TEHAMA COUNTY WESTERN RANCHING HERITAGE, OLIVES AND ANTIQUES
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t the northern end of the great Sacramento Valley and just 90 minutes north of Sacramento lies a land of beautiful contrasts: Tehama County. The strong western heritage will capture your heart and awaken your spirit. In fact, some of the best western events in California occur in Red Bluff, including the Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeo, and the Annual Bull and Gelding Sale, the largest in the nation. These and other similar events attract people from all over, though the western lifestyle is not the only intriguing aspect of Red Bluff’s past and present: it was the home of the first and only president of the California Republic, William B. Ide. His original adobe home has been fully restored and is now part of The William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park. One of the area’s most dominant natural features, the Sacramento River, provides an endless variety of outdoor recreation and is one of the largest salmon spawning rivers in the world. Its various tributaries offer hundreds of miles of the best-inthe-west trout, steelhead, and salmon fishing. From fishing to jet boat excursions to casual floats on hot summer days, the Sacramento River is the perfect destination for boating enthusiasts. Red Bluff, combining elements of the Victorian era and western heritage, provides numerous hotels, motels, and restaurants to cater to the traveler or vacationer. The old Victorian west lives on in Red Bluff, with Victorian homes built from the 1860s to the early 1900s. Walk into a vanishing America at the KellyGriggs House Museum, and view elegant, renovated rooms where Victorian-garbed mannequins “live” among authentic antique furnishings. The rich heritage of the area makes it one of Northern California’s most prominent destinations for antiques and collectibles. Red Bluff is also considered a gateway to the famous Lassen Volcanic National Park, home of one of the few active volcanoes on the United States mainland. Established as a national park on August 9, 1916, it encompasses 160 miles of spectacular volcanic exhibits, geothermal features, and the impressive Lassen Peak.
agricultural center back in the 1860s. It’s acknowledged as the center of Northern California’s internationally renowned olive industry. The Olive Pit is conveniently located off Interstate 5 and offers a vast selection of locally grown olives, olive oils, nuts and more with tastings available. Other towns in the Sacramento River Valley include Los Molinos, Gerber, Tehama, Vina, Paskenta, and Flournoy. These small communities provide important local services to the agriculture of the fertile Sacramento River Valley. Manton, nestled in the foothills of Lassen Peak, offers excellent hiking, fishing and breathtaking views of Lassen Peak. The nutrient-rich volcanic soil, warm days, and cool nights not only produce first rate apples – plan your visit around the Manton Apple Festival – but also create exceptional conditions for grape growing. Tehama County is rapidly becoming Northern California’s favorite wine destination, with wineries nestled in picturesque settings. Discover the intriguing Abbey of New Clairvaux, once home to the largest wine operation in the world during the late 1800s. Today, the property is a working Cistercian or “Trappist” monastery, founded in Vina in 1955. Father Paul Mark Schwan, Abbot of the monastery, and Aimée Sunseri, fifth generation California winemaker, have combined their vision and passion for wine and history to create a unique and memorable wine experience. Come discover Tehama County’s old fashioned hospitality, numerous lakes, streams, and outstanding flavors and recreational opportunities. For further information contact ShastaCascade Wonderland Association at 530-365-7500 or www.UpStateCA.com.
The town of Corning, just south on Interstate 5, was founded as an Photo: Courtesy Red Bluff Rodeo
TEHAMA COUNTY
Shasta Cascade Visitors Guide
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