range. They are located roughly an hour from the entrance from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. This hotel is only an hour and a half from the top of the Sonora Pass, and conveniently nestled in the foothills that land you in close proximity to a variety of cultural events.

This hotel has spacious rooms that are located near the front of the building with easy access to the balcony. They feature both Queen and King size beds with sitting room, and updated in suite bathrooms.

The hotel has a full service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinners. Stop in on your way to your destination. Jamestown is located just off Highway 108 in Jamestown which makes them an ideal rest stop for those road-trips when you are headed up the hill for a day of fun in nature.

For more information, contact them direct: Jamestown Hotel

The Grill | Open the public

by Writers Workshop

The Grill at Pine Mountain Lake

Open to the public and serving dinner
Wednesday - Sunday from 5:00 to 9:00 PM

After an extensive renovation, The Grill at Pine Mountain Lake is now open for business. The restaurant underwent a complete remolding including a new kitchen. The bar was relocated to the main entrance and is a prominent focal point upon entrance. The kitchen has been opened for full view and new booths have been added. The restaurant now has a modern feel of a fine dining up-scale restaurant.

The dance floor has been moved into the side room for special events and weddings. It can be closed off for full privacy.

The present hours for dinner only starting on Wednesday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 PM and continue until Sunday. Reservations are recommended and the phone number has not been changed. For more information or to make a reservation, call The Grill at (209) 962-8638

Two Room Inn | A Victorian cottage

by Writers Workshop

The Two Room Inn

The Two Room Inn - A charming Victorian cottage in Nevada City - The Two Room Inn is your own charming Victorian cottage in the heart of Nevada City. It is located in a beautiful, historically preserved gold rush era town in the Sierra foothills. Take a step back in time. This unique home is a perfect Victorian gem, a luxury rental from which to explore this amazing, cosmopolitan little town and its wonderful natural surroundings.

Whether you come for two or three days or a week or more, you will never lack for things to do, and you will always have your beautiful Victorian cottage to come home to at the end of your day.

The cottage has all original stained glass windows imported from England, gorgeous redwood and elm interior, a fireplace built with cobblestones from Old San Francisco, a front deck surrounded by gardens, a very private "secret garden" behind the house. with a lovely stone patio and outdoor seating, a charming balcony off the bedroom upstairs, with views down Broad Street – the perfect spot in ovely Nevada City.

Come experience the unique charms of this lovely cottage and its wonderful surroundings. Walk out your front door, through the garden, and out the front gate, and you will find yourself in an amazing Victorian town, with beautiful historic homes, cafes, shops, galleries, wineries, and restaurants to suit every taste, all within a few blocks of your own beautiful cottage.

Please contact us for details.

Emigrant Wilderness | Read what Mike find out about it.

by Writers Workshop

A Story of Names and Places

Emigrant Wilderness
The Emigrant Wilderness is a 113,000-acre, protected area that lies near the borders of Yosemite National Park

When photographer Mike Shea of Grass Valley couldn’t get answers to his questions about how the lakes of the Emigrant Wilderness received their names, he decided to find out and write a book about it.

The book, called Emigrant Wilderness - Place Names, took nine years to research and write. It was published in June 2019 and relates the history of the Emigrant Wilderness by exploring the names of its lakes, meadows, mountains, and streams, and the passes leading into the wilderness. The Emigrant Wilderness is a 113,000-acre, protected area that lies within the Stanislaus National Forest and borders Yosemite National Park.

Mike covers when the features were named, why they were named, and who they were named for in his book. The book contains historical photographs of the men and women connected with the wilderness, plus color photographs of some of the area’s features.

Included in the book are a timeline of when names first appeared, the GPS coordinates and elevations of the lakes, passes, and peaks, a list of pertinent maps dating back to 1848, and an extensive bibliography.

For more information, contact [email protected]

Photographer Mike Shea

Mike Shea

Mike Shea has been backpacking for close to fifty years, with the Emigrant Wilderness being his favorite destination. He is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in a number of juried shows over the years. Mike’s images range from stunning landscapes to composite images that blend and alter reality.

His photographs of performing musicians have appeared on the cover and pages of Blues Music Magazine, its predecessor magazine, Blues Review, and also in Debra Devi's book, The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu.

After spending most of his life living and working in the San Francisco Bay area, Mike retired and is now living in the gold rush town of Grass Valley, California, with the book’s editor (his wife Julie) and their two dogs.

His website can be found at www.tritonephoto.com

Authors Note:

The book is on sale at the Tuolumne County Historical Society, Summit Ranger Station, the Kennedy Meadows store and on Amazon and eBay.

I will be giving a presentation on his book and doing a book signing at the Tuolumne County Historical Society's September 12th meeting. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm and will be held at the Tuolumne County Library, 480 Greenley Road in Sonora. Books will be available for purchase. The public is welcome.