Within the Sierra Nevada foothills is the richest gold mining town in California: Grass Valley. Its residents refer to it as a “postcard town” with ample opportunity for outdoor sightseeing, plus plenty to do within the town.
Although the gold rush may have given Grass Valley its start, it isn’t the city’s only claim to fame. Gold mining declined through the 1950s, and hard rock mining, which also helped Grass Valley to thrive, ended. That era is commemorated today at the Empire Mine State Historic Park, a preserved site for what was once the oldest, deepest gold mine in the state. Fourteen miles of trails surrounding the park take visitors through the woods and backcountry, showing off restored buildings and gardens.
After the mine closures in the 20th century, Grass Valley transformed. An engineer pioneered a new invention, the video broadcast mixer, and chose Grass Valley as the home of his business. After that, the electronics industry took off and forever changed the city. Today, a little under 14,000 people call Grass Valley home.
The city still honors its past, even in its setup and architecture. That’s partly thanks to a partnership between downtown merchants and the National Trust for Historic Preservations, who partnered up in 1986. Main Street still carries a “ye olde” feel, with old-time signage and even a large black clock tower gracing the downtown stretch. In the downtown area, you’ll find plenty of modern things to do.
Visitors may want to do some shopping at boutiques Beautiful or Behind Closed Doors or check out the ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, painting, sculptures, and photography at Art Works Gallery. Others may be interested in the 14-bookseller-strong co-op Booktown Books or pick up a new instrument at Foggy Mountain Music.
Grass Valley commemorates its history in other ways, as well. It has multiple buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. One of those is the Golden Gate Saloon within the Holbrooke Hotel. The claim to fame here is that it is the oldest continuously operating bar west of the Mississippi. The Golden Gate Saloon has stood since 1852. It now serves up seasonal cocktails with fresh ingredients, plus wines and beer from across the globe. A connected restaurant serves up Mexi-Cali food made with ingredients from local and organic farms.
California earned its nickname as the “Golden State” following the gold rush that sent 300,000 pioneers to the area. It was one of the largest migrations in the nation’s history, full of people searching for a new, more comfortable life. Today, it reflects the golden opportunities California offers, not to mention the golden sunlight that permeates the region. We named our pest control company Gold Country Wildlife Control to honor that history and beauty. Sitting within Northern California’s foothills, we know there’s no shortage of nuisance wildlife in the area. Beavers, coyotes, feral hogs, bats, and more have a knack for showing up on our properties. Contact us for an estimate if you have a wildlife problem in Northeastern California or Northwestern Nevada.
