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Another very horsy community, the
community of Greenwood is located about five miles west of Georgetown
(between Georgetown and Cool) along the Hwy 193 at the head of a
long, fertile valley of gently rolling hills. Off Sliger Mine Road
are many horse ranchettes and trails accessing the Auburn State
Recreational trails (thousands of miles) and county parks.
It is said Greenwood was
originally called Long Valley. It was also briefly called Lewisville, to
honor the reportedly the first white child born in the county to the
early arrivals, Lewis B. Myers and wife Catherine. The area was first settled by Miwok and Maidu
Indians. They lived quietly there until John Greenwood established a
trading post on May 7, 1849. Plenty of gold:
The town and its immediate
vicinity overlay the northwest segment of the Mother Lode gold belt.
There are several wide and extensive quartz veins containing free
gold and auriferous pyrite in the region. The famous Fricot nugget
weighing 200 ounces was found at the Grit mine near Greenwood in
1865. Nearly $5 million in gold was mined in the Greenwood district,
nearly half of which came from the Sliger Mine. The Nagler or French
Mine in Greenwood Valley was another particularly rich seam mine
worked for many years on the hydraulic system. It was still going
strong in the 1880s, having produced a reported $2 million in gold.
Gold seekers still in
area
Major mining activity
continued in the Greenwood district into the 20th century, much of
it conducted by the Chinese. Quartz mining recommenced in the 1930s,
and small-scale skin diving for gold is still going on in the Middle
Fork.
An early description:
In the summer of 1852 J.D.
Borthwick passed through the region on his way to Nevada City, and
he left a graphic description of the country as he found it. ³Some
miles from Coloma,² he began, ³is a very pretty place called
Greenwood Valley - a long, narrow, winding valley, with innumerable
ravines running into it from the low hills on each side. The town of Greenwood was
named after John Greenwood, said to be a ³giant of a man,² and an
Indian scout and fur trader from the Rocky Mountains. He was the
half-lndian son of the famous mountain man Caleb Greenwood, who had,
among other things, been instrumental in organizing the second
rescue expedition in 1847 to bring surviving members of the Donner
Party down to Sutter's Fort from where they were snowbound at
Truckee Lake and Alder Creek. He helped lead the rescue party to
Bear Valley but was unable to go farther because of his age. His son
Britton accompanied the rest of the party to Donner Lake and Alder
Creek, however.
NOTE: Information excerpted from the Mountain Democrat, December 15, 2000,
and written by Richard Hughey, columnist
Coloma is where Gold was discovered in 1849. Lotus is
next door and it is the gateway to whitewater rafting in the
region. Wineries dot the landscape in this foothill community
situated between Auburn and Placerville along Highway 49. You
can meander around the Marshall Gold Discovery Park with its
artifacts from the Gold Rush days in 1849. If you select Coloma
for your new home location you will enjoy a secluded natural
area to relax and recover in after a hard days work. Coloma is
about 15 minutes from Highway 50 east of El Dorado Hills and
Cameron Park and just minutes from Shingle Springs, Rescue, Gold
Hill and Garden Valley. Acreage is the name of the game in
Coloma and you will find many fine parcels surrounding this
wonderful community. All activities from horseback riding,
kayaking, white water rafting, golfing, tennis to nature walks
and gardening are available to those of you who select Coloma
for your new home location. Many trails nearby in the newly
purchased public trails on the large Cronin Ranch. Also, close
to Cool trails.
Lotus is the Gateway to whitewater rafting for El Dorado
County. There also a number of horse folks who live here
accessing trails very nearby. It is nestled on the South Fork of the American River on
Hwy 49 right next door to Coloma where Gold was discovered in
1849 at Sutter's Mill. Wineries dot the landscape on nearby Gold
Hill. The local views of the river and the foothills are too
tempting for most people and they try to find a way to make that
view their own. Near the Cronin Ranch Trails going from Hwy 49
to Salmon Falls at Folsom Lake, with scenic ride along the North
Fork of the American River, famous for River Rafting in the
area.
Rescue, California
Rescue is tucked up in El Dorado County off
Green Valley Road between Cameron Park and
Shingle Springs. Flowers, trees, gently rolling
hills screen beautiful homes from direct view.
Rescue has a miniscule downtown but horse
friendly. Residents ride trails off Luneman Road
and nearby Pilot Hill and Cool. It is more
of a wide spot in the road than a bustling
metropolis but the sense of community is strong.
Once you are home, you can block out all of the
maddening crowd from earlier in your day. And on
weekends you will never know that the other
world even exists. Lake Folsom, Placerville,
Coloma, Lotus all are easy drives from Rescue.
And the Sacramento commute isn't too bad either
but it is much nicer on your home commuter days.
Also, a Horse Community
Very horsy, some with larger acreage (10 acres) Shingle Springs Equestrian Area is nestled just east of Cameron Park, south of Rescue and West of El Dorado not too far from Placerville, Folsom, or Sacramento. And, skiing at Lake Tahoe is only about an hour away. The homes in Shingle Springs are definitely horse oriented and private. It has several horse communities, some gated. Land is the name of the game in Shingle Springs with the vast majority of the homes having over 3 acres connected with them. Natural surroundings, gently rolling terrain all add to the illusion that you are tucked away, far from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. But when Monday calls and its time to get back in the saddle again to begin the work week, you will find that you are only a short commute to Sacramento or Folsom. Home size average 5 to 10 acres for most part. Ask us for a Referral to a Horse Property Specialist in Shingle Springs
Granite Bay has it all. Granite Bay epitomizes the genteel country living lifestyle yet has access to some of the best trails and large, fancy, boarding stables. Some home owners still stable horses in their backyards, but not as many as years past. Located on the western shore of Folsom Lake, the community encompasses luxurious estates in communities like Los Lagos and Wexford, heavily wooded homes in Carolinda Subdivision and lots of acreage for horses. Golf Courses from the exclusive to the executive join tennis clubs and equestrian centers flourish in this exclusive community. The Eureka School district ranks near the top of the State for the best schools and many homes in Granite Bay are in this district. Easy access to Lake Folsom and the Galleria Center in Roseville contribute to making this area one of the best in the region. Your family will thrive in this location no matter what your interests are. From fine dining to bicycle touring to roller-blading on weekends, it doesn't matter what you want to do. It is all here for you! Nice trails nearby and around Lake Folsom. Count on Horse Properties on 1 acre lots selling or surpassing the $1M range. For information about the community, the best place to start is the excellent Granite Bay Community Association web site. To read an excellent profile of the community, click on the Roseville Chamber of Commerce link below under Organizations. When there, focus on the Relocation section of their site for a rich description of Granite Bay and its history. The Placer County government web site is another very good source of local demographic and economic development information as well. The most recent Multiple Listing Service averages for residential homes in the 95746 postal zip code are: Ask us for a Referral to a Horse Property Specialist in Granite Bay
An
up-scale, somewhat horsey and very "high-tech" community, Dorado Hills is attempting to
incorporate and has been given another year's time by
LAFCO, the organization that sanctions such undertakings.
The community is characterized by large, expensive homes, many
with terrific views of the valley from up on high. Off Labrobe
Road is the beautiful
Sunridge Meadows Horse Community with a trail system.There are
trails off of Salmon Falls leading all the way into Pilot Hill
and around Folsom Lake. Expect to pay more than $1M for a horse
property. El Dorado
Hills is the epitome of elegance and grace. From the wonderful
mansions of the Serrano Hills Country Club out to the tip of the
peninsula near the Salmon Falls Run, the El Dorado Hills
community echoes with unique designs and luxurious showcase
homes. With its year round schools, easy access to shopping and
close proximity to Downtown Sacramento, El Dorado Hills is a
wonderful community for you and your family to select for your
new home.
Auburn, referred to as the Endurance Capitol of
the nation (because of the Tevis ride, a 100
mile horse endurance competition) is an anchor point in Placer County,
and over one-half of this beautiful
county is National Forest and State Park property
offering a variety natural attractions for everyone and
plenty of open space. Auburn has access to some of the
best trails like the Cool-Pilot Hill Area and El
Dorado county. Auburn sits above the fog line
only 10 minutes "up the hill" from Roseville.
Auburn is the
County Seat of Placer County with all the
history that implies. Your first impression as
you arrive at the historic downtown is the
incredible sculpture of a man panning for gold.
Gold was found at Sutter's Mill in Coloma in
1849 a short but spectacular trip along Highway
49 heading east out of Auburn. The Old Court
House sits majestically on top of the hill
overlooking the Old Town of Auburn and Highway
80 that speeds you on your way into the glorious
Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Lake Tahoe
Basin. Spectacular homes nestle into the
hillsides that overlook the Auburn State
Recreation Area and Folsom Lake. Emerald green
golf courses where even the beginner can enjoy a
round of golf crisscross the Auburn area. Auburn
Municipal Airport makes flying in and out of the
area a piece of cake. Horseback Riding,
historical tours, shopping, fine dining are just
some of the activities available to you in
Auburn. Known as the Endurance Capital of the
World because of the 5 annual large endurance
rides in the greater area.
Penn Valley Ask us for a Referral to a Horse Property Specialist in Penn Valley Rough and Ready was founded by miners led by Captain A. A. Townsend who served under "Old Rough and Ready" Zachary Taylor. Early mining operations were very successful, so when the government imposed a Mining Tax the town seceded from the Union on April 7, 1850, and formed an independent state. The new republic lasted until July 4, when Old Glory went up the flag pole, and that was that. Secession Daly, complete with a Chili Cook-Off, is celebrated the last Sunday in June. And for some lively free down-home music, join the Fruit Jar Pickers each Sunday from 10 am to noon. Bring a chair and sing along. Ask us for a Referral to a Horse Property Specialist in Rough and Ready
There are a number of good riding areas and trails in Grass Valley. Lots of horsey set love it here. Steeped in Gold Rush history, today Grass Valley has a vibrant downtown section that has been serving the community since 1849. Downtown buildings constructed in the late 1880s co-exist with architecture of later eras like Art Deco. In the 1980s, Grass Valley was recognized as a self-initiated Main Street City by the State of California Main Street Program. Services included an evaluation of store fronts by an architect who visited the area and suggested ways to preserve the historic character. Main Street received a facelift in 1998 complete with trees, flower boxes and a Victorian clock strategically placed at the corner of Mill and Main Streets, serving as the area's centerpiece. Looking back, the first white men to set foot in the area were from Oregon, and came in 1848 after hearing that gold had been discovered. Soon, the rush for gold was on and a group of 20 formed the nucleus of the town. In 1850 there was the first store, hotel, and family. In 1855 the population rose to 3,500, and a devastating fire destroyed 300 buildings including virtually all of the business district. Closing of the mines by the war production board n the 1940s along with the government's fixed price of gold at $35 an ounce, contributed to the end of mining in Grass Valley as did labor disputes. Ask us for a Referral to a Horse Property Specialist in Grass Valley
A little cooler
in the summer here, the horse people appreciate the weather, and
don't mind trailering out a little to find more trails to explore,
such as in El Dorado and Placer counties.. In its heyday,
Nevada City was the largest and most prosperous mining town in
California Ask us for a Referral to a Horse Property Specialist in Nevada City Small town ambiance where everyone knows everyone else - (just up the road from Auburn) that's Meadow Vista in a nutshell. It has its own horse trail system and soccer matches on Saturdays at Meadow Vista Park in the heart of town and canoe rides on Lake Combie are some of the activities that can be available to the residents of Meadow Vista. If you select one of the homes at Winchester for your residence you can add an incredible round of golf to that list. Take a short drive up to Colfax and enjoy a first run movie at a totally renovated Art Deco Movie theater that was definitely a labor of love for the owner of this theater. And still Meadow Vista is only 10 minutes northeast of Auburn making it an easy commute to Roseville or Sacramento. The houses mirror the eclectic nature of the area. Ranches and Lakefront cottages are also available to make your own. Mansions and architecturally unique residences dot the landscape. Meadow Vista could be your best decision ever for a horsey community. Lots of horse trails in the area. Ask us for a Referral to a Horse Property Specialist in Meadow Vista
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