Winter 2011
Visitor’s Guide & Vacation Planner
Discover
Magazine
Come Play in Visalia, Tulare County & the Sequoias
Welcome to Tulare County
It is with great pride that I welcome you to Tulare County. From small, rural
communities to the up and coming urban County seat of Visalia, Tulare
County has plenty to see and do.
Countryside towns offer unique shopping and dining experiences, seasonal
fairs and festivals, antiques, museums, boutiques, murals, historical districts and art galleries.
Tulare County is agriculturally rich with dairies, cotton, cattle, citrus, olives, grapes, walnuts and many
other fruits, vegetables and grains. Ag tourism is a great way to experience the plentiful bounty
produced in Tulare County.
Vast agricultural valley areas contrast against the snowcapped Sierra Nevada to create exceptional
landscape views. In early spring the countryside is alive with blossoming fruit trees, wild flowers and
sweet scents. Fall brings the warm colors of pumpkin patches and corn fields. The crisp and cool winter
climate helps to produce the sweetest oranges on earth.
Recreational activities range from leisurely boating on scenic, wide-open Lake Kaweah along Highway
198 to white water rafting on the lively, rushing Kaweah River. You can also take a day trip to the
beautiful mountain areas where you can go for a hike and explore the beauty of nature or bring the
camping gear and stay overnight. With six wilderness areas, mountain climbing opportunities ranging
from the challenging Mt. Whitney to the more accessible Moro Rock, and more than
50 campgrounds and 800 miles of marked trails to explore, there is an outdoor
activity available somewhere in our county that should appeal to almost every
adventurous person.
Again, welcome to Tulare County. We hope you enjoy your visit and return to
the community we are proud to call home!
For more information on some of the best recreational sites to visit in Tulare
County, please visit www.tularecountyemap.com
Mike Ennis, Chairman,
Tulare County Board
of Supervisors
Inside this edition
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SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
OUR NATION’S CHRISTMAS TREE
VISALIA
FAREWELL TO BUFFALO BILL
AGRITOURISM
AGVENTURES
TULARE
WORLD AG EXPO
SEVEN WONDERS IN TULARE COUNTY
DINUBA
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST
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EXETER
THREE RIVERS
THE KAWEAH COLONISTS
WOODLAKE
PROJECT SURVIVAL’S CAT HAVEN
PORTERVILLE
SPRINGVILLE
VISALIA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
AREA MUSEUMS
Discover Magazine is published by Valley Voice Newspaper, Inc., publisher of the Valley Voice / Tulare Voice. Discover Magazine ©2011
Front cover: Near the top of a snow-covered Moro Rock looking toward Three Rivers. Photo by Chris Edwards.
Visalia,
Tulare County
& the Sequoias
Please explore Three Rivers, Springville and the other
scenic destinations highlighted on the interactive
Tulare County eMap.
Discover
5
is a
Sequoia winter
National wonderland
Park
On Buckey Flat Road in Sequoia National Park looking at the middle fork of the Kaweah River and
Castle Rocks. Photo by Chris Edwards
The Giant Forest Museum is located in the heart of the big trees and is open year-round.
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It's a gray gloomy day in the Valley, but above 1,500
feet in elevation, the sun is shining brightly. Heading
out of Visalia on winding Highway 198 past the little
village of Three Rivers and on to the Generals Highway
to the top of Sequoia National Park, winter visitors to
the area are in for a treat.
The highway is so named because it connects the
General Sherman Tree – the world's largest living thing
– to the General Grant Tree over in Kings Canyon
National Park – a little under an hour's drive from each
other (it's a good idea to carry chains in the winter).
It's a steep climb beyond Hospital Rock. The views are
awesome looking up to big Moro Rock, but the real
reward is at the top where the Giant Sequoias are a
humbling experience, often up to 300 feet in height,
some thousands of years old. The trees' luminous red
bark totally dominates the snowy white landscape of the
forest at 6,000 feet. The Giant Forest is where early
settlers came to escape the Valley heat and visitors from
all over the world continue to make the pilgrimage year
round to the magnificent Big Trees.
Getting away and immersing yourself in a grove of
Sequoias in winter is like walking through a hushed
cathedral. Experiencing the quiet solitude on a pair of
cross country skis or snowshoes can be life-changing.
Snow ghosts cover the small trees and on the Big
Trees the white stuff hangs on every branch hundreds of
feet into the sky, which is true blue in contrast. Winter
nights are brisk and chock full of stars. Dress in layers
and don't forget those big parkas – nighttime
temperatures are likely to fall into the teens. Daytime
temperatures are much more accommodating to
outdoor adventures as they often hover between
freezing and the low 50s.
Normally, the Generals Highway tying Sequoia and
Kings Canyon National Parks will remain open,
depending on the snow level (ask at entrance gate).
Along the route, there are a half dozen insulated groves
of Sequoias before you reach Kings Canyon.
Driving along the Generals Highway, sunshine
reflecting off of the brilliant winter snowscape, visitors
can catch a glimpse of what looks like a sea of clouds
covering the Valley below. It seems the Big Trees – that
grow nowhere else on earth – have carefully selected
this place.
Our Nation's
Christmas Tree
As the story goes, in 1924, a little girl was standing in front of the
General Grant Tree in what is now Sequoia National Park when she
exclaimed, "What a wonderful Christmas tree it would be!"
Charles E. Lee was standing near enough to hear her words and they
stayed with him. He organized the first Christmas program at the Grant
Tree, which began at noon on Christmas Day 1925.
Lee, then secretary of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, and R.J. Senior,
president of the chamber, conceived the idea of an annual ceremony.
Lee wrote to President Calvin Coolidge, who liked the idea and
designated the General Grant as the Nation's Christmas Tree on April 28,
1926.
In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the tree as a living
memorial to those Americans who have died serving their country. Park
rangers place a wreath at the base of the General Grant tree every
December.
The Sanger Chamber of Commerce continues to sponsor the annual
Christmas "Trek to the Tree," which takes place on the second Sunday of
December.
Discover
7
Visalia
Jewel
of the
Valley
Often called “The Jewel of the Valley,” Visalia was founded not
by railroad barons but by 19th-century settlers who picked the
shadiest, most lush land in an otherwise barren valley to cultivate
and develop. The Kaweah Delta - the alluvial fan of the Kaweah
River that falls from the High Sierra, offered rich soil, plentiful
wood and abundant water.
The earliest settlers ran livestock and lived off the fat of the land.
That all changed when Visalia area farmers began to divert the
river forks into irrigation canals and soon there were permanent
orchards of fruit and nut trees.
Today farming is big business in Visalia – and Tulare County -with over $4 billion in agricultural sales from the more than 250
The ‘End of the Trail’ statue at Mooney Grove
Visalia Downtown Trolley
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commodities grown in the area.
More than 130,000 people now call the Jewel of the Valley
home. Being the county seat has contributed to Visalia's
growth. But there are other factors as well. Visalia remains
the medical, cultural and shopping hub of the region, with
more than half a million people now living within a half hour
drive of the city. Visalia has only 25 percent of the county's
population but better than 40 percent of all county retail
sales.
Over the years, Visalians have improved on the city's
natural gifts by planting fine gardens, building new parks and
maintaining impressive, well-landscaped neighborhoods that
reflect the city's rich history.
Then and Now
Today
1938
The Visalia Fox Theatre
Photos courtesy Arcadia Publishing
The Candy Cane Lane Parade
The College of the Sequoias “Giant”
Historically an
agricultural
community, Visalia's
economy now includes a healthy tourist component as the
city serves as gateway to two of the finest national parks in
the nation - Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
On the cultural front, the community enjoys its own
symphony orchestra, a children's playhouse and museum,
several performing arts theaters – including the historic Fox
Theatre, a cultural center honoring the Chinese immigrants
of the area, and a professional baseball team, the Visalia
Rawhide.
With a vibrant downtown full of top-notch restaurants,
Visalia combines the best of small-town community living
with urban amenities usually only found in much larger cities.
The Downtown Post Office
The “Greatest Generation” World War II Mural
Discover
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Colorful characters:
Visalia Bids Farewell to Buffalo Bill
By Terry Ommen
He was past his prime, but the 64-year old showman could
still draw a crowd. William Cody was a true American hero. For
decades his “Wild West” show attracted thousands of adoring
fans as this Iowa native traveled throughout the world giving his
version of how the west was won. The show employed notable
western figures like Wild Bill Hickok, Annie Oakley and Sitting
th
Bull. By the turn of the 20 century, Buffalo Bill was probably the
most famous American in the world.
But by 1907, his economic fortune began to fade. His Wild
West show ran into financial trouble, and to make matters
worse, a competing show had entered the scene. Gordon
“Pawnee Bill” Lillie, a former employee of Bill's, had created his
own show calling it “Pawnee Bill's Will West and Great Far East
Show.” By 1908 Pawnee Bill bought a significant interest in
Buffalo Bill's show and soon he bought the rest of it, but kept
Buffalo Bill as a partner.
The two Wild West promoters combined their shows into one,
and called it “Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Great
Factoid:
The 150-acre Mooney Grove Park, located along South
Mooney Blvd. on the southern edge of Visalia, has been a
haven for oaks and folks since 1853 when Benjamin
Willis first built his cabin there.
Far East Show.” Some just called it the “Two Bills' Show.” But
Buffalo Bill wanted to retire, so he and Pawnee Bill created what
they called the “Farewell Tour.” The plan was to visit “every
prominent city and town” in the country and say goodbye. On
October 8, 1910 the Visalia Daily Times announced that
Buffalo Bill was coming to Visalia.
Two three-hour shows were planned for the one day visit.
Ticket prices were set at 50 cents for general seating and $1.00
for the grandstand. In the early morning hours of Thursday,
October 13, 1910, the special 78-car train pulled into Visalia. It
contained almost 1,100 workers, 700 horses, 14 buffalo and a
small herd of performing elephants. Workers quickly unloaded
the cars and a tent city soon took shape on the “East Main
Street Show Grounds.” Eight acres were necessary for the 22
tents, a big arena and seating for over 14,000 people.
The 2 pm show drew a good crowd despite a steady rain. The
seating area was covered with a huge canvas canopy so the
spectators stayed dry as the wild broncos bucked, elephants
played musical instruments and Native Americans and
The perfect night out includes a stop at
Wine
Entertainment
“cowboys and cowgirls” displayed their skills. Buffalo Bill made a
short address to the crowd and as expected announced that he was
leaving the show.
During his Visalia stay, Buffalo Bill ran into two old friends from
his army days and presented each with gold lockets. The farewell
tour lasted five seasons and in 1913, the “Two Bills' Show” went
bankrupt. William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody's health began to
decline and he died in 1917 while visiting his sister in Denver.
Beer
Located in the heart of Downtown Visalia
Salsa Night • Hip Hop Night • Live Local Artists
in association with Sound n Vision Foundation
Monthly Wine Tasting
ask about our wine club
Located at the corner of Main St & Court St.
559.636.9463
www.cellardoorvisalia.com
like us on Facebook at facebook.com/cellardoorvisalia
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A1-Collectibles
AT&T Authorized Retailer
Bed Bath & Beyond
Blush Boutique
Don Roberto Jewelers
Eyebrow Shaping by Asia
Green Goddess
Hobby Lobby
KC Noodle & Rice
Los Perez Restaurant
Madness
Marshalls
Mode Five
National University Academy
Nexus Healthcare
Rabobank
Regal Cinema
Sears
Subway
Visalia’s MMA Gear
Sequoia Mall
Tel: 559-732-5681
3303 S. Mooney Blvd. Visalia, CA 93277
Discover
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Tulare County:
America's Breadbasket and Dairy Capital
Tulare County is the nation's leading producer of dairy and
home to more than 250 different crops raised year-round. From
sprawling nurseries and artisanal cheese-making facilities to the
world's only orange maze, Central Valley residents enjoy farm
fresh produce all year long. For an up-close-and-personal
experience of the county's bounty, here are a few suggested
locales to visit:
Bravo Farms Cheese Factory: Watch
professionals make handcrafted
cheese right in front of you and
proceed through the tour to taste for
yourself, purchase goodies in the
Shoppe, and indulge in espresso and
16 flavors of ice cream for a true,
dairy experience. The company's
flavorful, natural cheeses – sold
throughout the world – will leave you
begging for more. Bravo Farms
Cheese Factory is located at 36005
Highway 99 in Traver. Call 1-866898-milk for more information.
McKellar Farms: Nestled in the orange groves between
Visalia and Sequoia National
Park, Seven Sycamores
Ranch has amenities for
overnight travelers and
tours for those just passing
through. Meet a thirdgeneration citrus farmer
and hear the story of how
the McKellar Family built
their farm and farm home
during the Great
Depression. Tour the circa-1937 farm home with its family
pictures and many original paintings of the Sierras by noted
artist Albert Marshall. See the adobe out buildings, the “bunk”
house, the beautiful gardens and the wedding venue. At
McKellar Farms, visitors can explore the orchards on a walking
tour or by hayride through the groves of navel and Valencia
oranges and W. Murcott and Shasta Gold mandarins. Historic
Seven Sycamores Ranch is located at 32985 Road 164 in
Ivanhoe. For more information, call (559) 798-0557.
Naylor Family Organic Farm: Mike Naylor is a thirdgeneration farmer with a knack for storytelling. "We do things a
little differently on our farm," he explains. "We wait until our
peaches and nectarines ripen, and then we pack them in the
field, all by hand, under the shade of the trees.” The farm is
located at 38918 Road 64 in Dinuba. To arrange a visit, call
(559) 591-6051.
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Discover
'Foodie' Movement Spurs
Agritourism in Tulare County
Shopping for a family of six is a weekly ritual for Dave and
Angie Wakley of Visalia. That's because they want the freshest
fruits and vegetables possible for their children—and they know
the local farmers market will give them just that.
“We make an active choice to support local agriculture because
the money stays local and helps in the sustainability of the land
and the community,” said Dave Wakley during a recent visit to the
year-round Visalia Farmers' Market.
Connecting with their food and knowing exactly where it comes
from is something the Wakley's believe in. Their oldest daughter
even helps work on local farms. Agritourism—which is a way for
people to become educated about agriculture and agriculturally
based operations—gives the Wakley's that opportunity.
“Everybody eats and it's only natural that many people are
becoming 'foodies' and are much more interested in where their
food comes from,” said Eric Coyne, Tulare County tourism
manager.
Coyne also added that people are becoming more interested in
farm-related tours, saying that this is a way for people to see dayto-day operations of a farm.
Bob McKellar, a third generation farmer, operates tours on his
ranch in Ivanhoe.
“Agritourism is growing here,” McKellar said.
Family Farm Fresh, which is a community-supported agriculture
group that delivers fresh produce to anyone who is interested in
eating locally grown food, is just one of many ways he helps
teach about agriculture. His Historic Farm Stays and Tours
business also show people many different daily farm operations.
“People like to come to the farm and stay in the farm
atmosphere,” McKellar said.
For example, McKellar shows visitors how fruit is grown and
water rationed, how farm equipment operates, including the wind
machines used on cold nights to protect crops.
“Agritourism is simply bringing people to the farm for
education,” McKellar said.
Visalia Farmers' Market Manager Paige Williams also see the
agritourism movement gaining momentum in the county. Last
year, she held three Farm Tours, which turned out to be very
“successful,” she said. “We had a high turnout for each of our
tours and received a lot of positive feedback. Customers told us
that they really appreciate the opportunity to go out and visit these
local farms.”
AgVentures! at Heritage Complex is world class learning center
AgVentures! at Heritage Complex is a world-class learning
center on the grounds of the International Agri-Center in Tulare
that each member of the family will enjoy.
as they explore throughout 4,500 square-feet of hands-on
exhibits within the Local Look zone, part of a trilogy of exhibits
that include Valley View and Going Global.
Comprised of custom built interactive exhibits, AgVentures!
gives local families the opportunity to visit a science center
comparable to those found in San Francisco or Los Angeles. It is
designed for an unforgettable adventure in agriculture.
AgVentures! includes a visit to the Antique Farm Equipment
Museum. Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday; 10 a.m.
– 4 p.m. Saturday; Sunday Noon – 4 p.m. $5 per adult, $4
senior, $3 children under 18. Heritage Complex is located at
4500 South Laspina. For group tours, call 559-688-1030.
Visitors learn about life sciences, farming and ag technology
Armstrong Property Management is Celebrating 32 Years
Crystal Williams
Director of Operations,
Association
Cruz Ann Duarte
Central Coast
Sales Division
Jim Armstrong
Broker/CEO
Christopher Zulik
Director of Operations,
Rental Management / Sales
We specialize in the management of
Residential & Commercial properties and
Common Interest Developments
(Associations). In addition, brokerage services
are provided in the acquisition of multi-family &
commercial properties. Currently, the
company has California offices in Visalia and
Arroyo Grande, with a total of 21 employees.
In Tulsa, our company Winfield Property
Management specializes in the acquisition and
management of multi-family properties.
We are proud to have been active in the
community and to have successfully
conducted business in Visalia for 32 years.
Armstrong Property Management was
recognized by the Visalia Chamber of
Commerce in 2006 as being the Small
Business of the Year. In 2009, the company
was a finalist in the Medium Business of the
Year category.
1820 S. Central, Suite C, Visalia CA 93277
(559) 733-1321 FAX (559) 733-1729 (800) 401-5751
www.armstrong-mgmt.com
Discover
13
Tulare’s ‘Got It!’ World Ag Expo 2012
Bigger and Better than Ever
Visitors to Tulare will
encounter music, history,
shopping and
recreational
Tulareans put on their orange jackets and embrace the world each
opportunities -- even a
year when more than 100,000 visitors from far and wide attend the
homegrown county fair.
World Ag Expo at the International Agri-Center.
Despite its growing
Held the second week of February – Feb. 14-16 are 2012 show dates
– the World Ag Expo is the world's largest annual agriculture exposition
population, currently
and attracts visitors from all across the country as well as from Europe,
approaching 60,000,
Africa, Asia, Canada and Mexico.
Tulare strives to retain a
small-town feel.
The show has grown exponentially in recent years and now includes
more than 1,600 exhibitors displaying farm equipment and other agSettled in 1872 by
related products across a sprawling 2.5 million square feet of exhibit
workers building the
space.
Southern Pacific
Railroad, Tulare's name
Hundreds of local residents leave behind their normal schedules to
was inspired by the
work at the show each year, donning orange jackets that identify them
“tules,” which is Spanish for the bulrushes that once
as trained WAE volunteers.
grew along the shores of once bountiful but now extinct
The show also features a variety of free seminars that tackle new and
Tulare Lake, which the Spaniards named “Laguna de
important issues facing the local and world-wide agricultural community.
Los Tulares.”
For those who delight in good food, the show features cooking
The native American Yokuts, the first people known to
demonstrations by chefs from some of the Valley's and California's top
settle the area, were called “Los Tularenos.”
restaurants.
Tulare is home to the Tulare County Fair, which runs
Admission to World Ag Expo is $12 or $30 for a three-day pass.
for a week each September and serves as a splendid
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 4
showcase of local agriculture and talent, as well as a
p.m. Thursday. More information is available at www.worldagexpo.com.
place to enjoy carnival rides, concerts, exhibits and
food. The kick-off for the
five-day event is a parade
down East Tulare Avenue
and K Street in downtown
Tulare, complete with
high school bands, floats
and other entries.
Tulare offers visitors
and residents alike a
MAKE TULARE YOUR FIRST STOP FOR EVERYTHING
number of other
opportunities: exercising
Introducing Our Newest MEMBER ONLY Benefit!
or even riding a horse
along the five-mile, crosstown Tulare Santa Fe
Trail; playing golf at the
Tulare Golf Course;
shopping at the alwaysThis ONE Card Does It All!!
expanding Preferred
Outlets mall; visiting the
TULARE LOCAL CARD is Free to the Public
Tulare Historical Museum
Businesses Must Be Tulare Chamber Members to Promote
at 444 West Tulare Ave.
Their Business on the Tulare Local Card Web Page.
Those looking for a
For More Information Call 559.686.1547
different type of
or email us at [email protected]
experience can go to
220 E. Tulare Ave.
AeroDogs at 240 No. L
(Located in Chamber of Commerce bldg)
St. and eat a hot dog
559.685.2350/0753
inside a Vintage 1950s
[email protected]
Convair 240 U. S. Air
220 E. Tulare Avenue
Force navigational trainer
559.686.1547
or book a helicopter ride
Connect with
over the city with Blue
WWW.TULARECHAMBER.ORG
us on Facebook
Skies Aviation.
TULARE
WE’VE GOT IT.
Downtown
Tulare
Discover
15
Seven Wonders in Tulare County
Cool Places in Our Own Backyard
Tulare County's landscape goes from near sea level to over
14,000 feet in elevation in the space of just 70 miles. That
means there is a surprise around every corner, from the Valley
floor – the fruit belt of California – to the foothills rising to the
high Sierra.
In Tulare County's high country, there are impressive
snowcapped peaks and granite dome overlooks, trails that
connect to wonders, waterfalls and whitewater rivers flowing
down to creek side villages. Big Trees – from oak forests along
the river deltas to the massive
Giant Sequoias of the Sierra –
like nowhere else in the
world.
Here's Discover's unofficial
list of Tulare County's Seven
Wonders:
Visalia's Oak Forest
They planted the village of
Visalia in the South Valley's
largest oak forest. Early accounts raved about the oasis-like
river delta area called Four Creeks where a body could run
hogs out the backdoor and flowers grew tall by the fencepost.
Today, Visalia is a city of 130,000 residents but luckily a large
remnant of the forest remains – protected around the city. To
catch glimpses of the Valley's big trees, visit Mooney Grove on
Highway 63 (Mooney Blvd.) between Tulare and Visalia and
Kaweah Oaks Preserve on Highway 198 just a few miles east of
Visalia.
Moro Rock/Giant Forest
John Muir himself named
this area Giant Forest when
he first wandered into the
mountain grove in 1873. Its
1,800 acres are full of the
biggest trees in the world,
including the largest – the
General Sherman Tree. You
can get the same sense of
wonder as Muir by rounding the curving highway up from
Three Rivers and suddenly encountering the 20-foot-wide
cinnamon-colored trees towering toward the sky. Moro Rock,
accessible by climbing up 300 stairs is a spectacular granite
outcropping. From its top, enjoy an eye-popping 360-degree
view of the forest, the winding highway down to Three Rivers
and the plunging Middle Fork of the Kaweah. Turn around
carefully, it's a long way down, and take in the area's own
great wall – the Great Western Divide and its series of
13,000-foot peaks to the east.
Mineral King/
Sawtooth Peak
This mountain valley 25
miles east of Three Rivers
reminded Walt Disney
himself enough of
Switzerland that he wanted
to build a theme park ski
resort here in the 1960s.
Lawsuits by the Sierra Club
and winter avalanches
convinced Disney otherwise, but the stunning scenery remains.
You can stay in nearby Silver City Resort and day hike several
breathtaking trails – one to heart-pounding Sawtooth Pass at
12,000 feet. This is the pointy spire that can be recognized
from all over the Central Valley. Here you can peek over the
eastern side of the Sierra, down into the Kern River Valley and
all the way to Mount Whitney herself at 14,500 feet – the
tallest peak in the Continental U.S.
The Mighty 190 Western
Divide Highway
From Tipton to the tippy-top of
Highway 190 – also known as the
Western Divide Highway -- follow
the winding Tule River ever higher,
encountering picturesque towns,
some great side forks, hidden
groves and shimmering waterfalls.
Highway 190 provides access to the
Sequoia National Monument,
including the dynamite Trail of a
Hundred Giants between Ponderosa
and California Hot Springs.
Citrus Belt Towns Invite
Exploration
Tulare County is the
biggest citrus growing
county in the state, famous
for its Washington navels.
Increasingly, the groves are
being planted with more
exotic varieties you've seen
in the grocery aisle including
the new seedless mandarins,
red-fleshed cara caras, dreamy satsumas and tasty
clementines. Unlike years past, someone is harvesting citrus
16
Discover
nine months out of the year these days in Tulare County – citrus
for every season. The area, with its mild, Mediterranean climate,
is perfect for growing citrus.
Go Underground in Sequoia
Famous for tall trees, Sequoia and
Kings Canyon National Parks have
another unseen and hidden beauty –
the labyrinth of 240 caves found in the
mountain parks. Many of the caves are
not open for regular visitation
although two caverns offer regular
tours. Kings Canyon boasts the state's
longest – Lilburn Cave, which goes
back 20 miles at least. In the past few
years, volunteers from the Cave
Research Foundation discovered a
1,000-foot-cave in the park – one of 50
caves that have been discovered in the past decade. Wowing
researchers even more was the discovery of new life forms in the
caves, including new species of spiders, millipedes, centipedes,
pseudo-scorpions and flat worms. The most popular cave is
Crystal Cave near Giant Forest, open for daily tours – call (559)
565-3717. The cave was discovered in 1918. Also open for
visitors is Boyden Cave on Highway 180 in Kings Canyon north
of Grant Grove.
County Landmarks
Visalia's most famous
landmark is the elegant Fox
Theatre, built in 1929. Now,
owned and operated by a
nonprofit community group,
the 1,200-seat venue hosts
cultural, entertainment and
music events and is home to
the Tulare County Symphony.
The city of Tulare's two landmarks are its historic water tower,
now painted to look like a glass of milk and the four-sided clock
tower at downtown's Tower Square, which celebrates the area's
Portuguese influence. In Porterville, there's the “Salute to the
Farmers” sculpture at Henderson and Main, created in 1977 to
celebrate the city's bicentennial. In Three Rivers, they will tell you
to visit the smallest post office anywhere – the Kaweah Post
Office on North Fork Dr. – a leftover from some utopian
colonists who settled this riverside town. In Lindsay, an old
packing house has been converted into a major entertainment
and recreation venue for the community at McDermont Field
House & Sports Center at 365 Sweet Brier. In the south part of
the county, visit Tailholt, now known as White River in the foothills
south of Porterville. The name Tailholt comes from a tale that a
miner nailed a cow's tail to his cabin door to serve as a handle.
This was where gold mining took off in 1856 as settlers poured
into the Central Valley. They soon ran out of gold but stayed
anyway. Some of the old mines are visible in the sides of hills if
you drive around.
Factoid:
Visalia’s professional baseball team, which for many years
was known as the Visalia Oaks, was re-christened The
Rawhide in 2009. The team plays its home games at
Recreation Park Stadium in downtown Visalia.
Discover
17
Golf Course, Holiday Inn Add to Dinuba's Luster
“Dinuba is where you want to be!” It's more than just a
Chamber of Commerce slogan, Dinuba community leaders say,
pointing out that a recent in-depth study of 60 Central
California cities has Dinuba ranked seventh in terms of "smart
growth."
With a unique, city-owned golf course, a bevy of motel
rooms, shops and restaurants -- and a picture postcard
downtown steeped in history and contemporary charm -Dinuba is living up to that slogan.
The opening of the Holiday Inn Express with 90 rooms and
the 39-room Best Western enables Dinuba to attract groups
holding or planning conferences, conventions, receptions,
reunions and other activities.
Ridge Creek Golf Course, which opened in 2008, continues
to be wildly popular with Valley Golfers as well as others
wanting to test their skills on the only heath land course in the
Valley. The golf course design and its innovative engineering,
which soaks up to 2 million gallons of treated wastewater per
day as part of an environmentally friendly system, have been
featured in national business and golfing publications.
The 7,495-yard course, with no trees or water hazards and
113 European-style bunkers, looks like St. Andrews in Scotland
while providing a challenge for all level of players. It also
features one of the longest par-5 holes in California in addition
to 25-acres of practice and driving range area, the largest west
of the Rockies. The course was designed by John Fought, a wellknown course designer. Ridge Creek's Three Finger Jack's
restaurant has become a poplar spot for luncheon meetings
and other events for locals as well as out of town guests and the
course has a well-stocked pro shop making a golf outing a
complete experience. The ambitious golf course project also
includes the development of upscale new home communities
which will be developed in coming years.
Well-managed commercial and industrial expansion –
including the county's only Super Walmart -- and a forwardlooking attitude continue to make Dinuba a bright spot on the
California map. While new shopping centers, residential
developments, services and restaurants are expanding, the
downtown area also is continuing to add to the lure of Dinuba.
Double Dot Ice Cream Parlor, which includes a true oldfashioned soda fountain, is located in one of the city's landmark
buildings, the old Dinuba Hotel. Plans call for the two upper
floors to be turned into a bed and breakfast. City leaders are
looking at other downtown projects to further preserve and
enhance the history of the area. The Alta Historic Society is an
active organization which holds many treasures and offers
various programs and events aimed at preserving Dinuba's rich
past.
There's a lot to see and do in Dinuba and its well-managed
growth validates its claim that “Dinuba is where you want to be”
is more than just a slogan.
VISALIA SENIOR HOUSING INC.
OAK MEADOWS - (559) 732-4152
SIERRA MEADOWS - (559) 623-9212
111 W. School Ave,Visalia, CA 93291
1120 E. Tulare Ave,Visalia, CA 93292
• 62 years or older • Very Low Income • 59 Newly constructed 1-bedroom apartment homes
• Each furnished with refrigerator & range • Carpeting & window coverings • Computer/Media Room
• Secured entry, garden courtyard • Community room & coin-op laundry
• 62 years or older • Low Income • 1-bedroom units • Complete Kitchens
• Electic Range and Refrigerator • Individual Climate Control • Community & Computer Rooms
THE MEADOWS - (559) 734-3275
THE TOWN MEADOWS - (559) 627-2220
3900 W. Tulare, Visalia, CA 93277
115 W. Murray, Visalia, CA 93291
• Low income • Must be 62 yrs of age • 1 bedroom Garden Apartments & Studios
• Large Community Room • Coin-Op Laundry
• Low income • Must be 62 yrs of age or handicapped
(10% of our units are accessible units, must be 18 yrs or older)
• Rent includes Utilities • Laundry Room • 24 Hr. Emergency Response
Now Accepting
Applications
18
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English TTY: 866-735-2929 •
Spanish TTY: 866-833-4703
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
Sequoia National Forest
A million acres of splendor
A million acres of wonder greets visitors to the Sequoia
National Forest, home to more than 30 Giant Sequoia groves,
hundreds of caves and miles and miles of trails and streams. In
the winter time, the park is a favorite destination for cross country
skiers, snow mobilers and those who just want to play in the
snow.
Within its boundaries sit the Sequoia National Monument,
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Tulare County's Balch
Park, Golden Trout Wilderness and Mountain Home State
Demonstration Forest.
SNF's landscape is as spectacular as its trees: Soaring granite
monoliths; glacier-torn canyons; roaring whitewater – and much,
much more await discovery at the Sierra Nevada's southern end.
The forest stretches from Fresno County into northern Kern
County. Elevations range from 1,000 feet in the foothill region to
peaks over 12,000 feet in the rugged high country, providing
visitors with some of the most spectacular views of mountainous
landscape in the entire West.
The national monument offers 550 miles of wild and scenic
beauty. The monument protects 38 groves of the Giant Sequoia
(Sequoiadendron giganteum). The trees can tower 270 feet high
and reach 30 feet in diameter.
The monument is in two sections. The northern section
surrounds Grant Grove and other parts of Kings Canyon
National Park. The southern section is directly south of Sequoia
National Park, surrounding the eastern half of the Tule River
Indian Reservation. The Giant Sequoia National Monument was
created via presidential proclamation by President Bill Clinton on
April 15, 2000.
Attractions
Hikers, off-highway vehicle users, and horseback riders have
over 1,500 miles of maintained roads, 1000 miles of abandoned
roads, and 850 miles of trails in the forest available for their use
and enjoyment.
A PARADISE POOL
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which stretches 2,600
miles from Canada to Mexico, crosses the Sequoia National
Forest for approximately 78 miles. The three National Recreation
Trails in the forest are Summit, Cannell Meadow, and Jackass
Creek. Other points of interest in the forest include: Hume Lake,
Chicago Stump, Cannell Meadow Station, Kern River, Kings River,
Dome Rock and Needles. The Sequoia National Forest contains
portions of six designated wilderness areas: Kiavah, Monarch,
South Sierra, Dome Land, Jennie Lakes and Golden Trout.
There are several campgrounds in Mountain Home State Forest
that are free on a first-come basis.
Recreation
The SNF offers a range of outdoor recreation activities,
including trails for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and
mountain biking. The many developed campgrounds or
dispersed areas provide the full range of camping experiences.
The rivers, lakes and reservoirs offer
boating, fishing, water-skiing, swimming,
whitewater rafting and kayaking.
BEAUTIFUL. NATURAL. PERFECT.
History
The Sequoia National Forest received its
name for the 39 groves of Giant Sequoia
groves located within its boundaries. In
1847, German botanist Stephen Endlicher
named the coastal redwood trees Sequoia
sempervirens. He presumably was
honoring the Cherokee Chief Sequoya or
Sikwayi who invented a phonetic alphabet
of 86 symbols for the Cherokee
language. In 1854, French botanist
Joseph Decaisne applied the name to the
Giant Sequoias, which are closely related
to the coastal redwoods.
Design & Build Entire Backyards
Landscaping
BBQs / Outdoor Kitchens
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Small & Large Projects
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Repair, Remodel
& Refresh Existing Pools
2435 E. Valley Oaks Drive, Visalia • (559) 635-9637 • www.paradisepoolsvisalia.com
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Lic# 642561
Experience Exeter
Exeter is one of California's most charming small towns. Art,
antiques and agriculture compliment each other in Exeter, which
was named “One of America's Prettiest Painted Places” by the
Paint Quality Institute of America.
To arrange group mural tours or for further information,
contact the Exeter Chamber of Commerce at (559) 592-2919 or
[email protected], or visit www.exeterchamber.com.
“Art and antiques compliment
each other to make Exeter one of
California's most charming small towns.”
Exeter's historic brick buildings provide canvasses for more than
two dozen murals painted by professional artists. The murals tell
the story of the town's rural heritage and are located in the
downtown area, all within easy walking distance of each other.
For mural and visitor information be sure to stop by the Mural
Gallery & Gift Shop, open seven days a week at Pine and E
Streets.
The Exeter Museum and Art Gallery Association has established
a public art gallery, Courthouse Gallery of the Arts, in the former
Exeter courthouse at 125 South B Street. The fine art exhibits
change approximately every three months. The Exeter Historical
Museum features rotating exhibits as well as permanent displays,
all pertaining to the history of the Exeter and Lemoncove areas.
The building also includes the city's only public elevator and a
second floor conference room with spectacular views of the Sierra
Nevadas and downtown Exeter. The museum and art gallery are
open Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boasting the finest navel oranges in the world, and home of
what was once the largest cattle ranching business in the United
States, Exeter has a rich agricultural heritage. Citrus, grapes,
peaches, plums, nuts, cattle and specialty produce are the area's
top agricultural commodities. Produce packing, cold storage,
irrigation and agriculture production businesses are a large part
of the economy.
Ch
amb
er
of Comme
rce
Senses are delighted wherever one looks in Exeter, whether it's
the specialty shops, antique stores, galleries, restaurants, outdoor
art gallery with giant murals or the spectacular view of the Sierra
Nevada with snowcapped peaks.
Christmas time in Exeter brings back old-fashioned Christmas
spirit with carriage rides, Santa, carolers and other music, and
beautifully decorated shops. In the early spring, the countryside is
alive and vibrant with blossoming fruit trees and colorful
wildflowers.
Explore one of California's most charming small towns with
tranquil streets, comfortable homes, parks and playgrounds,
where people continue to seek out and find the natural beauty
and goodness of their surroundings. Exeter stands at the
crossroads of traditional, small-town values and the modern
sophistication of bigger cities. It is always against the backdrop of
agriculture, in this most fertile of valleys, that the day-to-day life
of the town keeps its pace.
“Passport to Paradise” painted by Jeff Crozier in 2002
Celebrating a Century of Small Town Charm
Art, Antiques & Agriculture
29 Murals • Antiques • Unique Shops • Galleries • Dining • Lodging
One of America’s Prettiest Painted Places
Charming small town ? Visitor & Business Information ? Mural Tours
30 Minutes to Sequoia National Park
Exeter Chamber of Commerce
(559) 592-2919
101 W. Pine St. • Exeter
www.exeterchamber.com
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21
The Village of Three Rivers
by Elsah Cort
Known as the Gateway to the Sequoias, picturesque Three
Rivers is the last stop before the main entrance to Sequoia
National Park. Many National Park travelers find comfortable
overnight respite at the diverse family-owned small motels and
bed and breakfasts (check listings at threerivers.com).
Creative Day-Tripping in the Sierra Foothills
A spur of the moment jaunt to Three Rivers for the day will
give you a panoramic tour of Mother Nature, with views of Lake
Kaweah, wildflower filled hillsides in the spring and early
summer, and vistas of high snow covered mountains. You can
stop for a delightful lunch on riverside courtyards and decks at
Anne Lang's Emporium or Sierra Subs, and enjoy homemade
ice cream at Reimers' Candies. Or sign up for a whitewater river
adventure and get to know the Kaweah River up close and
personal.
Known as an artists' colony for over sixty years, Three Rivers is
Pumpkin Hollow Bridge
unique studios. For over 35 years, the annual Redbud Arts and
Crafts Festival gathers artistic talent on Mother's Day Weekend.
“A spur of the moment jaunt to Three Rivers
for the day will give you a panoramic tour of Mother Nature”
home to many working artists (visit threeriversarts.com.) The Art
Co-Op Gallery showcases local art in a sweet space with the
river as a back drop, next door to Chump's Videos. Just up the
road, look for the bright sunflower open sign at Colors Art
Gallery, featuring an eclectic collection of paintings, jewelry and
hand painted furniture.
The first Saturday of every month artists display their creations
at galleries and shops throughout Three Rivers. For an intimate
look at art-making, join the Three Rivers Artists' Biennial Studio
Tour and experience how local artists live and work at their
The annual Jazzaffair is one of the area's premiere musical
events, featuring Dixieland jazz, blues, swing, pop, Cajun and
show tunes. Classical music has also come to the foothills too,
with concerts sponsored by the Three Rivers Performing Arts
Institute, along with the Center Strings Stage violin summer
camp for aspiring young virtuosos.
Historical Settlement
Since the 1860's when ranchers and miners first arrived,
Three Rivers has been dotted with the homesteads of folks
looking for a simpler life. The cowboy life has been celebrated
for over sixty years at the annual Lions Team Roping Event. The
name Three Rivers was originally suggested when an
application was filed for a post office in 1879, because of the
North, South, and Middle Forks of the Kaweah River that merge
in the Three Rivers area.
In the late 1800's a group of utopian settlers built a tent
settlement – the Kaweah Colony -- along the North Fork and
carved out the first road up to Giant Forest, which was used
when Sequoia National Park was created by Congress in 1890.
One of the smallest and oldest Post Offices in the country, the
Kaweah Post Office, still stands as a relic of the Kaweah Colony,
a few miles up the North Fork.
The Kaweah Post Office, built in 1910
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For a nostalgic journey into the past, visit the Three Rivers
Historical Museum and Visitors Center on Highway 198, with
the huge statue of Paul Bunyan standing sentry. This art wonder
was carved in Three Rivers, in 1940 by artist Carroll Barnes,
from a single piece of Giant Sequoia.
Colorful characters:
The Kaweah Colonists
The Kaweah Cooperative Colony was a colorful but shortlived experiment in socialism conducted amid the giant
redwoods that would later become Sequoia National Park.
The colony, founded in 1886 by three labor organizers from
San Francisco and based loosely upon the theories of German
socialism, first sprang up about three and a half miles from
Three Rivers in what was called Arcady and later renamed
Haskell's Bluff after one of the colony's founders.
Never consisting of more than 500 hearty souls, colonists
filed some 53 timber claims on a total of 12,000 acres, built by
hand nearly 20 miles of wagon road leading to their sawmill
and for a short time, cut and milled sequoias at a rate of 3,000
board feet per day.
Colony organizers also created their own medium of
exchange – called “time checks” – which was based on units of
time worked. A 200-minute time check was worth $1 and while
colonists were supposed to be able to cash their time checks at
the colony treasury, there was seldom enough in the colony
coffers to support the practice.
During the colony's short existence, the colonists published the
Three Rivers area's first newspaper – the Kaweah
Commonwealth – and christened the largest sequoia in Giant
559 561-2200
Gregory Lockhart / Broker
Sales
Listings - Property Management
Creekside Yarns
& HANDMADE GIFT BOUTIQUE
Forest the Karl Marx tree – later to be renamed the General
Sherman tree after the creation of Sequoia National Park.
It was the national park's creation in 1890 that eventually led
to the colony's downfall.
When colonists attempted to cut timber inside the boundaries
of the new park, they were arrested and later convicted and
fined.
In 1891, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior ruled the colony's
timber claims were invalid and the government ordered the
Kaweah Cooperative colonists to abandon their settlements.
By 1892, most of the colonists had disbanded and the area's
brief experiment with socialism ended. Today, a handful of the
colonists' descendents still live in Tulare County and scattered
reminders of the old colony remain including an old unmarked
cemetery from the colony in the Redstone Park area near Three
Rivers.
The Giant Forest Road later renamed the Colony Mill Road
was painstakingly built by the colonists over a four-year period,
and for more than three decades, provided the only access to
Giant Forest.
Scattered archaeological remains at BLM sites near Advance
and Cherry Falls.
Remnants of the old Colony Mill near the Colony Mill Ranger
Station.
In a pamphlet detailing the history of the colony, Bill Tweed,
Sequoia's long-time chief naturalist, describes how, in 1937, a
historian from the park interviewed Charles Keller, one of the
colony's founders.
Shortly before his death at the age of 91, Keller said: “I didn't
fail when I founded the colony and my visions have worked out
today and are continuing to work out. Now rather than that
beautiful place owned and enjoyed by a few, it is as I would
have it enjoyed by all and protected and preserved for them
forever.
Ranch Motel
The only specialty Yarnstore
in Tulare county!
Beautiful results come from beautiful yarn.
Open: Tues-Sat. 11 A.M. – 4 P.M. Mon 5:30 P.M – 8:30 P.M.
40840 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers, CA 93271
Phone: 559-561-4518 (next to Century21)
Come see our handmade gifts in our gift boutique
“Gateway to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks”
For Reservations Call
(559) 561-4449 • 888-315-2378
39625 Sierra Dr.
Three Rivers, CA 93271
www.bvilazyj.com
Discover
23
Woodlake's Star is on the Rise
Nestled amid the rolling foothills in the heart of the San
Joaquin Valley, with easy access to the outdoor amenities
offered at Lake Kaweah and the Kaweah and St. John rivers, the
community of Woodlake's fortunes are clearly on the rise.
There's the new Twilight Park entertainment venue; Bravo
Lake, an irrigation reservoir situated within the city limits that
provides bird-watching and walking opportunities, including the
Botanical Gardens. What was once an abandoned railroad
right-of-way and a weedy dam levy has been transformed into
a unique showcase of not only the diversity of Tulare County but
an example of how small-town ambition can thrive in a vibrant,
well-planned manner that respects the environment and the
residents who live on it – and make their living from it.
Woodlake's Botanical Garden consists of three themed areas:
Agricultural Science, Ornamental Home Gardens and Habitat
Conservation. The Agricultural Science area includes a citrus
orchard, several deciduous tree fruit orchards, a grape
vineyard, a nut orchard, blueberry and blackberry exhibitions
and several annual and perennial vegetable crop areas. The
Ornamental area includes an aquatic garden, several rose
gardens, an herb garden, a cactus garden and a rock garden.
The Habitat Conservation area includes several environmental
habitats, including one Native Americans used before the
development of modern agriculture.
Every May on Mother's Day weekend, Woodlake plays host to
the Lions Rodeo, a nationally recognized event that allows
modern-day cowboys to showcase their skills. The weekend
rodeo is the highlight of a week-long celebration known as
Western Week, which includes a well-attended parade.
While Woodlake's residents enjoy the slow pace of a small
rural community, the city has aggressively pursued economic
development opportunities through new industrial and
commercial projects. Indeed, the city has ample land for
commercial, industrial and residential growth. In addition, the
Woodlake Airport is a general aviation facility that is often in
sunshine when other Valley cities are covered by winter fog.
There are a number of restaurants serving the community as
well as ample options for shopping – even an 18-hole golf
course.
Downtown Woodlake has enjoyed a recent rebirth that can be
seen in new and upgraded businesses, and the city features
several neighborhood parks providing spots for family and
group activities.
The Woodlake Chamber of Commerce can be reached at
(559) 564-3559. Other information about the city can be
obtained by calling City Hall at (559) 564-8055 or by visiting
www.cityofwoodlake.com.
Project Survival's Cat Haven
Project Survival's Cat Haven, located approximately 40 miles from Visalia near Dunlap and
the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park, is THE place to see beautiful big cats including
tigers, clouded leopards, caracals, jaguars and snow leopards – more than two dozen in all
representing 13 different species.
The animals are housed in spacious, natural enclosures on a 100-acre tract and visitors can
get up close and personal with the magnificent creatures while circumnavigating an oval
walking trail that passes by each enclosure.
Winter hours from October 1 to April 30 are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Tuesdays and
Wednesdays. Summer hours from May 1 to September 30 are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed
Tuesdays. The last tour leaves one hour before closing time.
Classroom presentations about the cats and Project Survival's mission can be arranged.
General admission is $9; children 5-12 years old $6; and seniors 62 and older $7.50.
Children 4 and under are free and discounted rates are available for groups of 20 or more.
Call (559) 338-3216 for more information.
Project Survival's Cat Haven is located at 38257 E. Kings Canyon Road.
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(559) 651-0544 • www.koa.com/campgrounds/visalia
223 E. Tulare Ave. • 1630 E. Main St., Visalia
3550 S. Demaree, Visalia • 1542 Tulare Ave., Tulare
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25
The Pioneer Spirit is Alive in
Porterville
Porterville takes pride in combining old-town charm and a
more-than-century-long pioneering spirit with 21st-century
amenities and an ambitious masterplan for future growth. The
southern Tulare County city of 60,000 also serves as the gateway
to Sequoia National Forest and the Great Western Divide
Highway.
The community's picturesque downtown area offers a number
of attractions such as unique boutique-style shops, antique
stores, restaurants, a multicultural art center and beautiful
historic downtown murals.
A few blocks from Main Street, the sprawling new South
County Justice Center is slated to begin construction in 2012 and
will be one of California's newest major courthouse complexes.
Main Street is also home to numerous special events, such as
the popular Iris Festival held each April and the Veterans
Day/Homecoming Parade that has been held for more than 90
years.
Many other events and activities are offered throughout the
community year-round, including a community-supported
country fair and various cultural offerings, not to mention,
California's longest-running community theater – Barn Theater featuring live dramatic performances.
Success Lake is just a 10-minute drive east of downtown
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The annual Iris Festival is a big attraction.
Porterville. And when much of the Valley is shrouded in fog
during the winter months, Porterville basks in sunshine because it
sits at about 500 feet in elevation.
Golfers can take in the sun at the city golf course in town, or
at River Island Country Club above Success Lake,
one of the premier golf courses in the Central
Valley.
The early pioneers settled in Porterville because
of the area's plentiful water and great herds of wild
horses, elk, antelope, deer, bear and other wild
game. Along with many eager gold-seekers, Royal
Porter Putnam left his Pennsylvania home in 1857
and took the southern route of the Emigrant Trail to
California. In December 1858, Putnam was
employed to manage the Tule River Station, which
soon became known as Porter's Station. He later
opened a hotel and general merchandise store to
accommodate the growing influx of settlers, thereby
realizing his dream of creating a community where
people could live comfortable, rewarding lives at
the base of the mighty Sierra. Porter's Station soon
became a town and eventually was named
Porterville.
Visitors to the city today will find lots to discover
and plenty to do as they explore the area that Royal
Porter Putnam first fell in love with more than 150
years ago.
Relax in the Beauty of Springville
As the gateway to the Sequoia Monument, Springville and
Tule River Country has a history rich in heritage, from the era of
Native Americans and earliest settlers to more modern times.
As Mark Twain once wrote, “The air up here is very pure and
fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? It's the
same as angels breathe!”
Today, citrus orchards dot the lower foothills that gradually
lead up through Frazier Valley and along Highway 190, below
and above Success Lake. Cattle ranches spread across wideopen reaches of oak and buckeye-studded hills and meadows
in Yokohl and Frazier Valleys, while apple orchards can be
found farther up into the cooler mountainous slopes, merging
into dense forests of manzanita, black oak, cedar, pine and
magnificent groves of Giant Sequoia.
This southeastern portion of Tulare County still manages to
retain its uncluttered, wide-open scenic character and offers
unrivaled natural beauty all four seasons of the year.
Traveling east on Highway 190 out of town, Upper and Lower
Coffee Camp are popular picnic and camping spots above
Springville. The mountain communities of Pierpoint Springs and
Camp Nelson lie ahead.
Still further, Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa and sights like The
Needles, Dome Rock and Trail of 100 Giants await travelers
who venture up to the Great Western Divide, which leads
southward down to California Hot Springs, Lake Isabella,
Kernville and Walker Pass.
Gaming excitement, fabulous fun and nonstop entertainment
are also just minutes away from Springville. Visitors to Eagle
Mountain Casino turn south off Highway 190 and drive through
oak-laden foothills from either Reservation Road, below Success
Lake, or at Success Valley Drive, east and above the lake.
The Tule River Indian Reservation was originally established in
1873 as one of four original reservations in the continental
United States. It encompasses over 55,400 acres, making it the
second-largest tribal land base in the state of California. At the
higher reaches of the reservation, Camp Cholollo can be
visited. With 50 campsites and running water, it is set amid
beautifully forested views and is bisected by the South Fork of
the Tule River.
The Golden Trout Wilderness, accessible off Highway 190, is
a 303,287-acre expanse of some of the most isolated and
remote Sierra Nevada terrain. It also boasts some of the most
diverse backcountry to be found in the entire range, from the
dramatic gorges and sprawling canyons of the mighty Kern and
Little Kern Rivers, to high alpine meadows and rugged peaks
towering far above timbered ridges of forest below. This vast
wilderness tract was designated by an Act of Congress in 1978.
Included in the Sequoia National Forest are 111,146 acres to
the west, with the eastern balance in the spectacular Inyo
National Forest.
Elevations range from 4,700 feet at the Forks of the Kern, up
to 12,432 feet atop Mt. Florence, the highest peak in the
Sequoia National Forest.
Discover
27
Visalia Municipal Airport
Served by Great Lakes Airlines
The current flight schedule is:
Visalia to Los Angeles:
Flight 7161 Departs 7:10a Arrives 8:05a Operates Daily
Flight 7167 Departs 2:42p Arrives 3:37p Operates Daily
Los Angeles to Visalia:
Flight 7162 Departs 8:21a Arrives 9:21a Operates Daily
Flight 7169 Departs 4:30p Arrives 5:30p Operates Daily
Visalia to Las Vegas:
Flight 7162 Departs 9:31a Arrives 11:48a Operates Daily
Flight 7169 Departs 5:40p Arrives 7:57p Operates Daily
Las Vegas to Visalia:
Flight 7167 Departs 12:15p Arrives 2:32p Operates Daily
Sol Sweet, Founder of the Visalia Airport
Sol Sweet, the dean of aviators in Tulare County, learned to fly
in the late 1920s and was still actively engaged in operating
Sweet's Flying Service until the 1980s.
In 1927, Sweet and his partner, Edwin Deeds, were flying from
Porterville to Visalia's Hyde Field (Green Acres Airport) when a
water line broke, spraying the men with hot water. Sweet held the
line together while his partner made a forced landing in J.F.
Putnam's cow pasture west of Visalia. Such landings were not
uncommon in aviation's infancy. Sweet and Deeds liked the fairly
level pasture and convinced the City of Visalia that the land
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would make a good airport site. Thus, Visalia Municipal Airport
began as two grass strips in June 1928. Later that year, the
people of Visalia endorsed a $50,000 bond election, and the city
bought the land. (Deeds later flew for the Nationalist Army of
China and was killed in a plane crash there.)
United Airlines became the first major airline to fly into Visalia
when it began scheduled flights in 1946. Today, Great Lakes
Airlines provides commercial service at Visalia Municipal,
operating several flights daily to and from both Los Angeles (LAX)
and Las Vegas.
restaurants
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111 E MAIN ST. • VISALIA
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(559)
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B e s t M a r g a r i t a s i n To w n !
733-7078
Mon - Thur 10am - 9pm Fri 10am - 10pm Sat 9am - 10pm Sun 9am - 9pm
314 W. MAIN ? VISALIA ? 636-3215
Sushi
& Teppanyaki
Open 7 Days • Lunch & Dinner • Full Bar & Party Room
FAMILY RECIPES MADE FROM
SCRATCH DAILY
• Teriyaki Bowls w/Beef or Chicken
• Udon (Noodles)
Dine in and Take Out
1509 E. Noble Ave.
Mary’s Vineyard
Visalia
635-4484
HOURS
Monday-Saturday
11am-9pm
5131 W. Goshen Ave.
Key West Plaza
Visalia
635-4455
Discover
29
The Antique Farm Equipment Museum
The Giant Forest Museum
The Tulare County Museum
Area Museums
Tulare County Museum: 27000 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia (at
Mooney Grove Park). Blacksmith shop, old jail, original log
cabin and “End of the Trail” statue. Complete homes have
been moved to the site as well. Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday through Monday. Call (559) 733-6616.
Tulare Historical Museum: 444 W. Tulare St. in Tulare. Rare
collection of antique glass dating from the 1700s. Special
exhibit of personal collections from area residents. Yokut
Indians presentation and military memorabilia presentation.
Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Free
admission on the third Sunday of the month (12:30-4 p.m.)
through May, with a program at 2 p.m. Call (559) 686-2074.
Porterville Historical Museum: 257 D St. in Porterville.
Housed in the former Southern Pacific Railroad depot, built in
1913. Displays from the Porter Putnam family, for whom the
town was named. Artifacts from Tulare County and from the
early part of the century. Open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursday
through Saturday. Cost $4 for adults, $1 for students, children
6 and under admitted free. Call (559) 784-2053.
The Antique Farm Equipment Museum/Tractor Museum:
Located at the International Agri-Center in Tulare. The
museum is a tribute to past generations of California farmers
and dairymen. Includes antique tractors and steam engine
equipment. Open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10
a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is a suggested
$2 for children and $5 for adults. Call (559) 688-1751.
Alta District Historical Society & Depot Museum: 289 S.
“K” St., Dinuba. Open 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday,
and by appointment. Call (559) 591-2144.
Exeter Historical Museum: 125 S. B St., Exeter. Features
exhibits, displays, films and videos about the history of the City
of Exeter and surrounding communities, with special exhibits
focusing on topics such as pioneer families and agriculture.
Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (559) 2808547.
Giant Forest Museum: Located in Sequoia National Park.
Features state-of-the-art interactive exhibits that focus on the
ecology of the Giant Sequoia trees. The museum is at the hub
of a series of hiking trails that wind through the Giant Forest.
Admission is free once you have entered the park. The
museum, located approximately one hour beyond the Hwy.
198 park entrance station on Generals Highway, is open daily
throughout the year. For road conditions and information, call
(559) 565-3341 or visit www.nps.gov/seki.
Kings Canyon Visitor Center: In Grant Grove Village, three
miles east of the Big Stump park entrance on Highway 180.
Features new exhibits with a focus on Kings Canyon, the High
Sierra and the Giant Sequoia. Open daily 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Call (559) 565-4307 for hours of operation or other information.
The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture: Superb
collection of significant Japanese screen and scroll paintings.
Six miles south of Hanford at 15770 Tenth Ave. Tuesday Saturday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Docent tours of the gallery are
held each Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for
children and students with a valid ID. Call (559) 582-4915.
Three Rivers Historical Museum: Open October through
March: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Call (559) 561-2707.
ImagineU Children's Museum: 700 E. Main St., Visalia. The
goal of the ImagineU Children's Museum is to create a
multicultural learning center filled with hands-on scientific,
cultural and artistic exhibits for the whole family. Hours are 10
a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday – Friday, and 12 – 4 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is $4, free for museum members. Family memberships available. Call (559) 733-5975.
Hanford Carnegie Museum: Opened as the result of a civic
effort to save the building from demolition, the museum is
listed in the National Register of Historic Places and represents
the architecture of Kings County. Exhibits convey how residents
once looked, lived, worked and played. 109 E. 8th St.,
Hanford. Hours are 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday.
Admission is $3 for adults, $1 students and senior citizens.
Call (559) 584-1367.
Tule River Historical Museum: Located on Highway 190 next
to the Springville Rodeo Grounds in Springville. Enter through
the rodeo main gate and follow the signs. Completely
furnished house from 1870s moved from Milo area. Many
local artifacts are located on the site of the area's first post
office. Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and 1-4 p.m. on
Sundays. Call (559) 539-2720.
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Visalia
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Surplus City
Visalia
(established by Eddie & Gerald Lopes, 1959)
Doug & Annie Silveria, Owners
315 E. Main St.
P.O. Box 5, Visalia, CA 93279
Visalia, CA 93291
FAX: (559) 734-4523
(559) 734-8113
www.surpluscityvisalia.com [email protected]
The Greatest Gift
Boutique
featuring
Christian Inspired Gifts,
Baby Items, Fair Trade
and More!
(559) 732-4300
2929 S. Mooney Blvd. • Visalia