88 | WWW.LAKECOUNTY.COM COMMUNITIES AND MAPS RON KEAS welcome to paradise Imagine a getaway: Ride back roads through forests glowing with fall color. Hike mountaintops and catch glimpses of faraway, snow-capped peaks. Kayak up creeks through marshlands filled with the sounds of migrating birds. Soak in serene pools of water warmed by ancient hot springs. Lay on the lawn and listen to a concert at the oldfashioned bandstand in the park. Discover wineries and tasting rooms. Jump on a jetski and tear off across a vast expanse of blue... What do you feel like doing? Come. Relax. Slow down. Breathe. Get away. It’s so close. Come and visit, or come to stay. Whether you’re here for a weekend, or the rest of your life, the many vibrant communities of Lake County are waiting to be discovered. Let us be your guide. Now imagine living in the woods, or on the lake, or over a babbling stream. Commute to work, or work at home. Find community among people who, like you, have not only found their paradise – but decided to live there. Lake County is located about equidistance between the northwest coast of California, the state capital of Sacramento, the wine country of Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties, and the San Francisco Bay area. In August and September of 2015 southern portions of Lake County experienced fires which ravaged 200,000 acres. While the first two fires were in sparsely populated areas, the Valley Fire in September decimated very heavily populated areas burning homes, businesses and displacing several hundreds of people. The burned area equates to less than 24% of the total square miles of Lake County and the majority of that lAKe coUNty has a destination…for all seasons! Jump in your car. Hit the road. Discover our vibrant communities...
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H Communities 86to112 2017 v4 · 2017-04-04 · resorts, and vacation getaway destinations. Other communities began as ranching or farming centers, steamboat landings, postal stations,
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88 | WWW.LAKECOUNTY.COM
C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P S
RON KEAS
welcome to paradise
Imagine a getaway: Ride back roads throughforests glowing with fall color. Hike mountaintopsand catch glimpses of faraway, snow-cappedpeaks. Kayak up creeks through marshlands filledwith the sounds of migrating birds. Soak inserene pools of water warmed by ancient hotsprings. Lay on the lawn and listen to a concertat the oldfashioned bandstand in the park.Discover wineries and tasting rooms. Jump on ajetski and tear off across a vast expanse of blue...
What do you feel like doing? Come. Relax.
Slow down. Breathe. Get away. It’s so close. Come and visit, or come to stay. Whether
you’re here for a weekend, or the rest of your life,the many vibrant communities of Lake County arewaiting to be discovered. Let us be your guide.
Now imagine living in the woods, or on thelake, or over a babbling stream. Commute towork, or work at home. Find community amongpeople who, like you, have not only found theirparadise – but decided to live there.
Lake County is located about equidistancebetween the northwest coast of California, the
state capital of Sacramento, the wine country ofSonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties, and theSan Francisco Bay area.
In August and September of 2015 southernportions of Lake County experienced fires whichravaged 200,000 acres. While the first two fireswere in sparsely populated areas, the Valley Firein September decimated very heavily populatedareas burning homes, businesses and displacingseveral hundreds of people. The burned areaequates to less than 24% of the total squaremiles of Lake County and the majority of that
lAKe coUNty has a destination…for all seasons!
Jump in your car.
Hit the road.
Discover our vibrant
communities...
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Did you know?Lake County has the
cleanest air of all Californiacounties – 25 consecutive years –and ranks No. 2 in the nationaccording to the American Lung
Association’s 2016 State of the Air report.
area was in wilderness lands. Fire struck onceagain in August 2016 in the Lower Lake area,consuming homes and businesses. Residents andbusiness owners are, for the most part, rebuild-ing – a testimony to their resilience.
Lake County covers 1,327 square miles, at ele-vations ranging from 1,099 to 7,056 feet above sealevel. Its climate is temperate, yet it still offers thebeauty of all four seasons, and its terrain varies fromthickly-forested mountains, to oak-studded rollinggrasslands and hills, to pristine shady streamsidevalleys, to lakeside coves and peninsulas.
The communities here are just as varied as theterrain. There are two incorporated cities, thecounty seat of Lakeport on the western shore of Clear Lake, and the City of Clearlake on theeastern shore. Around the lake and scatteredthroughout the hills and valleys are myriad smallcommunities, some of which began as spas,resorts, and vacation getaway destinations. Othercommunities began as ranching or farming
centers, steamboat landings, postal stations, mining centers, or stagecoach stops. Today thesecommunities reflect their varied heritages andoffer a wide range of choices of places to visit, todo business, and to live. Turn the page to learnmore about the neighborhoods of Lake County.
the citieS ANd towNSof lake county
lAKeportthe seat of government
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C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P S
Lakeport is located on the west shore of ClearLake about two hours north of San Francisco andwest of Sacramento. The city has a distinctive, small-town character with strong community values, abusiness-friendly attitude and an emphasis onpromoting quality of life. A tourist and recre-ational destination, the city hosts numerousactivities and events throughout the year includ-ing youth and adult recreation programs, world-class bass fishing tournaments, wine festivals, aseaplane fly-in, cultural entertainment, concertsin the park, biking, water sports, bird watching,fine dining, and much more.
As the oldest incorporated community inLake County (1888), and as the county seat,the city is the regional center of commerce andgovernmental activity for the area. StateHighways 20,29 and 175 provide scenic accessto the area. Lampson Airport is located twomiles to the south.
Lakeport has a population of slightly over5,100 residents with neighborhoods surround-ing a historic downtown area, a land area of2.7 square miles and median age of 40.8years. The city’s retail trade population is over35,000 people. Commercial areas are located
along the city’s arterial roadways, away fromresidential neighborhoods.
According to a recent business climate andcommunity assessment:• Lakeport is an alternative to big city living.• Lakeport’s downtown offers a unique ambi-
ence with lakefront vistas, and the HistoricCourthouse Museum Square
• Lakeport is designated a California MainStreet City.
• Lakeport is home to many businesses thatattract hundreds of area shoppers to thecommunity each day.
• Lakeport has an impressive mix of business-es that serve the everyday needs of localresidents and workers.
Lakeport offers great access to Clear Lake – thelargest natural freshwater lake located entirelywithin California – with several free public boatramps, making it popular for fishing, birdwatching, sailing and kayaking. Motels, bedand breakfast inns, campgrounds and vacationrental accommodations are available. WestsideCommunity Park offers soccer, baseball andsoftball fields along with a dog park and the
Forbes Creek (walking) Trail and ten horseshoepits in its 60-acre development.
With a broad array of entertainment, qualityhousing and accommodations, unique events,and friendly people, Lakeport offers variety to allwhile maintaining the quintessential charm of asmall town. Residents enjoy excellent schoolsand many extracurricular activities for children.Mendocino College offers a full curriculum ofcourses year-round at its Lake Center campus.
Lakeport’s wonderful weather and exceptionalenvironment make it quite simply a greatplace to live, work and visit. Learn more at CityofLakeport.com
LAURA LAMAR
Historic Courthouse Museum
Did you know?St. John’s Episcopal
Church in Lakeport wascompleted in 1899; it wasdesigned by famed San
Francisco architectWillis Polk.
O’Meara Bros.brewpub
LAURA LAMAR
The charming country town of Kelseyville is home to a community of people involved in the area businesses, schools, churches, servicegroups, and cultural activities. Members of thecommunity take pride in the town’s amenities:historical sites, recreation, lodging, dining, shop-ping, and special events complemented by ruralcountryside and agricultural lands.
Visitors and residents are drawn to thepeace and quiet of Kelseyville. An ambiance ofcountry friendliness is found in the charmingshops along Main Street, which is lined with historic, early 20th Century streetlamps. Taketime to discover the many wooden quilts thathang on many Main Street buildings. Enjoy a meal at the many eateries, taste Lake Countywines and specialized micro brewery beers at their respective tasting rooms and brewery.
The community is host to several specialevents during the year. In February the Wine &Choco late event features Lake County winespaired with – you guessed it – chocolate, alongwith delicious foods and music. The KelseyvilleOlive Festival takes place in April, with olive oil,wine, and beer tastings, a variety of food, music
and an olive pit spitting contest! Every June, July,August and September on the 3rd Thursdayevening, the Kickin’ in the Country streetdances – featuring different bands each month –lure all ages to dance on Main Street.
Chacewater Wine & Olive Mill is holding theirBlack Label Festival on the last Saturday of July,a free event that features great musicians, localartisan crafts/arts and a new wine release ontheir Black Label. The town’s signature annualevent, the Kelseyville Pear Festival, takes place onthe last Saturday of September. The first Fridayevening of December is Christmas in the Countrywith a lighted parade on Main Street, merchantopen houses and tree lighting.
For recreation all year, spend a day on thelake, bike the back roads, explore water trails viakayak or canoe, watch a sailboat regatta or an equestrian competition, go birding or hikethe trails at the Clear Lake State Park, or take inthe panoramic views from atop iconic MountKonocti, now Lake County’s newest CountyPark: the parking lot and main access point forhikers is just a few minutes from Main Street.
Located at the foot of Mount Konocti, Taylor
Observatory and Norton Planetarium offersstargazing with a 16-inch computerized reflectortelescope, full dome movies, planetarium shows,student astronomy camps, and much more. Thistelescope is the largest in northern California.
Find out more at www.VisitKelseyville.com
Kickin’ in theCountry
KelSeyvillecountry friendliness
NATHAN DEHART
NATHAN DEHART
Pear FestivalParade downMain Street
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C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P SDid you know?
The Lake County Quilt Trail project – the first quilt trail in
California – places painted quiltsquares on highly visible barns andbuildings around Lake County. It’s an
agricultural and tourism projectdesigned to promote and cele-brate commun ity pride. See
more, page 48.
This wonderful mountainous area affords fantasticviews of Clear Lake and its north shore. Swim -ming, fishing, boating, and other water sportsare popular in Soda Bay (named for the bub-bling soda springs offshore) because the bay issheltered from wind by the promontory of near-by Clear Lake State Park. The state park offersvisitors great opportunities to hike, camp, swim,and even learn about the flora and fauna at theinformative visitor center. Homes and small lake-front resorts ring the bay. The resorts are defi-nitely family-style with many amenities includingRV spaces and rental boats; some are known for their dog-friendly policies. A small marketand a coffee shop offer nearby convenience.
Buckingham boasts a challenging nine-holegolf course, Buckingham Golf Club, and hasadded an 18 hole Disc Golf course. Beautifulhomes abound on the Buckingham peninsulafrom the top of the ridge to lakeside; the viewsare amazing. A full-service marina is at the eastern tip of the peninsula; Braito’s Marinaoffers fuel and covered/open slips.
The neighborhoods of the Rivieras, locatedfrom water’s edge to the towering slopes ofMount Konocti, include Riviera West, Clear LakeRivieras, and Riviera Heights, all with unparalleled
views. A small shopping center located in ClearLake Riviera is home to a video store, gas station,market, salons, fitness studio, gift store, coffeeshop, bakery, and pizza parlor.
Richmond Park Bar & Grill (located on theshore below Soda Bay Road, just north of theRiviera Shopping Center) offers dining, RVspaces and fuel, dock space for those whoarrive via the lake, and l ive entertainment
most weekends.The Riviera Hills Golf & Country Club with
its 9-hole golf course, tennis court, swimmingpools and restaurant is located on a hilltop withspectacular views of Clear Lake and the moun-tains across the lake—a beautiful backdrop forgreat dining and a wonderful facility for wed-dings, receptions, and events, or for just enjoy-ing the view.
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C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P S
GREG BLINN
Marketplace events at Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum take place every May,
October, and right before Christmas.
lakeside views
SodA bAybUcKiNghaM ANd the rivierAS
Did you know?The S-Bar-S Ranch, purchased in
1882 by Benjamin Ely, expanded overthe years to include farming operations, com-mercial corrals, a two-story hotel, a post officeand general store. The Ely Stage Stop was relo-cated to Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in 2007 andcarefully restored as a Country Museum; today
it offers visitors an opportunity to learnabout Lake County’s agricultural her-
itage. See more on page 7;photo, below.
Homes, docks, and a restaurant linethe waterfront along the Rivieras
NICK ELIAS
The Lodge at BlueLakes offers lakesidetranquility
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C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P S
In northwestern Lake County, the quaintrecrea tional community of Blue Lakes dots theshores of two small, peaceful lakes knownsimply as Upper Blue Lake and Lower Blue Lake,bordered by State Highway 20 to the north anddensely forested hillsides to the south. Just afew minutes’ drive from Upper Lake or Lakeport,this spot is a favorite getaway for local residentsand out-of-town vacationers alike, with lodgingoptions from upscale to camping.
Swimming and fishing are popular in thecrystal clear water. A boat speed limit of 5 mphmakes for serene surroundings and a popularspot for kayaks, canoes, patio boats, and eventhe occasional windsurfer; several resorts offerwatercraft rentals, even electric boats and thelatest craze, “SUPs” (stand up paddle boards).
The deep water of Upper Blue Lake supportspopulations of bass and bluegill and are stockedmonthly with rainbow trout, so both novice andexperienced anglers can drop in a line from adock, the shore’s edge, or even a boat at afavorite fishing spot. Status of the Annual AprilTrout Derby was unknown at press time, contact(707) 275-2718 for information.
blUe lAKESa favorite getaway
Did you know?Indians believed in a legendary
“Monster of Blue Lakes,” or “DevilFish,” which was said to be half-fish
and half-horse, between ten and twentyfeet long, and was said to appear onlyonce every ten years. Its presencewas believed to signal the onset
of great calamities.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LODGE AT BLUE LAKES
Welcome to Upper Lake. Estab -lished in 1854, the town has had asuccession of storefronts through-out its long history. Formerly,streets were lined with butchershops, clothing stores, bakeries,saloons, restaurants, hardwarestores, ice cream parlors, as well aspharmacies. Today, this town hasgrown up. A face lift, completed in2010 – including Victorian-stylestreet lights, an exquisite townarch, and a new town clock – hasrevived the town. A new genera-tion of shopkeepers, innkeepers,and restaurateurs all have an eyetoward preserving the rich historyof this pioneer town.
What was once a stagecoachstop along the Sacramento-to-Mendocino route now includes therestored Tallman Hotel, and a re-created Blue Wing SaloonRestaurant. Concerts with Conver -sa tion, and an annual BluesFestival in August are found at theTallman/Blue Wing site. Lake
County Wine Studio features monthly artists’ shows with musicand local wine and food pairings.
All businesses showcase histori-cal integrity, which offers visitorsthe opportunity for a luxuriousovernight stay, delicious meals, awine tasting bar and shopping onMain Street.
Come, stay, explore, and findantiques and collectibles fromaround the world, clothing, NativeAmerican arts, pet supplies, giftsand original local works of art.
Upper Lake saw many newbusinesses open in 2016, offeringnew opportunities for dining andshopping.
Wild West Day is celebrated onthe first Saturday in June. A pictur-esque lighted parade down MainStreet takes place on the firstSaturday evening of Decem ber, fol-lowed by a tree-lighting ceremony,caroling and fun for everyone.
Upper lAKEpast perfect
Blue WingSaloonRestaurant
Did you know?The Bank of Upper Lake, built in 1921, was a tribute to the
agricultural-based prosperity of the area, which included cattle and sheep ranching, pear and walnut processing,
a cheese factory...and the Blue Lake bean,which was developed here by AdolphusMendenhall and became the founda-tion of the green bean industry in
California and Oregon.
LAURA LAMAR
Lucerne and Nice are two lakeside communitiesalong the north shore of Clear Lake on StateHighway 20, the major east-west thoroughfare inLake County. Long, beautiful stretches of shore-line are shaded by large pepperwoods and giantoaks, and spectacular redbud shrubs bloomthroughout the area in springtime. Severalresorts and campgrounds offer visitors a placeto stay, and public beaches, parks, and harborsprovide many opportunities to enjoy the lake.
With the steep Bartlett Mountain Range as itsbackdrop, the lakeside town of Lucerne is oftenreferred to as “the Switzerland of America” withterrain and sweeping views reminiscent of theAlps. The town of Nice was named in June 1871after the small town of Nice, France.
The historic 1928 Lucerne Hotel on sevenscenic acres was recently renovated to becomethe latest campus of Marymount CaliforniaUniversity, with classrooms, student and facultyhousing, food service facilities, outdoor recre-ation, and gardens. Students will be able tocomplete upper division degrees in business, liberal arts, psychology, and other areas.
In the community of Lucerne, as part of theLucerne Promenade between State Highway 20and Clear Lake, the new Third Street Pier area
provides visitors opportunities to enjoy a view ofthe north bay of Clear Lake and Mount Konocti.Lucerne Pharmacy features an interactive Visitor’sKiosk while next door is a new eatery with aneclectic menu. A favorite of travelers to Lucerne isthe oldest franchise restaurant in Lake County,Foster’s Freeze.
Hinman Park in downtown Nice features anattractive gazebo in the center of the park,palm trees, a lush lawn, and other amenitiesthat are enjoyed by visitors and residents alike.The County’s Keeling Park provides a publicboat launching facility, a playground, swimmingarea, boat dock and other popular amenities.Further to the west the new Hammond AvenuePark offers playground equipment, a multi-usesports field, bleachers, a parking area and new restroom.
Nice is home to several other tourist-orientedbusinesses and attractions, such as a quirkylunchbox museum, a unique caboose-themedB&B, and a world-class lakefront timeshare facil-ity that is a destination in and of itself. Its lodgewas built in 1904 as a private residence, andbecame the Clear Lake Lodge in 1922, operatingas a hotel with a pool and even a casino.
Sleep in a caboose at theFeatherbed Railroad B&B
GARDE
Nice ANd lUcerNefrom castles to cabooses Marymount
CaliforniaUniversity
Alpine Park Pier in Lucerne
LAURA LAMAR
LAURA LAMAR
Did you know?The historic Lucerne Hotel
(once known as “The Castle”) waspart of a grand vision for Lucerne. Builton the best site in town overlooking thelake, it was connected to the newly con-structed Ukiah–Tahoe Highway (Highway20) by a wide boulevard, which was later
to be converted to a canal for awater linkage between the lake
and the Hotel.
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C O M M U N I T I E S & M A P S
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The small towns of Clearlake Oaks and Glenhavenare the “gateway” to Clear Lake – the first lake-side communities seen by travelers heading weston State Highway 20.
“The Oaks” downtown area features NylanderPark and The Plaza. Clearlake Oaks Beach andBoat Launch is just a short walk away. The verypopular Catfish Derby and Barbecue – now in its24th year – will be held May 19–20-21; it kicks offat noon on the 19th with the weekend festivitiescentering around the Clearlake Oaks Fire Building. www.clearlakeoaks.org/derby
Visitors enjoy wine tasting at beautifulBrassfield Estate located in High Valley. A shortdrive east on Highway 20 are Noggle and CacheCreek Vineyards & Winery – a great spot to viewTule Elk while playing a game of bocce or sipping aglass of award-winning wine. Cache Creek bringscontinuing entertainment to visitors and residents.
As the closest community on the west side ofHwy 20, Clearlake Oaks is also a gateway to thenew Berryessa/Snow Mountain National Monu -ment. Established in 2016, the new monumentcrosses seven counties and encompasses 330,780
acres of extraordinary landscape, recreationalopportunities and wildlife (see more, page 9).
Oaks residents and businesses consistentlypitch in with donations of money, time, and mate-rials for local projects.
The most recent effort is at Clarks Island, locatednext to the downtown Chevron on Highway 20 andaccessed via a footbridge. The Clarks Island volun-teer effort focuses on ecotourism and the environ-ment. Components include natural earth building, akayak launch, picnic tables and indigenous plant-ings. It is also one of the best locations to watch theannual Clearlake Oaks Fireworks Display on 4th ofJuly weekend. A unique element includes a demon-stration “floating island” made from recycled plasticbottles and designed to mimic natural wetlands.Com munity members and businesses raised moneyto purchase the island, which was planted with res-cued cattails. Volunteers also pitched in to build anadobe entryway kiosk and bench using simple natu-ral building techniques and local clay.
Clarks Island also is a stopping point for theRattlesnake Island Water Trail, one of eight kayak-ing trails which highlight unique aspects of thegeology; culture and wildlife of Lake County, allow-ing paddlers to enjoy beautiful scenery while learn-ing about the environment (see more, page 8).
Waterways in ClearlakeOaks Keys
C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P S
NICK ELIAS
gleNhAveN ANd cleArlAKe oAKSthe eastern tip of the lake
SpriNg vAlleya rural hideaway
Chalk Mountain inSpring Valley
Did you know?The Tule Elk – so named because
it used to live among the tule marshesof Clear Lake – is native to Lake County.This magnificent animal had almost disap-
peared when the Fish and Game Departmentrestocked local herds in the 1980s. Todaylarge herds can be seen at Lake Pillsburyand east of Spring Valley along Highway
20. Listen for the distinctive buglecall of breeding males in late
summer–early fall.
Spring Valley, at the eastern end ofLong Valley, is approximately 12miles outside of Clearlake Oaks, offof State High way 20. The area is setin oak woodlands; Chalk Moun tainis a prominent landmark. The abun-dant wildlife includes deer, rabbits,raccoons, Roosevelt Elk, coyotes,fox, bear, and mountain lion, plus amyriad of avian species.
There are currently 1,035 resi-dents living in homes and ranch ettes.The subdivision is a County-main-tained water and road district. Thereis an active home owners associa-tion but membership is voluntary.Fire service is provided by theNorthlake Fire Protection Districtand a volunteer manned fire stationis located in the valley. Police serv-ice is provided by the Lake CountySheriff’s Depart ment; mail service isrural delivery six days per week outof the Clear lake Oaks Post Office;
and Konocti Unified School Districtprovides school bus service. Medicalservices include St. Helena Hospital,Clearlake and Sutter LakesideHospital.
Amenities include access to bothBLM land and the MendocinoNational Forest, an activeCommunity Center, as well as twomajor creeks, Wolfe Creek andCache Creek, and a small lake forrecreational enjoyment.
Local services include a smallconvenience store, several realestate agents, a financial planningoffice, bookkeeping, notary and taxservice, yard maintenance andhandyman services, and heavyequipment operators. Shopping, aswell as access to Clear Lake, isavailable in the City of Clearlake orthe town of Clearlake Oaks, a short15-minute drive away.
LAURA LAMAR
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Stretching along the eastern shore of Clear Lakefrom Cache Creek to beyond Monitor Point,the City of Clearlake was incorporated in 1980.Known as “the Highlands” to longtime residents,the city meanders over hills throughout its 10.5square miles. Development of the area began in1922, with walnut orchards a common sight.Some of those original orchards remain today inthe Burns Valley area. The city, with a populationnow over 15,000, prides itself as a tourist desti-nation with small-town charm.
Within the city are three lakefront parks:Redbud Park, Austin Park, and Highlands Park,each with its own special amenities. With newlaunching facilities and a huge parking lot,Redbud Park is a popular bass tournament desti-nation. The annual Fourth of July parade beginsat Redbud Park and fills Lakeshore Drive toAustin Park where festivities continue through-out the day, closing with a fireworks display atdusk. Austin Park also has been the site for theannual International Worm Races since 1970.The annual Christmas parade ushering Santa intotown begins at Redbud Park the first Saturday inDecember ending at Austin Park with lighting of
the community tree. Between Redbud and Austinparks, Lakeshore Drive serves as the main focusfor commercial, retail and visitor-oriented activity.Highlands Park is located in this same area andis undergoing renovation of a building on theproperty to serve as a visitor center. City Hallneighbors Austin Park on Olympic Drive.With anew General Plan scheduled for adoption in2016, and several new and expanding business-es in process, economic and commercial clustersinclude the areas at Highway 53 at Dam Road,at Lakeshore Drive, along Olympic Drive, and justoff Highway 53 north of the city. Commercialuses are also anticipated on the former Pearceairfield site on Highway 53.
A unique spot within the city is Borax Lake.Once mined for its large deposits, the lake is anational archeological site.
The Clear Lake campus of Woodland Com-munity College, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake,and Clearlake Shopping Center are clusterednear the southern edge of the city. Near BurnsValley Mall are the Clearlake Cinema; RedbudLibrary, a branch of the Lake County Librarysystem; and the Highlands Senior Center.
city of cleArlAKean emerging community
Dinosaurs atTatonka Land
Miniature Golf
Boat-up burgers atThe Spot
LAURA LAMAR
LAURA LAMAR
RUSSELL KEMPT
A view of Mount Konocti from theshores of Clearlake
C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P S
Did you know?Borax Lake, adjacent to
Sulphur Bank Road, was oncemined for its large borax
deposit. Bordered by homes, it is now a nationalarcheo logical site.
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Historic Lower Lake is located at the southeast-ern end of Clear Lake where two major NativeAmerican trails crossed. Founded in the late1850s, the town soon became the center ofcommerce for the region. Lake County was cre-ated out of the northern portion of Napa Countyin 1861. Lower Lake vied with Lakeport tobecome the county seat, succeeding in winningthat distinction from 1867 to 1870.
The town features some of the oldest build-ings in Lake County and prospered in early yearsfrom nearby mining of sulfur, borax, and quick-silver. The first jail in Lake County, a stone struc-ture of just one room, is said to be the smallestin the United States. It is California StateHistorical Landmark #429.
The Lower Lake Historic SchoolhouseMuseum, built in 1877, served as a schoo l houseuntil 1935. Due to the hard work of a grass-
roots organization, the schoolhouse was restor -ed and reopened in 1993 as a fine museum. Thebuilding has a distinctive Mansard roof, remod-eled in 1906 after the great Califor nia earth-quake damaged the bell tower. The 16-foot-tallceilings and nine-foot windows give the muse-um its true historic character. Displays include aschoolroom, Victorian parlor, gems and minerals,and Native American and pioneer artifacts. Theupper floor auditorium serves as a venue for cul-tural and community events.
Other historic sites in Lower Lake are thePioneer and Lower Lake Cemeteries; andAnderson Marsh State Historic Park, just north oftown, which features a ranch house, archeologi-cal sites, and nature trails. The United MethodistChurch, built in 1884, and Tuscan Village burnedin the 2016 Clayton Fire and are being rebuilt.
Lower Lake offers hometown shopping
with a variety of businesses, including coffeeshops, BBQ, pizza, wineries, and antiquestores. Mem or ial Day Weekend features LowerLake Daze with a parade and festival; and aRenaissance Faire at Tuscan Village, which isexpected to resume in 2018 after rebuilding.Lower Lake offers visitors an opportunity totruly step back and “stroll around” enjoyinghistory in rural America.
lower lAKean historic small town
LAURA LAMAR
C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P SDid you know?
Lower Lake, originallynamed Grantsville, began inthe late 1850s and was the site of a major boat landingproviding transportation by
steamship across Clear Lake.
Gratitude to theClayton Fire first responders
Cobb is a ‘Four SeasonWonderland’in the Mayacamas Mountain Range,with elevations from 2,400 to 4,722feet. Trees become more majesticwith each rise in elevation: forestsof pine, oak, fir, madrone, and cedarare enlivened with dogwood, red-bud, and wild lilac blossoms.
In September 2015 a devastatingfire struck a heavy blow to the Cobbcommunity. For the most part, themain Cobb business section wasuntouched, however the surroundingareas were hit hard. Historic Hoberg’sResort was destroyed but the ownersare intending to rebuild. Due to theloss of homes, many residents havehad to relocate until they can rebuild.
Boggs Mountain DemonstrationState Forest is currently closedindefinitely as it suffered the loss ofthousands of trees. Reforestationefforts have already begun withplans to plant over 100,000 trees.The Nature Conservancy offers guid-ed tours of Boggs Lake EcologicalPreserve, a protected vernal pool.
The communities surroundingCobb Valley began in the late 1800swhen several famous volcanic hotsprings resorts attracted peopleseeking remedies for their ailments.
Today, summer visitors flock toCobb’s lodgings and resorts, restau-rants, pub, golf courses, market,video store, and shops. A waterbottling plant, post office and gasstation can also be found on themountain. Golfers enjoy two highaltitude 9-hole courses nestled underthe pines. Adams Springs lost itsclubhouse to the fire, but the courseis functioning and the owners havebegun rebuilding the clubhouse.Black Rock Golf Club was recentlypurchased by the Moore Familywhich also owns a nearby wineryand is renovating and expanding itto provide banquet facilities; the golfcourse operates daily.
After the fire a strong sense ofcommunity – exemplified by themotto “Cobb Strong” – can be feltas friends gather at the Village pub,to enjoy a pizza at the Brick Oven,or to sip a local brew at Mutt andJess brewery and bakery. The CobbMountain area is home to manyartists and published authors, andhosts events such as Cobbstock inJune (a festival of music with sever-al bands), and the Holiday in thePines Art & Craft Faire, which isheld in November.
LAURA LAMAR
cobba woodland SURVIVOR
Quaint Cobb Village
Did you know?John and Esther Cobb
moved from Kentucky to theCobb Valley in 1853, and builta saw and grist mill on KelseyCreek in 1857 (it burned
down in 1867).
106 | WWW.LAKECOUNTY.COM
C O M M U N I T I E S A N D M A P S
The Hidden Valley Lake subdivision is truly aunique place to own a home. Just north ofMiddletown, the main entrance is on Highway29 in the southwest corner of Lake County.The surrounding area offers many of the ameni-ties of city living, such as excellent schools, hospital, police and fire protection, and culturalactivities, but still provides the many benefits of living in a community located in a more ruralsetting. Two shopping centers adjacent to thecommunity provide a market, restaurants, andother shops and services.
Hidden Valley Lake offers something foreveryone—whether a young family looking for a place to raise children, a retiree interested inplaying golf or fishing, or simply a person look-ing for the good life at a reasonable price. Theonly way to truly appreciate the community andall that is has to offer is to take a tour and seefor yourself.
Commanding spectacular views of the lakevalley from the banquet room and the golfcourse valley from the pool area, the hilltopactivity center is one of those rare places whereit is a joy just to be there. The building, withits long entry trellis, lighted parking lot, and
attractive post-and-beam architecture, wasdesigned as a restaurant and banquet facility bythe original developers. The facility includes alarge kitchen, banquet room with adjoining out-door deck, bar, dance floor, and restrooms, and
is used for banquets and special occasions.From April to September, a monthly Concert
on the Green takes place at the Hidden ValleyLake Golf and Country Club. For more informa-tion, see page 40 or go to www.golfhvl.com.
An overview of HiddenValley Lake from the surrounding hills
hiddeN vAlley lAKeON THE HISTORIC RANCHO GUENOC SITE
Monthly Concerton the Green
LAURA LAMAR
Did you know?Hidden Valley Lake was part
of the 21,000-acre Rancho Guenocin the mid-1800s. One of the last
Spanish land grants, the ranch extend-ed from the small town of Guenoc onPutah Creek, to the east, and what
would later become LillieLangtry’s estate in the
late 1800s.
HVLA
Middletown, which began as a stagecoach stopmidway between Calistoga and Clearlake, becamea town in 1870. It has suffered two devastatingfires – the most recent in 2015 – yet still retainsits old-fashioned western charm. Most of theoriginal buildings in the downtown business districtsurvived the recent “Valley Fire.” Community spirit is strong, as evidenced by the turnout at theMustang’s first High School football game afterthe fire, even though many of the faculty andstudents had lost their homes. Though decimatedby the Valley Fire, nearby historic Harbin HotSprings will be rebuilt.
Shop, dine, wine taste, and explore locally –and support Middletown as it rebuilds. Middle -town’s unique gift shops, antique stores, toy store,nurseries, and a new a community art center and gallery are still open for business. Relax witha leisurely massage at one of the inviting dayspas or beauty parlors. If you’re adventurous, taketo the skies in a glider. Hot air balloons takeadvantage of fog-free, clear blue skies—a won-derful sight during the warmer months.
Middletown is the place to stop for food aswell, boasting old-fashioned breakfast places, awine tasting room, several wifi-capable coffee
and tea shops, a brew pub, and delicatessens, aswell as sit-down Mexican, American, Thai, andChinese cuisine. A restored drive-in offers take-out or sit-down dining. If you plan to stay over,try out the clean, friendly, local motel, or checkout the local casino’s beautiful, rustic lodge-stylehotel, restaurant and nightlife.
Just south of town, Calpine’s CartwrightGeothermal Visitor Center offers fascinatinginteractive displays explaining how geothermalenergy is generated locally, using steam fromdeep within the earth. A picnic area and facilitiesfor meetings and community events completethe center’s offerings.
A senior center, library, and tree-shaded parkwith a gazebo and picnic tables grace the eastside of Highway 29 just south of the center oftown. Across the street, Middletown’s GibsonMuseum & Cultural Center features both perma-nent and changing exhibits on the history ofSouth Lake County in the town’s original 1930spublic library, now beautifully restored; seewww.cgibsonmuseum.com for more details.
Middletown also is a hub of a variety of de -nom inations, including Baptist, Catholic, Metho dist,Seventh-day Adventist and community churches,
all with warm, welcoming congregations. Special events include Earth Day in April;
Middle town Days in June with a parade, dance,barbecue, vendors and rodeo. Christmas in Middle -town features a Tree Lighting, carolers, vendors,and Santa Claus, and an annual ChristmasRenaissance Pageant and Feast takes place thefirst two weekends in December. Visit www.mid-dletownareamerchants.com for more information.
Cow-themedCowpoke Café
MiddletowNAN HISTORIC SURVIVOR
The Middletown SquarePark boasts a senior
center, library, gazebo, andshaded picnic area.
LAURA LAMAR
Did you know?In 1870, the first house was
built on the site of what is nowMiddletown by J. H. Berry. A year laterthe town was laid out on a stage routemidway between Calistoga and LowerLake, where steamship ferry docks werelocated to transport visitors to lakeside
resorts. In 1918 a fire destroyedmost of the historic buildings