JOURNEY PLACES TO

Welcome To Placerville

BY LARISSA BARRIOS

At the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas lies a town steeped in history and resilience. Sandwiched between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, it’s a place where the thrill of the Wild West meets the comforts of the modern world. A place where locals have a strong sense of community and welcome visitors like long-lost family. This is Placerville.

Placerville began in 1848 as a gold mining town during the Gold Rush Era. For a time, it was the third-largest city in California and a major transportation hub. When the Gold Rush ended, Placerville saw a steep decline, further exacerbated when a new railroad line circumvented the town. A few decades later, Placerville transformed itself, moving away from mining and transportation to lumber, agriculture, recreation, and tourism.

Like its neighbor, Lake Tahoe, Placerville is known for its lush pine trees, crystal clear creeks, and mountain views. The El Dorado National Forest is a playground for adventure and exploration, either along its many trailheads or rafting down its rivers. Lakes a plenty offer fishing opportunities to catch largemouth bass, rainbow trout, catfish, and cutbows. At Gold Bug Park, you can explore the beauty of the underworld in two mines. The Gold Bug Mine offers a self-guided tour with audio, while the Priest Mine is a guided-only tour featuring quartz veins.

Not to be outdone by the nature around it, Placerville’s downtown lures one in with its historic Main Street. Nearly all the buildings are remnants from the town’s early days, with shops run by families for generations. Cuppa Coffee serves your dose of caffeine with a cozy decor. Pizza Bene makes pizzas fired in a brick oven made from the lava fields of Mt. Vesuvius. Placerville Hardware holds the record of the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi and sells everything from nuts and bolts to gold mining gear. TW Bonkers brings joy to both children and adults with their delectable ice cream and nostalgic candy. Main Street is also home to many art galleries, but none are more famous than the Thomas Kinkade Hometown Gallery. Kinkade grew up in Placerville, drawing inspiration from the surrounding nature and Main Street itself, showcasing both in many of his works.

Year-round, this quaint little town boasts a wide variety of events. During the Summer Harvest Days, local farms offer fruit pickings, baked goods, wine tasting, and fun activities for the kids. Labor Day weekend hosts the Fair Play Zin Fest, a celebration of Zinfandel produced by local wineries. Christmas time is especially near and dear when the downtown district holds an annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree event along with shops fully decorated with lights and all things Christmas.

Placerville started as a haven for those who made the long journey westward, traversing over the rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevadas. Without it, many would not have ventured across the state of California, reaching its golden shores. Since then, it has transformed with the times while maintaining its roots and traditions of neighborly folk looking out for one another and appreciating the wonder of nature.

KRISTEN

LARISSA

STEVE