The Fresno Flats Gazette – Summer 2022
It’s going to be a great summer!
We are gearing up for another incredible summer at Fresno Flats.
Check out all that is happening and how you can get involved.
Events
Pioneer Camp: June 21 – 23
Pioneer Camp is on and it’s going to be better than ever. We’re teaming up again with the Oakhurst Boys and Girls Club. Last year’s camp was awarded their “Outstanding Event of the Year” for the entire Fresno Area!
Camp will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily June 21, 22, and 23 with lunch included.
Kids will learn what it was like to live in the 1800s with lots of games and activities.
You can download a copy of the registration form here and return it to BGC or Fresno Flats Park or email it to fresnoflatsmuseum@gmail.com.
Sign up soon before we fill up. See you there!
Mountain Artisan Market: 3rd Saturday of the Month
Mountain Artisan Market is going strong thanks to the hard work of Sandy Schaefer and her posse. Come on out to meet the most amazing artisans who have incredible hand-made gifts for FATHERS DAY, like a case of locally pressed Sierra Cider!!
And dad can throw a hatchet thanks to Yosemite Axe who is bringing their mobile ax trailer.
The market will be running through December on the third Saturday of each month.
This month’s event is on June 18.
You can check out our Facebook Page for more information.
Please support our local artisans. These are the type of events that will make our community great!
Oakhurst Petanque Club
The Oakhurst Petanque Club is now playing each week at the park. Come hang out with a great group of folks, including some National Champion players and learn to play this French version of lawn bowling.
The club meets at the park on most Saturdays at 9 a.m. (though they will likely change to evenings once the weather gets too hot).
You can follow them on Facebook (OPC-Oakhurst Petanque Club) or get more info at oakhurstpetanque.org.
Friday Night Lecture Series
We are finally resurrecting our Friday Night Lecture Series from July thru September.
Our speakers will include local adventurer, author & photographer Tony Krizan (July 8), local historian Scott McGhee from the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (August 5th), local columnist and outdoors enthusiast Candace Gregory, and archeologist and Fresno State Professor Dr. John Pryor.
See details below in our events calendar and be sure to follow us on Facebook.
You won’t want to miss it!
Projects
Park Improvements
Thanks to a grant last year from Visit Yosemite Madera County (VYMC), we received some money to make some great improvements at the park. Not only did we complete the projects, but all the excitement attracted other projects.
Come checkout our new trash can covers, doggy poop station, benches, little library, bike rack, pollinator garden, new sign, kids game bench, and refurbished drinking fountain.
And that is just the beginning! We just received another grant from VYMC for more improvements!
Stay tuned for more exciting news!
Pioneer Days at the Railroad
We’ll be working on the railroad on August 26 – 28!
Fresno Flats is teaming up with the folks at Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Head on over to the railroad for a great experience as we’ll be sharing our ole-time trades for all to enjoy.
We had such a great time last year and look forward to another great experience.
Mountain Heritage Day
Be sure to come out for this year’s Heritage Day on September 17.
We had a great time last year and hope to make this year’s event even better.
AirBNB Project
We’re excited to announce a new venture which we believe is essential to the future sustainability of the park.
Love it or hate it, our historic structures need to help support themselves. Therefore, we are renting office space to Busy Bee Booking, a space for a local church service, and we even rent out our parking lot to food trucks.
In this same vane, we are hoping to rent out our historic “Silver Knob Cabin”. This cabin has had a bit of an identity crisis over the years since we were not quite certain about it’s exact origin.
Some of you may remember that prior to being moved to Fresno Flats, the cabin was located at Holiday Village, where Rite Aid is now located. It was used there as a photo studio and prior to that, a small hotel room.
Before being moved to Holiday Village, its history was less certain. This lead to some speculation and a variety of names ensued, including the Teddy Roosevelt Cabin, the Bottle House, Cedarbrook Cabin and the Miami Creek Cabin.
After some extensive research, we found it came from the vicinity of Silver Knob Peak near Miami Creek, and we believe it was located on the property of shake maker, John La Touche. We now would like to once again rent it out for lodging, but we need your help.
First we need to make sure it is safe to inhabit, as well as install new bathroom fixtures, bed, and so on. If you or someone you know has the skills to get the job done, or if you have the perfect furnishings that you can’t seem to get your kids to inherit, let us know. We’d love for you to get involved.
The revenue from this cabin will be critical to helping maintain our historic structures.
Thanks in advance!
Membership Dues
Thanks to all of those that have paid their membership dues this year. Your contribution is so important to our success. If you would like to contribute, you can find our membership letter at the link below.
If you don’t see your name on the list, but know you’ve paid, let us know and we’ll hunt down your check.
Members
- Robert Whorton and Family
- Paul and Sandra Adelizi
- Alvin and Susan Peter
- Judy Weiss
- John LaLonde and Joyce Burel
- Dadiva Reyes
- Frances and Jared Scott
- Richard and Mary-Louise Peters
- Matt and Heather Bernard and Family
Bronze Business Members
- Tom Wheeler
- Mark Reed
Silver Business Members
- Dona Pride
- Venessa Acosta
Gold Business Members
- Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
- Visit Yosemite Madera County
- Saint Rafael’s Episcopal Church
- Sierra Springs Church
- Matsumoto Samurai’s Kitchen
- Mountain Artisan Market
- Oakhurst Petanque Club
- Jim and Maggie Elliott
Lifetime Members (partial list)
- Brenda Negley
Membership Letter Link
Volunteer Work Group
Our volunteer work group is going strong. We have an amazing playground for adults who wants to get out and serve their community. There’s museum work, historic restorations, library research, gardening, docenting, helping organize events, helping create videos, and so much more.
Consider joining our volunteer coalition on Facebook.
Or as always, you can email us at fresnoflatsmuseum@gmail.com.
Thank you!!
Fresno Flats Upcoming Events
Below is our schedule for the year. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to receive regular updates. We have this and lots more planned and look forward to seeing you this summer!
June
6/21-6/23 – Pioneer Camp with BGC
July
7/8 – Friday Night Lectures: Tony Krizan speaks on his adventures on “High Sierra Passes”. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., lectures starts at 6:30 p.m.
7/9 – Volunteer Work Day at the Flats: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
7/16 – Mountain Artisans Market: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
August
8/5 – Friday Night Lectures: Scott McGhee speaks on the History of the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., lecture starts at 6:30 p.m.
8/13 – Volunteer Work Day at the Flats: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
8/20 – Mountain Artisans Market: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
8/26-28 – Sugar Pine Railroad Pioneer Days: Dates tentative
September
9/2 – Friday Night Lectures
9/10 – Volunteer Work Day at the Flats: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
9/17 – Mountain Heritage Day with Mountain Artisans Market
Many thanks to our sponsors!!
