OAKHURST — Fresno Flats Historic Village & Park invites the community to an evening lecture, exploring the storied past of Madera County’s roadways and transportation infrastructure.
From Stagecoaches to State Highways
Early Madera County road carved through granite. (Click to Enlarge)
Presented by local highway history enthusiast, Tom Fearer of Gibblenation.org, the lecture will delve into the development of the region’s road. It begins with the 1853 establishment of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. Fearer will offer an in-depth look at how the Sierra Nevada foothills became a critical hub for highway projects. These ranged from logging routes to recreational travel paths leading to Yosemite National Park.
A historic map showing the early routes through Madera County. (Click to Enlarge)
Moreover, by the late 1880s, much of the region’s key infrastructure had already taken shape. This includes plotting the Fresno to Fresno Flats Road and the historic Yosemite Stage Road. Fearer will trace how these early developments laid the foundation for the area’s ongoing importance in California’s transportation network.
He will also share lesser-known stories, such as the ambitious — but ultimately abandoned — plan to extend Interstate 70 into California via Minarets Summit. This plan was a concept that stalled before the modern era of environmental impact assessments reshaped such proposals.
Event Details
- Doors Open: 5:30 p.m. for light refreshments and a chance to meet the speaker.
- Lecture Begins: Promptly at 6:30 p.m.
Attendees can find more information via the Fresno Flats Facebook event page.
For those curious about how the winding mountain roads came to be, this lecture promises an evening of local lore, historical insight, and engaging discussion.
