Grey Fox Vineyards

Grey Fox Vineyards, a state-of-the art facility with high-tech equipment housed inside a cinder-block lined cave carved into a hillside, has seven acres planted in vines and is open for tastings on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon-5 p.m.

La Rocca Vineyards

A short ways up the hill from Chico on Doe Mill Ridge in Forest Ranch, is LaRocca Vineyards. The oldest and largest winery in the area, specializing in organic wines with no sulfites.  You can call for an appointment and tour their 110 acre estate vineyard and organic winery and while there sample their award winning, nationally recognized wines.

Early Pioneer Towns & Fun Sights

Cherokee & Oregon City

Settled in 1853 by a school teacher and his Cherokee Indian students from what is now the state of Oklahoma, Cherokee boomed from 1870-1886.

In 1881, a mining company was operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It employed 200 men using 40 million gallons of water daily with hydraulic monitors to mine the Table Mountain bluffs. Investors here included such names as Vanderbilt.

In the late 1800’s hydraulic mining was outlawed due to the environmental damage it caused. More than 200 diamonds of commerical quality were also found here.

The Calif. Historic Landmark plaque  says that Oregon City was settled in 1848 by a party of Oregonians captained by Peter H. Burnett (who later became the first civil governor of Calif.) and prospered as a gold mining community.

It is home to the Oregon City School, which is maintained by the Butte County Historical Society, and houses a small museum of artifacts.

In 1984, the community, led by Clay Castleberry, built a covered bridge, which was automatically authenticated by the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges because of its true detail of a period design, complete with wooden trusses.

A Hideout of Black Bart’s

Mountain House

About nine miles north of the Bald Rock turnoff, you will pass an old, gray, two-story building. This is Mountain House, an old stage coach stop, which is the only one left of the four that were on this stretch between Oroville and Quincy.

The Register of Historic California Businesses has given a certificate to Mountain House, verifying its operation in 1849. The robber, Black Bart, is said to have used the basement as a hideout.

Try your hand at Poker Flat

Poker Flat

The town had its beginnings in the early 1850’s. It is reported that only 12 families were living in the camp in 1856, but 400 miners lived within two miles. Henry Cohn, who had a store there from 1857 to 1863, described Poker Flat as a “miserable hole.”

Today Poker Flat is a beautiful setting on Canyon Creek with artifacts from the 1800’s still visable. Goldmining claims are still active. Though not too far from La Porte, it is strictly a 4-wheel drive trip. But, when you get there you can camp at 6 campsites constructed by the U.S. Forest Service complete with picnic tables and fire pits.