BY JEFFREY WEIDEL
What started out as a golf vacation quickly turned into an outstanding history lesson. Not that the golf was bad, it was just that the California history became much more intriguing.
While there are certainly many more picturesque vacations to undertake throughout California, a trip into Mother Lode country provides a serene visit into yesteryear – seeing towns that ooze with character, tradition, and an abundance of friendly people.
Due to accommodating weather, spring and fall are ideal times to visit the iconic cities that make up Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa counties. There are tons of things to do, depending on your interests. If one of those interests happens to be soaking up the history, be ready for a treat.
TOURIST TIPS: LODGING
Saddle Creek Resort: Copperopolis
Greenhorn Creek Resort: Angels Camp
Jamestown Hotel: Jamestown
River Rock Inn: Mariposa
Officially, the Mother Lode region is a 150-mile vicinity that includes Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, but also stretches into parts of Amador, El Dorado, Placer, and Nevada counties.
The California Gold Rush began in 1848 with the discovery by James Marshall. If you don’t know how the San Francisco 49ers name originated, it’s due to the crazed gold rush that descended upon Northern California in 1849. Panning for gold became a national and international obsession.
Below are some highlights of an April trip into the Mother Lode that didn’t result in any gold being located, but certainly more than a few valuable nuggets of history were uncovered.
Copperopolis: The history dates back to the 1860s when an estimated 19 million pounds of copper ore were mined in the region, hence the name. What was mined from the rolling hills in then Copper Canyon provided much of the metal needs for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Although mining continued into the two world wars, one’s imagination is needed these days to recreate a region rich in copper off Highway 49. The mines have mostly disappeared. However, there is a very cool Town Center that features historic buildings that embraces the proud heritage and way of life as a once thriving 1800’s mining town.
TOURIST TIPS: RESTAURANTS
Griff’s BBQ & Grill: Copperopolis
CAMPS Restaurant, Greenhorn Creek: Angels Camp
Murphys Hotel: Murphys
Jamestown Hotel restaurant: Jamestown
If you want to squeeze in a round of golf, check out Saddle Creek Golf Course, which features dramatic elevation changes that make it both a scenic and challenging track.
Angels Camp: Another town that was booming during the Gold Rush, today Angels Camp is a place to visit and experience a fairly laidback town. There’s plenty of antique shops to explore and reminders of its mining past in the quaint, historic downtown area. Other places to visit are Angels Camp Museum and New Melones Lake, where the fishing is typically pretty darn good.
Angels Camp was made famous by Mark Twain’s endearing short story – “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” An annual frog jump event takes place each year in Angels Camp, which is the only incorporated city in Calaveras County.
For a nice day on the links, make a tee time at Greenhorn Golf Resort, a course that was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones. Jr. It’s a friendly track that can be played well by ever the average golfer, assuming the right tees are chosen.
Greenhorn also features some great lodging options, including cottages and villas that are conveniently close to the course.
For a little diversion into wine country, Ironstone Vineyards is a great location for some sampling. There are also 23 wine tasting rooms in historic downtown Murphys.
Jamestown: The first town you encounter entering Tuolumne County from the west, Jamestown is a walk back into the past. It features a very cool State Historic Railroad Park that dates back to 1897. On the weekends you can even ride a steam-engine train.
Main Street has some vintage balcony buildings, including the Jamestown and National hotels, two real classics that will deliver you back into the 1870s. Shoppers can stroll down Main Street and drop into a number of unusual shops.
For some Gold Rush history, don’t’ miss the Columbia State Historic Park, a living tribute to those days that’s a 15-minute drive from Jamestown. People are in period dress and visitors can experience a bygone era that brings the business district of the 1850s to life. A 100-year-old stagecoach ride can be part of the fun.
Mariposa: You’ve got to love a town that has no street lights. In fact, the downtown streets still follow the original grid laid out by city founder John C. Fremont in 1850. Due to fires, some of the original buildings have been restored or rebuilt, but Mariposa still possesses the charm of an Old West town that was the southern-most link to the Gold Rush.
TOURIST TIPS: GOLF COURSES
Saddle Creek Golf Course: Copperopolis
Greenhorn Golf Course: Angels Camp
Sierra Meadows Golf Course: Ahwahnee
Speaking of historic buildings, there are certainly some cool ones to see in Mariposa. The most unique building is the Mariposa County Jail, a granite structure above Bullion Street that features 24-inch thick block walls and small, iron-barred windows. It was quite the bleak setting for its occupants.
Mariposa County includes much of Yosemite National Park, which is about a 75-minute drive from downtown Mariposa.
Other buildings to explore are the Mariposa County Courthouse, the oldest county courthouse in continuous use west of the Rockies. The St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was erected in 1861 and the Mariposa Museum and History Center has a great collection of historical artifacts.
Mariposa County includes 42 percent and the popular valley floor of Yosemite National Park, which is about a 75-minute drive from downtown Mariposa, assuming one can avoid the traffic. Mariposa provides a great alternate to staying in Yosemite, where lodging can be difficult to book in the summer months.
Tuolumne County, and Highway 120 to Yosemite via Groveland, is the most direct route from the San Francisco Bay Area. This route provides the most immediate “wow factor” – with Half Dome scenery about 15 minutes from the park entrance.
Jeffrey Weidel lives in Rocklin and can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Visit his website at www.tahoeskiworld.com
