OAKHURST — The Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad will soon welcome visitors for its 2025 season. This hotspot offers a variety of scenic train rides and family-friendly activities in the Sierra National Forest. Located just 10 minutes from Yosemite National Park’s southern entrance off Highway 41, this historic railroad takes passengers on an unforgettable journey through the region’s rich logging history. ...

COARSEGOLD — The Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds, a beloved local landmark with more than five decades of history, has new owners ready to bring fresh energy to the site.  Ryan and Melissa Steward, a family from Friant, have taken on the task of revitalizing the property while preserving its rustic charm.  The couple’s plans promise to honor the past while preparing ...

CALIFORNIA — The American Pickers team is gearing up to hit the road again.  This time, they are returning to California in November 2024.  Known for their adventures across America, Mike Wolfe and his crew are excited to explore the hidden treasures locked away in the Golden State.  Possibilities are endless with California’s diverse landscapes and rich history. Hunting for Hidden ...

COARSEGOLD—The Coarsegold Historic Museum is truly a local historic treasure. Treasures don’t support themselves, however, so each spring for the last nearly two decades the site has held “Music in the Meadow.” The festive Music in the Meadow annual event serves as a great way to spend a spring afternoon dancing and connecting with neighbors, friends, and new friends from ...

OAKHURST—In early 2023 the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) awarded Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park a $174,500 grant. That was the easy part. Now the hard part is underway—the implementation. It’s no small feat to pull everything together within the remaining two-year term allotted. The project consists of major renovations to existing ...

NORTH FORK—A near-record crowd filled the North Fork Scout Building the evening of Tuesday, February 13, 2024. They gathered for the annual general meeting of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association (SVSBA). Perhaps even more, they came to hear reports from U. S. Forest Service (USFS) personnel on the status of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway (SVSB). The Byway consists ...

MIDPINES–The Mariposa County Planning Department and Arts Council invite the community to submit constructive feedback for new public art projects. The projects will be located in Midpines County Park . They will be created by local artists, Abby Miller, Anna Friedland, and Lx (Alex) Lewis as a part of the Working Lands, Working Artists project. The public may view concepts, see ...

O’NEALS–The tiny town of O’Neals has had a post office since 1887. The town area of approximately 500 citizens is home to Spring Valley Elementary School, Minarets High School, including 2 Charter schools and Ponderosa Telephone.  Westbrook Wine Farm (a lovely boutique wine farm) and a handful of home businesses also call O’neals home. The local office for J. S. ...

From Lynn Northrop This is such a wonderful photograph that raises many questions for our Raymond group. What part of the railroad track was it taken, trying to judge from the hill and trees in background. Who could the children be on the granite? Where was this piece of Raymond granite heading? Was the “tooth pick” language carved on the ...

In 2021 Grub Gulch 41-49 E. Clampus Vitus restored an antique Cornet for the Madera County Museum. The Cornet is a J. W. Pepper brand manufactured in 1890 and was owned and played by a gentleman named Walter Mills. Mills was a superintendent of the Gambetta Mine in Grub Gulch and it is said that he organized the Grub Gulch ...