Explore Butte County Adventure Guide 22

EXPLORERS WELCOME!

Hello!

Thank you for taking an interest in learning more about Butte County. I think it's a pretty special place, and once you take a look in our guide, I hope you do, too.

This is the second annual publication of our visitors guide, and we have made a few changes to the layout that I think are worth pointing out. First, we’ve changed the name of the guide from Visitors Guide to Adventure Guide. Our team has worked tirelessly to bring you stories and inspiration from the best of the area—and you don't have to be a visitor to find a new adventure. We strive to keep the content fresh with each new edition so you can look forward to discovering new adventures every year. Second, we’ve upped our user-generated photo content. We don’t want you to rely solely on us for telling Butte County’s story, so we’re showing you what others celebrate. (And that means we want you to share your photos with us when you’re here. #ExploreButteCA.) Third, we’re sharing novel stories about resilience and innovation, of how our leaders faced challenges head on and adjusted to create something new. Innovation in Butte County looks different from other areas and we want you to help us celebrate it.

As we look forward to what 2021 will bring (so long, 2020!), I am hopeful that you will use the Butte County Adventure Guide to find inspiration (and information) for when you and your loved ones feel free to roam again. Our communities are prepared to welcome you for outdoor recreation, eclectic downtown shopping, delicious patio dining, and an all around warm welcome.

Carolyn Denero Executive Director, Explore Butte County

P.S. If you need more inspiration, look us up online at ExploreButteCounty.com.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bruce Spangler [President, Holiday Inn

Express Lake Oroville], Brooke Isenberg [Vice President, Marriott Courtyard, Chico],

Mohammad Billah [Treasurer, University Inn], Kiran Paragji [Director, Americas Best Value Inn, Oroville], Haroon Saddique [Director, Best Western Paradise Hotel], Analise Uhlrig [Director, Oxford Suites, Chico], Nicole Johansson [Director, Sierra Oro Farm Trail], John Pearson [Director, Chico Velo]

The Official 2021-2022

Explore Butte County Adventure Guide is a publication of Explore Butte County. P.O. Box 2154, Chico, CA 95927 +1 530.918.4584

ExploreButteCounty.com info@explorebuttecounty.com

Carolyn Denero, CTA Executive Director

Ashley Baer, CTA Marketing Communications Coordinator

Alicia Salas, CTA Outreach Coordinator

#ExploreButteCA

DESIGN Porter Co. Agency

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ashley Baer, Jason

Mandly, Michael Riser, Travis Souders

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ashley Baer, Results Imagery

Table Mountain by Steve McDonald

COVER PHOTO

|

10

63 Best Outdoor Spots

Voted the most popular locations by our fans, look here to create your ultimate Butte County outdoor adventure.

For the Love of Salmon 20

Bidwell Park Swimming Holes 22

Fall into Butte County Birding 24

Building Innovation 32

50 Restaurants Rising to the Challenge

Working overtime to keep up, stay open, & serve everyone a good meal has been a task like no other for restaurants in 2020.

Pints & Pours 52

Brewing Innovation 56

Restaurant Week 2020 60

Food on Four Wheels 62

66 Restoring the State Theatre

The State Theatre Arts Guild is working to return the building to its original appearance & ambiance.

On Display at Chico State 70

Arts & Culture Abound 72

Mural Mania 76

A Few of Our Favorite Things 84

88 Agricultural Past Meets Present

For the past 150 years, Butte County has been an innovative agricultural leader in California.

Experience the Farm 91

Take Home the Bounty 93

Growing Innovation 94

Butte County Crops 97

80

Campus

Exploration

Butte County offers a robust collegiate experience for students, alumni, fans, & visitors alike.

Out & About in Butte County 26 City Profiles 36

Beyond the Bustle 46

Four-legged Fun 78

98 Stay a While

Find the perfect lodging in your budget for your trip to Butte County.

Event Inspiration 102

Meeting Spaces 104

Wedding & Event Spaces 105

Getting to Butte County 108

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING BUTTE COUNTY IN 2021

As it was for everyone in California, 2020 was a challenging year for Butte County; between COVID shutdowns and a historic wildfire season, businesses and attractions worked harder than ever to serve their local communities and visiting guests.

With the coronavirus likely to remain part of our reality well into 2021 and seasonal wildfires part of life in California, here’s what to expect when visiting Butte County in 2021:

THE BEAUTY OF BUTTE COUNTY IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE

When you visit Butte County, you’ll find much of what was always here—beautiful vistas and hikes, cool creeks and swimming holes, and expanses of hiking and biking trails. Even when we are dealing with our share of wildfires, with over one million acres in the county, there’s always wide-open spaces available for exploration.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that we need to be flexible and ready for unexpected changes. So as you’re planning your trip, make sure to check out the Explore Butte County website, the local chambers of commerce, and regional national forests for the latest updates as well as the social media accounts of the places you plan to see before you visit.

When you visit Butte County, you’ll find much of what was always here—beautiful vistas and hikes, cool creeks and swimming holes, and expanses of hiking and biking trails.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO HANG YOUR HAT

You have dozens of clean and safe lodging options to choose from when planning to spend time in Butte County, so book a few nights and explore Chico’s vibrant Downtown, stroll through Oroville’s historic riverside district, antique shop in Paradise, or experience outdoor adventures great and small throughout the county.

For the best information about hotel availability, visit ExploreButteCounty.com/stay.

MASK UP OR GO VIRTUAL

While the coronavirus lingers, masks will be the must-have accessory while traveling, especially for indoor activities. They’re the best way to help keep the local community safe and businesses open for everyone’s enjoyment. And for attractions that aren’t yet open due to state

restrictions, or just aren’t ready to open, you can often find virtual offerings to enjoy while you’re in town or back home.

IT’S ALWAYS A GREAT TIME TO VISIT

Whatever the season, you’ll always find great activities to enjoy. From splashing around in urban swimming holes in the summer to enjoying snow in the higher elevations in the winter to visiting for one of our many events throughout the year, Butte County is the place to be.

Plus, every time you visit, you support the thousands of local residents who work in the tourism industry and help fuel our local economy.

Want to see for yourself? Come visit—and bring your friends.

LET US SHOW YOU THE WAY

With 1,636 square miles of land, 41 sq. miles of water, 4 cities, 1 town, 17 census-designated places, and 11 unincorporated communities, there’s always more to explore in Butte County. Plan your next adventure (and how to get there) today!

*Butte County is to scale while the surrounding counties are not

63 BEST OUTDOOR

Spots in Butte County

Looking to create your ultimate Butte County outdoor adventure but not sure where to start? Look no further than our list of the 63 Best Outdoor Spots, as voted on by Facebook and Instagram fans during March Madness 2020. Popular locations across four brackets—Parks and Recreation, Water Spots, Hiking and Adventure, and Scenic Beauties and Viewing—competed for the top spot, and these are the results. Whether you work your way through the list numerically or geographically, you’ll have a great time visiting any of these winners.

VINTAGE VIEWS

While some of Butte County’s favorites are closed to visitors in 2021 due to recent wildfires, you can still enjoy these vintage views and get inspired for your trip when they’re open again.

#1 FEATHER FALLS SCENIC TRAIL [HA] & #3 FEATHER FALLS [SC]

It’s no surprise that these two finished at the top of their brackets at #1 and #3 overall: the scenic trail to Feather Falls is a beautiful and challenging 7-to-9-mile hike, while Feather Falls has been called the “most beautiful waterfall in California outside of Yosemite” by the San Francisco Chronicle. Looks like it really is about the journey in this case (though the destination is close behind).

#24 BALD ROCK [SC]

A granite batholith just like Yosemite’s famed Half Dome, Bald Rock is a prominent fixture along the skyline of certain parts of Lake Oroville and is particularly visible from Feather Falls.

BIG CHICO CREEK ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

BALD ROCK

#45 DOME TRAIL [HA]

Dome Trail plunges nearly 1,600 feet in a little over 2 miles to reach the Middle Fork of the Feather River just underneath Bald Rock Dome. And given the strenuous trek back, this really is a trail for experienced hikers only.

#21 CURTAIN FALLS [SC]

Those able to endure the difficult Dome Trail hike will discover Curtain Falls, featuring smooth, natural granite water slides and clear emerald water.

#30 BUTTE CREEK ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE [HA]

Located along the middle section of Butte Creek, the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve is a 93-acre site home to many species of special status, viewable during hikes through the area.

CHICO

#4 BIDWELL-SACRAMENTO RIVER STATE PARK [PR]

Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park is the most popular Butte County park for good reason: water, sunshine, lazy days tubing down the river with your best buds...need we say more?

#12 BIG CHICO CREEK ECOLOGICAL RESERVE [HA]

Containing nearly 4,000 acres of diverse canyon and ridge habitats and home to a variety of species of plants and animals, Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve makes for a beautiful location for nature viewing.

#23 HOOKER OAK PARK [PR]

Featuring play equipment for 2-to-5-yearolds, handicap accessible play equipment for those 5-12, picnic areas, and more, Hooker Oak Park is a pleasant spot for families to spend a few hours.

BIDWELL-SACRAMENTO RIVER @CA.LOVE.FORNIA

@KALLIEDGRIFFIN

FEATHER FALLS

#34 DEGARMO PARK [PR]

With youth softball fields, turf fields, a playground, a dog park, and picnic areas, DeGarmo Park is always a happening place. Introduce your four-legged friend to new buddies, watch a game, or simply enjoy the community park vibe.

#36 CHICO SEED ORCHARD [PR]

Enjoy a relaxing stroll through the international woodland at Chico Seed Orchard. Originally an outdoor research facility for hundreds of plants from around the world, many of them still grow in the 209-acre botanical gem. Read more on pg. 24.

#48 COMMUNITY PARK [PR]

Community Park is South Chico's premier public recreation facility, providing an ideal setting for recreational sports, public outings, and leisure activities.

#49 LLANO SECO UNIT [SC]

Llano Seco Unit consists of nearly 1,800 acres that support large populations of wintering waterfowl.

#53 SHERWOOD FOREST DISC GOLF [PR]

Located in Hooker Oak Park, the Sherwood Forest Disc Golf course is made just for children (and beginners of all ages), who will love the 9-hole Robin Hood-inspired course.

#62 CHICO COMMUNITY OBSERVATORY [SC]

Contemplate the stars and the sky at the Chico Community Observatory, where you can explore the universe firsthand and free of charge.

BIDWELL PARK

#8 YAHI TRAIL [HA]

The pedestrian-only Yahi Trail is perhaps the most popular trail

LLANO SECO UNIT

LOWER BIDWELL PARK

MONKEY FACE

in Bidwell Park. The Upper Bidwell Park favorite provides beautiful views along Big Chico Creek, leading all the way to Bear Hole.

#19 NORTH RIM TRAIL [HA]

Despite being one of the longest trails in Upper Bidwell Park, the North Rim Trail is a pretty easy hike since the grade is gradual and well-established. With sweeping views of the park and rocky lookout point, it’s a great trail for most hikers and bikers.

#22 PEREGRINE POINT DISC GOLF [PR]

With arguably some of the best views in Upper Bidwell Park, Peregrine Point Disc Golf offers 18 holes traversing a varied terrain overlooking the Sacramento Valley and Chico Creek Canyon.

#25 LOWER BIDWELL PARK [HA]

Flat and level with a thick canopy of trees, Lower Bidwell Park is perfect for easy, leisurely strolls and bike rides that everyone in the family can enjoy.

#26 CAPER ACRES [PR]

The iconic Lower Bidwell park for children under 13, Caper Acres is a magical location, featuring a crooked house, a pirate ship with a sea monster, and so much more.

#32 GUARDIAN TRAIL [HA]

Expert cyclists will enjoy the exposed single track that is the Guardian Trail, which is all downhill with some extreme drop-offs along the trail edges and views of Chico Creek Canyon below and valley to the west.

#38 MONKEY FACE [SC]

An easy 15-minute walk in Upper Bidwell Park will take you to Monkey Face, a popular rock formation from which you can enjoy scenic views of the rest of the park.

#41 ANNIE BIDWELL TRAIL [HA]

A 4.4 mile out-and-back in Upper Bidwell Park, Annie Bidwell Trail is best enjoyed in the spring, with the wildflower blooms, and the fall, with the colorful foliage.

ANNIE BIDWELL TRAIL @RUDY530 TIM OLSON

NORELIAC

SWIMMING HOLES

The swimming holes in Bidwell Park are arguably the most popular features in the park (at least during the summer). Read all about #6 Salmon Hole [WS], #17 Brown’s Hole [WS], #18 Five Mile Recreation Area [WS], #31 Alligator Hole [WS], #59 Sycamore Pool [WS] on pgs. 22-23.

#2 BEAR HOLE AND DIVERSION DAM [WS]

Easy access, cool waters, and plenty of space for sunbathing makes Bear Hole and Diversion Dam the favorite Butte County spot for water recreation (and the favorite of all of Bidwell Park’s urban swimming holes).

HIGH COUNTRY

#43 YURTING IN BUTTE MEADOWS [HA]

Run by Chico State’s Adventure Outings, the backcountry yurt in Butte Meadows makes

for a special outdoor adventure—while you’ll have the covering of a settled yurt, you’ll definitely still be roughing it.

#50 PACIFIC CREST TRAIL [HA]

Butte County’s 12-mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail sits near the halfway point of the trail’s total 2,653 miles, and the 6-mile hike between Humboldt Summit and Humbug Summit features particularly amazing views of the surrounding mountains.

#55 SNOWMOBILING IN JONESVILLE [HA]

During the winter, Jonesville becomes a winter wonderland, perfect for hiking, snowshoeing, and, especially, snowmobiling. Hang out at Jonesville Snowmobile Park or venture out to Colby Mountain Lookout for a full day of fun!

#56 COLBY MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT [SC]

Located in Butte County’s high country, Colby Mountain Lookout provides a panoramic view of Lassen National Forest.

#57 HUMBOLDT PEAK [HA]

At Humboldt Peak, nearly the highest point in the county, enjoy a short hike to the 7,087-foot peak and 360-degree views of faraway places.

SNOWMOBILING

@KEEFOTOS

OROVILLE

#10 WILD & SCENIC HIGHWAY 70 [SC]

There’s no prettier road trip through Butte County than on the Wild & Scenic Highway 70 Feather River Byway. Running along the middle fork of the Feather River, one of the original wild and scenic rivers in the country, Highway 70 is a drive worth enjoying.

#14 OROVILLE WILDLIFE AREA [PR]

A popular spot for fishing, wildlife viewing, and hunting, the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area offers an abundance of riparian viewing along the Feather River and grasslands around Thermalito Afterbay.

#16 LAKE OROVILLE [WS]

The second-largest reservoir in the state, Lake Oroville is the go-to spot for boating, jet and water

skiing, bass fishing, and general water enthusiasts when the weather warms.

#20 FEATHER RIVER FISH HATCHERY [PR]

The Feather River Fish Hatchery plays an important role in sustaining the population of salmon and trout in the river, but it’s also just a fun place for a visit! Read more on pg. 20-21.

#35 LOAFER CREEK RECREATION AREA [PR]

Loafer Creek Recreation Area has 137 tent campsites, a boat launch, equestrian trails, and more, making it a popular spot on the shores of Lake Oroville any time of the year.

WILD & SCENIC HWY 70

@IHATEMONDAYSANDTUESDAYSANDWEDN

BEAR HOLE

#40 FOREBAY AQUATIC CENTER [WS]

Those looking for a spot for kayaking, rowing, or stand-up paddleboarding fun for all ages will want to head out to Forebay Aquatic Center. The calm waters of Thermalito Forebay make it a perfect place to bring the whole family or try something new.

#46 RIVERBEND PARK [PR]

So named for its prime location along the Feather River in Oroville, Riverbend Park features 210 acres of park space, including a boat launch, sandy beach disc golf course, picnic areas, playground, and more.

#51 BRAD FREEMAN TRAIL [HA]

The Brad Freeman Trail is a 41-mile adventure around the Oroville area that offers a huge variety of scenic vistas and day trip options for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Visitors will enjoy a variety in both scenery and trail conditions.

#52 BIDWELL CANYON MARINA [WS]

Another popular boat launch area on Lake Oroville, Bidwell Canyon Marina offers all that anyone could need for a full day of lake fun— boat rentals, camping, boat storage, a bar and grill, and more.

#54 BIDWELL BAR SUSPENSION BRIDGE [SC]

When locals talk about the Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge, they’re usually referring to one along State Route 162, which is both a beautiful icon and a place for unique views of the lake. However, the original Bidwell Bar Bridge from 1855 also still stands today near Bidwell Canyon Marina and is open for foot traffic.

#61

CLAY PIT SVRA [HA]

Two miles west of Oroville, the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area is a playground for dirt bikers, ATV riders, and 4x4 enthusiasts.

FOREBAY AQUATIC CENTER

RAVINE FALLS

@CLAIRE.KOSKI

@ZAPLIPZACH

#63 LAKE OROVILLE VISITORS CENTER [SC]

Located atop Kelly Ridge and overlooking the lake and the dam, the Lake Oroville Visitors Center is an interpretive museum showcasing the dam and region’s history. It also has a 47-foot viewing tower, with two high-powered telescopes, where you’ll enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the lake.

WILDFLOWERS AND WATERFALLS

If you’re visiting Butte County in the spring, a trip to the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is an absolute must. Just make sure to buy your CDFW Lands Pass online before your visit!

#5 TABLE MOUNTAIN [SC]

For wildflowers and waterfalls, there’s no better place than Table Mountain. During the rainy season, dozens of waterfalls flow, and springtime covers the ecological reserve with wildflowers as far as the eye can see.

#9 PHANTOM FALLS [SC]

So named for its ephemeral nature, Phantom Falls only flows during the rainy season, when you can watch it flow 166 feet off the edge of Coal Canyon. It’s beautiful and fleeting, which makes it all the more striking to see it in person.

#11 MANY WATERFALLS CROSS-COUNTRY LOOP [HA]

With at least nine, and up to 14, waterfalls after a rainfall, the challenging Many Waterfalls Cross-Country Loop lives up to its name. Just make sure to go right after it rains.

#27 RAVINE FALLS [SC]

One of the few other waterfalls you’ll see on the way to Phantom Falls, Ravine Falls (aka, Fern Falls) is a 71-foot waterfall with a beautiful flow during the rainy season.

TABLE MOUNTAIN BIDWELL BAR BRIDGE @CARLAPICS

PARADISE RIDGE

#7 BILLE PARK [PR]

With towering trees for shade yet lots of sunny spots, plus parks for the kiddos and a view overlooking Butte Creek Canyon, Bille Park is a local favorite for good reason.

#13 CLOTILDE MERLO PARK [PR]

At just 20 acres, the beautiful Clotilde Merlo Park in Stirling City, open May through October, is a must-visit if you’re exploring Paradise Ridge.

#29 BUTTE CREEK WATERSHED OVERLOOK [SC]

The Butte Creek Watershed is home to high green meadows, pools and riffles, and a miniature "Grand Canyon"-view of Butte Creek, with a spectacular overlook vista on Skyway.

#33 PARADISE LAKE [WS]

Tucked amidst the pines, Paradise Lake is a postcard-perfect picture location for relaxed walking, hiking, or boating along the 4.5-mile trail on its western shore. With gorgeous conifer woodland surrounding the shoreline, you might even spot a bald eagle or a bear.

#44 LAKE CONCOW [WS]

Hidden in the Sierra/Cascade foothills, Lake

Concow is a beautiful place to visit, fish, or camp. Tall trees provide shady camping, fishing along the lake shore, or picnicking along the banks of the creek.

#60 LAKE DESABLA [WS]

Located on the north side of Magalia, Lake DeSabla is a small and calm location perfect for fishing for planted rainbow trout or simply enjoying the views.

SOUTH COUNTY

#37 LAVENDER RANCH [PR]

You’ve never really smelled lavender until you’ve taken a tour at Lavender Ranch, where you’ll learn about not only lavender but the 15 other botanicals grown and distilled on-site in Biggs. Reservations are required, so make sure to plan ahead.

PARADISE LAKE

GRAY LODGE

KELLY SUTTON

@AIRRICKPHONG

#47 GRAY LODGE WILDLIFE AREA [SC]

During the winter bird migration season, a drive to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in Gridley is a must. But any season you visit, the walk and wildlife are worth the visit. Make sure to buy your CDFW Lands Pass online before your visit.

#58 UPPER BUTTE BASIN WILDLIFE AREA [SC]

Considered one of the finest wetland habitat complexes in North America, the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area acts as a resting place for wintering migratory birds as well as a popular hunting location.

WATER WAYS

#15 FEATHER RIVER [WS]

The Feather River feeds and creates Lake Oroville, and the North, South, and Middle Forks are wild rivers perfect for fishing, kayaking, and white water kayaking.

#28 SACRAMENTO RIVER [WS]

Butte County’s share of the Sacramento River has some of the best river recreation in the state! Enjoy tubing, boating, and fishing adventures as well as hundreds of acres of protected riparian habitat.

#39 (AND #42) SLY CREEK RECREATION AREA [PR] & SLY CREEK RESERVOIR [WS]

Tucked away in the eastern corner of Butte County, the remote Sly Creek Recreation Area attracts campers, anglers, and flatwater boating enthusiasts. The recreation area’s centerpiece is Sly Creek Reservoir, which is surrounded by conifer-lined shores and features emerald-hued water just begging to be swimmed in.

From the southern border to the northernmost corner, there’s so much to discover in Butte County. With our 63 Best Outdoor Spots as your guide, plan a weekend or two (or definitely more) to come and explore the best of Butte County.

SLY CREEK RESERVOIR

SACRAMENTO RIVER

SALMON For the Love of

Loved and celebrated by locals, visitors, nature enthusiasts, and anglers alike, salmon are special in Butte County, specificallythe Chinook, which makes the area its home and is considered the king of wild Pacific salmon. Unlike most fish, salmon, including Butte County’s beloved Chinook, are anadromous—meaning that they hatch in freshwater streams, migrate to the ocean to feed and grow, then return to fresh water to spawn the next generation. The salmon returning to Butte County from the Pacific Ocean travel almost 200 miles to make that trip!

The largest migration of fall-run Chinook salmon occurs during September and October. The Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville is a great place to visit any time of year, but it shines during the fall run. On the eastern side of the hatchery, you can come face-to-face with the returning fish at underwater viewing windows and watch as they attempt to jump up the barrier dam. The western side includes the fish spawning rooms, hatchery, and rearing ponds where millions of Chinook salmon are cared for and eventually released. Guided tours are available Monday through Friday, but you can enjoy self-guided tours any day of the week.

Come spring, Butte County is one of the few places left in California where threatened spring-run Chinook salmon can spawn naturally. The Butte Creek Ecological

Preserve, operated by Chico State, protects a 93-acre portion of this important habitat. Springrun Chinook salmon can also navigate up Big Chico Creek into Bidwell Park. The spring run peaks May through June.

GET UP CLOSE

Get an up-close view of Butte County’s migrating salmon during the fall run via kayaks throughout the county. On the Feather River, launch at the fish hatchery under the Table Mountain Boulevard bridge. Stay nearby or head downstream for a relaxing 2-mile paddle to Riverbend Park, where you’ll be sure to see salmon jumping out of the water. Check out the Forebay Aquatic Center for guided tours throughout the season.

For longer adventures, paddle the Feather River 7.3 miles downstream to the Thermalito Afterbay outlet, 8.7 miles to the Vance Avenue

FISH HATCHERY

parking area in the Oroville Wildlife Area, or 17 beautiful miles from the Feather River Fish Hatchery to the Gridley boat ramp for the ultimate Feather River experience. For flat water adventures, check out the landlocked salmon population in Lake Oroville, Thermalito Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay

CELEBRATE SALMON

Butte County loves its salmon run so much that every year, Oroville celebrates the return of fall-run Chinook salmon during the Oroville Salmon Festival. Always taking place on the fourth Saturday in September, it’s a celebration of all things salmon, and visitors can view the salmon run at the fish hatchery, enjoy a street fair, taste various salmon dishes, and more.

SALMON FESTIVAL

Bidwell Park

SWIMMING HOLES

For those looking for a spontaneous water adventure without any floating devices required, head to Chico’s Bidwell Park, where Big Chico Creek runs through it year-round. There, you’ll find the best urban swimming holes in California—bold statement, but you’ll see for yourself why it’s an easy one to make with more than half a dozen natural pools to choose from. Ranging from accessible for the entire family to remote and wild, there’s a swimming hole for every explorer.

From easy to challenging, explore the most popular swimming holes in Bidwell Park:

SYCAMORE POOL: The most accessible of all the swimming holes, this is a concrete pool built around Big Chico Creek, making for a unique swimming experience. In the summer, the cool creek water is a refreshing contrast to the heat.

FIVE MILE RECREATION AREA: Find a kid-friendly swimming hole that is wider, shallower, and calmer than swimming areas upstream. With easy restroom and picnic area access, it’s easy to see why this is a family favorite.

ALLIGATOR HOLE: The first designated swimming hole in Upper Bidwell Park, it’s a tame stop along Yahi Trail, perfect for young hikers or for cooling off one last time after a long hike.

BEAR HOLE & DIVERSION DAM: Deep pools connected by rushing chutes of water surrounded by a natural rocky playground make this the most talked about feature in the park.

SALMON HOLE: The most scenic swimming experiences in the area, with one of the largest natural pools on Big Chico Creek and many enjoyable side pools, also requires more work to get there, with a longer hike and steeper and more rugged final approach.

BROWN’S HOLE: The most remote designated swimming hole in the park requires a 2-to-3 mile hike to access, but you’ll enjoy an almost wilderness setting when you get there.

loved by locals

SYCAMORE POOL

SALMON HOLE

Trip Tips

1. Bring water, sunscreen, and towels.

2. Wear sturdy water shoes—flip-flops are no match for basalt rock and raging waters.

3. While the water is wet, the park is dry, so leave the alcohol at home.

YOU'LL FIND THE BEST URBAN SWIMMING HOLES IN CALIFORNIA

@GALEN.GOES

@HATEFULOFHOLLOW

@SELENAHENNESSEY

BEAR HOLE

ALLIGATOR HOLE

Fall into Butte County

BIRDING

By Jon Aull

Butte County is extraordinarily rich in bird diversity, with over 300 resident and migratory species. While each season has its highlights, fall is my favorite time for birds: the nights cool, migrating birds return from their mountain breeding habitats, and leaves dropping from the trees makes it easier to spot birds in their lofty perches. Here are three of my favorite spots for fall birding among the fall colors.

COLBY MEADOWS

Beginning in October head up to the higher elevations of Colby Meadows, about an hour’s drive from Chico just past Butte Meadows. The West Branch of Butte Creek there is lined with black oaks and big-leaf maples turning vibrant reds and yellows. Along the creek, you can find the American dipper doing squats in rushing water, and you might be lucky enough to see it dip under water to catch aquatic insects or fish eggs. At the Colby Meadows/Jonesville Snow Park, follow the sound of running water to the trail and the meadow, where the black cottonwoods can be a brilliant yellow. Some of the birds here will stay through the harsh winter, while others will be moving down below the snowline soon. Look out for the inquisitive mountain chickadees, raucous Steller’s jays, elegant evening grosbeaks, the dashing whiteheaded woodpeckers, and more.

UPPER BIDWELL PARK

In Upper Bidwell Park, more than 160

species of birds have been recorded, and the Yahi Trail along Big Chico Creek particularly dazzles. Starting just downhill from the parking lot at Horseshoe Lake, the 4-mile (one-way)

Yahi Trail runs along Big Chico Creek, a major thoroughfare for the downslope fall bird migration. While there are plenty of year-round avian residents, in fall we welcome back our “snowbirds” that are migrating toward more available food and water sources, such as: white and golden-crowned sparrows, darkeyed juncos, the tiny hyperactive ruby-crowned kinglets with their distinctive eye rings and mostly hidden red crest, impeccably coiffed cedar waxwings, and yellow-rumped warblers, the least shy of the warblers. Fall colors start with the spectacular poison oak, which starts to turn in late summer in dry spots, an example of a drought-deciduous plant. Although our native California plants are not well known for their fall color, California grapes and western redbud can definitely add a bit of ambience to autumn ambling.

CHICO SEED ORCHARD

One of the best autumn scenes in Chico is at the end of Cramer Lane, where you’ll find the entrance to the Mendocino National Forest Genetic Resource and Conservation Center. Mercifully renamed the Chico Seed Orchard, there you can see a great variety of exotic trees, such as kiwis and edible pistachios. The center started as a research facility for experimental introductions but today mainly grows conifer seeds for wildfire recovery and watershed restoration.

Perhaps because of the odd mix of trees, the birding here can be quite productive, and rarities tend to show up here. Red crossbills took up an extended residence a few years ago. In September 2020, there was a summer tanager here and a long-eared owl made a brief

appearance just outside the gates in October 2020. The birdlife here is similar to Bidwell Park. Other common sights are: one of the largest congregations of robins in Chico, brown creepers, golden crowned kinglets, and varied thrushes. The center has regular visitor hours and a locking gate.

So get out and enjoy the season. There’s no better time to fall for Butte County birds.

Jon Aull has a master's in parks and natural resources from Chico State and has worked in environmental education in Chico for 15 years.

Trip Tips

Seasoned birders know that anyone can get into this easy activity, and that it’s a great way to explore places you’ve never been! Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring binoculars, and download a birding app.

2. Dress for the elements and the season.

3. Respect the habitat and minimize your footprint so that everyone can enjoy the space.

WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER

OROVILLE DAM

Scale, Power, & Innovation

IT’S A GREAT SPOT FOR A PICNIC LUNCH...

For an appreciation of scale, power, and innovation, few outings in Butte County are more fulfilling than a tour of the Oroville Dam.

Tucked in the hills of Oroville, the Oroville Dam doesn’t call attention to itself. More attention is paid to the lake it creates, full of boating and water-skiing enthusiasts, and to the rivers that flow downstream, for their own renowned water recreation opportunities.

But in the shadows of its flashier sister attractions stands a behemoth of the State Water Project: at 770 feet, it’s the tallest dam in the nation (not just the tallest earthen dam, a common misconception). It retains about 3.5 million acre-feet of water in Lake Oroville—1.1 trillion gallons— and distributes it to the entire Sacramento Valley, and has since its completion in 1967. And its mostly concrete core barrier was reinforced with 80 million cubic yards of earth, one truckload at a time.

To really appreciate those numbers, though, a visit to the dam is a must. The drive up the dam’s mountainous ascent above the spillway provides a view straight down the spillway, showcasing a sheer mass of

@GREG_WEATHERS

concrete cascading down the side of the dam like a 12-lane superhighway longer than the length of six football fields. A little farther up the road, what looks like a sprawling, concrete amphitheater is actually an enormous secondary emergency overflow area.

Atop the dam, you’ll want to make sure you have a camera and even binoculars with you because the vantage point from 770 feet offers 360 degrees of viewing. It’s a great spot for a picnic lunch at one of the rest areas atop the spillway; a bike ride or a hike down some of the easily accessible near the launch ramp; or a few moments spent admiring the vistas to the south or the hawks (and occasional eagles) gliding over the lake.

While the dam may seem like a stand-alone marvel, it's really part of a major network of water management systems and local tourist points, all of which are fascinating in their own right and are a must-visit if you’re touring the dam.

LAKE OROVILLE VISITORS CENTER

917 Kelly Ridge Rd, Oroville

An ode to the construction of the dam and reservoir is on display at the Lake Oroville Visitors Center, an office and exhibit complex highlighted by a spiraling viewing tower

adorned with telescopes in each cardinal direction overlooking the dam, reservoir, and valley.

SPILLWAY BOAT RAMP & DAY USE AREA

Located at the end of Oroville Dam Road Boaters visiting the spillway’s boat launch ramp not only get the chance to see the behemoth spillway in person, but also can access the lake’s largest launch facility—eight to 12 lanes, depending on the water level, and nearly 400 total parking spaces. Those staying on dry land will enjoy the well-shaded picnic area with outstanding views of the lake and the Sutter Buttes, and it even has newly installed educational value with displays detailing the reconstruction of the spillway.

FEATHER RIVER FISH HATCHERY

5 Table Mountain Blvd, Oroville

Get an up-close view of migrating salmon in the fall and spawning trout in the spring at the Feather River Fish Hatchery. Enjoy self-guided tours as you learn about the conservation work being done, or schedule a guided tour for the best experience (read more about the hatchery on pg. 20).

If you’re interested in a tour of the dam or the hatchery, contact the Department of Water Resources at 530.534.2306.

FEATHER RIVER FISH HATCHERY

LAKE OROVILLE VISITORS CENTER

LAKE OROVILLE

KELLY RIDGE

Access to the lake's largest launch facility with picnic areas and stunning views of the Sutter Buttes.

loved by locals

SPILLWAY BOAT RAMP & DAY USE

BUILDING INNOVATION

By Michael Riser

If you’ve ever visited Butte County, you’ve undoubtedly enjoyed the work of the Paradise Recreation and Park District (PRPD). Covering 172 square miles, PRPD is a sprawling area that hosts a concentrated wealth of Butte County’s gorgeous tree-lined hill country, and it’s the district’s mission to open as much of it to visitors as possible.

MOTHER (NATURE) OF INVENTION

PRPD has adapted to the last few uncertain years with the help of District Manager Dan Efseaff, who saw his department lose 60% of its staff after 2018’s Camp Fire, and is soon to lose much of the funding that has supported the district since. Yet rather than being slowed down by the long list of challenges, the district has bounced back to face its problems with everincreasing vigor and enthusiasm, an energy typical of

PARADISE LAKE

Butte County residents who have pulled themselves up and dusted themselves off with cheerful, determined hearts despite recent setbacks.

PRPD is focused on revitalizing resources that have long been underused, and with social considerations becoming ever more important, it believes it can ease the burden on some of Butte County’s more crowded locations. Many area trails and parks are all but hidden to visitors, so making better, more thoughtful use of existing public land is at the top of its priority list, right alongside creating new and better spaces to augment what’s already on offer.

BLAZING NEW TRAILS

Innovation for PRPD has come to mean thinking outside the box. Any terrain with steep inclines, abundant fuels (such as trees or dry grasses), and high winds is a fire risk, particularly if those factors make it difficult for fire crews to gain access, yet it’s these spaces that PRPD sees as packed with potential. Improvements can reduce the risks they pose, but can further turn them into landscape-scale buffer spaces that offer active protection to local communities. This is vitally important to Butte County, where dry conditions have caused ongoing frustrations but the breathtaking landscapes and outdoor recreation spaces are important to both

A pristine gem tucked among the pines in Magalia.

loved by locals

@RHIANNON.TICE

residents and visitors. PRPD also hopes its work will create new models that can be used in other vulnerable parts of the state, using Oak Creek Park as an example, where a purchase of 3 acres will provide new access and higher visibility for an underused 17acre gem that helps protect its community.

A COORDINATED COMMUNITY

Efseaff and his team aren’t going it alone by any stretch. One of its major upcoming projects is a 15-to-20-mile looped trail system running along the Magalia Reservoir to Paradise Lake. It plans for the majority of the trails to be shaded—a rarity at this elevation—with a variety of difficulty levels for walking and mountain biking, from family-friendly to advanced, yet creating this fantastic new asset has already required extensive planning and negotiation with no fewer than six different landowners. Another consortium for a study on trails included over a dozen partners from varied backgrounds, like the Nature Conservancy, California State University, Chico, the US Forest Service, and Explore Butte County.

PRPD is seeking dynamic partnerships like its recent cooperative effort with the Paradise Irrigation District at Paradise Lake. While lake recreation has been under PRPD’s care for only six months, it’s already gaining steam and has been a boon to the public in the time of COVID. It allowed for the successful Astronomy on the Lake program, where 30 kayakers took a guided tour of the stars with Dr. William Koperwhats, a professor at CSU Chico’s Community Observatory. The program brought in people from as far as Sacramento and Colusa, and was so popular there are already plans for more instances of the event next year.

A PARADISE FOR EVERYONE

While PRPD always keeps local residents in mind, its improvements are made for everyone with a love of the outdoors that the landscapes of Northern California always inspire. With the eyes of the world on Butte County in the last few years, many have seen how much there is to offer, and PRPD wants to make sure all those who visit have the best, safest spaces to enjoy.

"Reworking some of these spaces not only helps us protect our communities, but also gives us that amazing access to resources that are there but tough to get to."

-Dan Efseaff, PRPD District Manager

“Together, We Rise”

The culture of Paradise Ridge is defined by vibrant performing arts, beautiful parks, rich history, and a resilient community.

GOLD NUGGET MUSEUM

The Gold Nugget Museum mission is to preserve and protect the Paradise Ridge heritage through its collections, artifacts, and community education programs. During the dark weeks and months after the Camp Fire, there was never any doubt that the Gold Nugget Museum programs would be resumed as soon as possible. The Museum now invites you to visit to not only learn about Ridge history, but to become part of that history as the new pioneers on the Paradise Ridge.

THEATRE ON THE RIDGE

In a miracle among the total devastation of the Camp Fire to the Paradise community, the beloved little playhouse still stands. Celebrating 45 years on the Ridge, Theatre on the Ridge feels so fortunate and blessed to still be here, and looks forward to providing healing through the arts and much needed love and light for the community as Paradise rises anew from the ashes.

PARADISE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As a volunteer organization of business people sharing local pride, professional expertise, and commitment to progress, the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce celebrates the fact that the Paradise Ridge is back in business. Supporting members and events that inform, uplift, and unite the region, the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce invites visitors to discover for themselves the unique spirit of The Ridge as it continues to rise.

CHICO SPOTLIGHT

CHICO SPOTLIGHT

While California State University, Chico and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company may have put Chico on the national radar, anyone who’s spent more than an afternoon here knows that the city is so much more than its flagship attractions. It’s a sleepy agricultural town turned bustling city center, full of dreamers and innovators, performers and artists, unique shops, bars, and eateries, and one of the largest urban parks in the nation. Explore the lively and popular Downtown, full of the students that give the city its ever-present “college town” feel, or venture beyond to discover a variety of different neighborhoods and districts, each with their own unique vibe to enjoy. Wherever you find yourself, you’ll see why Chico is the urban activity center of Butte County.

ALSO KNOWN AS City of Roses

FOUNDED

1860 by John Bidwell

BEST KNOWN FOR Chico State University, Sierra Nevada Brewery

TOP ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS

Bidwell Park, Downtown Chico, National Yo-Yo Museum, Thursday Night Market, Taste of Chico

READ MORE Bidwell Park Swimming Holes [Pages 22-23]

Brewing Innovation [Pages 56-58]

On Display at Chico State [Pages 70-71]

@TBEAR008

@EDUB1924

WHY I LOVE

CHICO

with KASEY REYNOLDS

Kasey Reynolds’s family has been in Chico since 1937, when her great-uncle Leonard Shubert came to Chico from Montana to follow his dream of opening an ice cream shop. Reynolds currently works full time as the fourth-generation owner of Shubert’s Ice Cream and Candy.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO STAY IN CHICO?

I was lucky enough to be able to go to our wonderful Chico schools, grow up a block from Bidwell Park, and a few minutes from Downtown. I left briefly to work in corporate America and decided Chico was where I wanted to raise my family so my kids could have the same great childhood that I did.

DESCRIBE CHICO TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN HERE?

Chico is the largest city in Butte County; it has a friendly small-town feel but with all of the necessities you need. We have one of the largest urban parks [Bidwell Park] in the US that is truly the Crown Jewel of our City!

WHY I LOVE with ALBERTA TRACY

OROVILLE

Since 1971, the “Lady of Butte County” has called Oroville home. As a member of the Butte County Historical Society , Tracy dresses up as local historical characters and is a beloved fixture at many of their events.

HOW DID YOU FIND YOURSELF IN OROVILLE? WHAT MADE YOU STAY?

My husband, Russell Guiver, and I came to Oroville in 1971 from Long Beach with our three children. It was very exciting moving to Oroville! It was like coming out West. I stay because I love Oroville. I always felt that God sent me here!

DESCRIBE OROVILLE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN HERE?

Oroville is a charming little town with some great specialty shops, lovely parks, many museums, a river, a restored 1930 hotel, a restored 1928 theater, old restored homes, parades, a lake, and a Downtown that is lit up with lights day and night, good restaurants, nice people, a historical society, and room to grow!

OROVILLE SPOTLIGHT OROVILLE SPOTLIGHT

With a past (and name) gilded in gold, today Oroville stands as a community rich in history and outdoor recreation. The gateway to Lake Oroville features easy-rolling hills, natural water features, and scenic hiking trails, perfect for easy-to-access day trips. Water skiers, swimmers, kayakers, boaters, fishers, and more find plenty of options for play and leisure throughout the year, while ever-flowing and seasonal waterfalls provide picture-worthy hiking opportunities. For calmer explorations, Oroville’s Downtown offers a peek into the city’s past with a variety of museums: from highlighting Gold Rush pioneers and immigrant populations to celebrating the region’s native tribes and natural history, you’ll discover the depth of the city’s roots at under-the-radar gems. Add a few stops at one of the many modern shops, restaurants, or bars, and you’ll enjoy the full Oroville experience.

ALSO KNOWN AS City of Gold; also formerly Ophir City

FOUNDED

1854; incorporated 1906

BEST KNOWN FOR Lake Oroville, Table Mountain, Butte College

TOP ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS

Oroville Dam, Chinese Temple, Feather River, Forebay Aquatic Center, Historic State Theatre, Bidwell Bar Bridge, Lake Oroville Visitors Center, Salmon Festival, Feather Fiesta Days

READ MORE

For the Love of Salmon [Pages 20-21] Oroville Dam [Pages 28-31] Restoring the State Theatre [Pages 66-69]

@SABRIIINA_C

CHINESE TEMPLE

PARADISE SPOTLIGHT PARADISE SPOTLIGHT

Nestled among forested terrain along an elevated ridge, the Paradise Ridge area—locally known as “The Ridge” and comprising the Town of Paradise and community of Magalia— has a decidedly small-town and secluded feel, and is uniquely determined to retain its long-running reputation of quaintness. On The Ridge, you’ll discover a breathtaking natural landscape, American flag-lined streets on servicemember holidays, annual events and museums celebrating the region’s Gold Rush past, and a deep-running love of the locally owned small businesses among those who live there. But most importantly, you’ll discover that despite the challenges that the area faced and continues to deal with in the wake of 2018’s Camp Fire, community kinship, love of the surrounding natural habitat, and resilience and determination persist on The Ridge.

ALSO KNOWN AS The Ridge; also formerly Leonards Mill, Paradice

FOUNDED 1877; incorporated in 1979

BEST KNOWN FOR Paradise Lake, Daffodils

TOP ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS

Gold Nugget Museum, Joy Lyn’s Candies, Theatre on the Ridge, Gold Nugget Days, Johnny Appleseed Days

READ MORE Building Innovation [Pages 32-34] The 63 Best Outdoor Spots in Butte County [Pages 10-19]

@EVIL_LITTLEBLONDE

WHY I LOVE

PARADISE

with JODY HARTLEY

On October 10, 2018, Jody Hartley and her husband, Glenn, bought Joy Lyn’s Candies, a Paradise institution since the 1960s, from Glenn’s parents. On November 8, the Camp Fire raged through Paradise, taking the Hartleys’ home and store. Two years later, Jody and Glenn were finally able to reopen at a new Paradise location, and have been busy ever since.

DESCRIBE PARADISE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN HERE?

Paradise is a community of hardworking, friendly people. We are blessed to have the slow way of life up here. There is still beauty up here, even if most of our trees have come down.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT PARADISE?

This community has become closer since the fire. Everyone supports each other and we try to keep our dollars up here. We will see our town grow.

DESCRIBE PARADISE IN 10 WORDS OR LESS?

Paradise is friends, football, BBQs, and fun!

WHY I LOVE

GRIDLEY

with TYRONE (TY) SHAFFER

Ty Shaffer is the great-great grandson of pioneers who settled in the Gridley and Pennington areas in the 1850s. He’s a retired speech therapist who loves history, art, and museums and has volunteered for various organizations since the 1980s. He is currently a docent at the Gridley Museum.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN GRIDLEY TO SHOW OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS?

I would share the Gridley Museum with visitors, a walk around the town, Gray Lodge, and a visit to the Cordi Winery in the Sutter Buttes.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT GRIDLEY?

Libby, McNeill and Libby [today simply known as Libby’s] once canned peaches, pumpkins, and tomatoes in the cannery located at the end of Virginia Street.

WHAT MAKES GRIDLEY UNIQUE? WHY?

To me, Gridley is a community that still represents the spirit of my youth. Events and businesses have come and gone, but there is still a community spirit that lingers, like the Christmas Parade and Red Suspenders Day.

GRIDLEY SPOTLIGHT GRIDLEY SPOTLIGHT

Gridley is proud of its small-town charm and invites you to discover for yourself why its city motto is “The Small Town That Loves Company." Its quaint Downtown features historic buildings, locally run shops, and a hyper-local history museum showcasing the deep community roots. Gridley has also held on to a farm-centric lifestyle in many ways since its founding by a sheep rancher. Driving just minutes in any direction from town, you’ll find yourself in wide-open spaces filled with rolling rice fields and lush green orchards. Gridley’s fairgrounds are home to the annual county fair and hunters, fishers, and other enthusiasts flock there for the area’s sporting opportunities, especially at the favorite Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. So as you’re cruising along Highway 99, enjoy a little detour and discover what the gateway to Butte County has to offer.

ALSO KNOWN AS The Small Town That Loves Company

FOUNDED

1870; incorporated 1905

BEST KNOWN FOR Butte County Fair, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

TOP ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS

Gridley Museum, Red Suspender Days, Sutter Buttes views, Historic Downtown Gridley, Casa Lupe Mexican Restaurant

@TAYLORRITA

@JESSICAFOREVERMILLER

BIGGS SPOTLIGHT BIGGS SPOTLIGHT

In Biggs, there is perhaps no more fitting symbol of the town than its iconic water tower. The tiny (pop. 1,724) farming community relies on its ample access to land water to irrigate its abundant and diverse spate of fertile farmlands, particularly rice lands. With rice lands, as well as walnut orchards, surrounding the city on all sides and rice dryers and mills dotting the pastoral landscape, it’s no surprise that Biggs is known as the “Heart of Rice Country.” With its agricultural focus, Biggs tends to forgo commercialism in favor of a quaint, quiet feel for the people who live there, with the main drive B Street, lined with historic buildings, busiest during the city’s annual 4th of July celebration. It’s a classic American experience in a small agricultural town happy to stay that way.

ALSO KNOWN AS Heart of Rice Country; formerly Biggs Station

FOUNDED

1871; incorporated 1903

BEST KNOWN FOR The Lavender Ranch, Sunwest Milling, Red Top Rice Growers

TOP ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS

B Street, Colonia Hotel, 4th of July Celebration

@THECOLONIABUILDING

WHEELER RANCH AND FEED

WHY I LOVE

BIGGS

with DONNA BAYLISS

Since 1983, Donna Bayliss has been the president and owner of Bayliss Ranch, a successful rice and botanicals producer, including the popular Lavender Ranch line of products.

DESCRIBE BIGGS TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN HERE?

A person might not think of a middleAmerica farm community existing in California, but it is common here in Northern California. Biggs is the picturesque small-town farm community with grain silos and tractors on the street.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON IN BIGGS? WHY?

It’s hard to choose between planting and harvest time, but both are magical. Breaking the ground for planting reminds you of a birth, especially as a farmer, and the life cycle that ends in harvesting is celebrated as much as a birth. Rewards of your efforts are seen so clearly in the bounty of a harvest.

DESCRIBE BIGGS IN 10 WORDS OR LESS?

Independence with water, food, utilities. Family life. Recreation, hunting, fishing.

@FARMERS_HILL_PHOTOGRAPHY

BUTTE MEADOWS

BEYOND THE BUSTLE

BEYOND THE BUSTLE

DISCOVER HISTORY & ACTIVITY IN THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES

NORD

CHEROKEE

INSKIP

In its earliest years, Butte County was home to mining and saw milling and was a prime stopover point for stagecoaches and rails serving those industries and the communities that grew around them. As the county developed, those industries faded, and with them, much of the economic source of the communities. However, while the major industries that once supported the areas were gone, small pockets of residents remained in these unincorporated communities to create new versions of their once bustling towns.

Butte Meadows, for example, developed around the Sierra Lumber Company and was a summer resort location for those living in Chico, San Francisco, and other cities. However, with the lumber mill and resorts long closed, the small hamlet in the northernmost region of the county is today home to fewer than 50 people. During the summer, its higher elevations offer a cool reprieve from the valley summer heat, while its location in the snow-covered Lassen National Forest makes it a popular destination for winter day trips, especially with stops at local favorites The Outpost and The Bambi Inn.

Nearby Inskip was a gold rush destination most famously supported by its inn. A popular stop for miners traveling through in its heyday, the town now has a population so miniscule it doesn’t move the census and only a few small buildings, including the rebuilt (and, if rumors are true, haunted by an arsonist-hunting ghost) Inskip Hotel, now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Just a few miles south, Stirling City originated in 1903 as a milling destination for the Diamond Match Co. from Ohio. For 70 years, Stirling City’s major economic driver was its sawmill, which closed in the 1970s. Today, the town is home to just about 300 people. Visitors can enjoy a visit to Clotilde Merlo Park May through October.

South of Chico, Durham was originally established in 1917 as an experimental cooperative agricultural colony, and maintains much of that agricultural lifestyle today. Dotted with large homesteads and featuring a variety of orchards, it’s not out of the ordinary for visitors seeking a rural break to enjoy a day wine tasting at the Durham Wine District or intimate farm experiences at a generational family farm.

Cherokee was once home to Maidu Native Americans before gold miners set up camp. Thanks to one of the state’s most productive hydraulic mines, the town’s population once reached the thousands. But the mine was short lived, closing before the turn of the 20th century. Today, all that remains are a cemetery, the Cherokee Museum, and a population of about 70.

East as the bird flies, Berry Creek has been many things over the years—a gold mining camp, a stagecoach stop, a lumber town, a vacation spot. Today, it’s home to retirees wanting a quieter life and those who want to live a little off the grid. Locals will tell you that it’s more a zip code than a defined place. In September of 2020, a wildfire tore through the area, displacing the 6,000 people who called it home. Many are eager to return and rebuild, demonstrating the grit so common to the community.

On the Butte-Yuba line in the southeast corner of the county, Bangor is home to just under 700 people. Founded in 1855 as a mining boomtown by homesick travelers from Maine, today Bangor is enjoying a mini wine industry boom. The particularly fertile agricultural region has a well-deserved place on the famed North Sierra Wine Trail. You can enjoy a day tasting at a variety of wineries in the Bangor Wine and Spirits Region. Though the industries at the foundation of these places are long gone, the unincorporated communities that remain are home to plenty of history and activity beyond the bustle of the cities.

Restaurants:

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

To say that 2020 was a year like no other would be an understatement—just ask our restaurants. With shutdowns, shelters-in-place, reopenings, and reclosings, 2020 saw Butte County restaurants of all sizes working overtime to keep up, stay open, and serve everyone wanting a good meal. While some had to shut their doors for good, many more discovered new ways to make the best out of an uncertain situation.

TAKEOUT, TAKEOUT, TAKEOUT

Across the county, restaurants upped their takeout offerings. Many, such as Chico’s Tender Loving Coffee, Pizza Riot, and Italian Cottage and Oroville’s Early Bird Donuts, launched online ordering or delivery options for contactless dining, while drinks-to-go in reusable mason jars meant that you could enjoy your favorite margaritas from Tres Hombres or the featured draft at The Lab Bar and Grill. Cities jumped in to help as well, creating dedicated curbside parking spaces for easy pickup for the explosion in to-go options.

AL FRESCO DINING

Those still wanting a safe dine-at restaurant experience delighted at the increase in outdoor dining options. Remodels and openings meant new permanent patio spaces at Rawbar Restaurant & Sushi and Oroville’s new Union Restaurant, while others, like Red Tavern in Chico, expanded their outdoor dining spaces. And many of those without the space or resource for permanent solutions took advantage of new regulations to allow for dining in

the street. “Parklets” created with barricades in former parking spaces sprung up throughout Chico, such as at Momona and Naked Lounge, while other restaurants, such as Franky’s, Basque Norte, and Durham’s Almendra Winery & Distillery set up service in their parking lots.

FAMILY MEALS & MORE

With all the time spent at home in 2020, feeding the family got a little tedious, so restaurants, such as Bacio, Crush, and Paradise’s Nic’s stepped up with tasty family meals. Those wanting to do the

cooking themselves but still support their local restaurants found deals at 5th Street Steakhouse, which selling cuts of meat. For food fun and activities all in one, Shubert’s Ice Cream & Candy and Sweet Chico Confections offered DIY sweet treat kits for kids (and kids-at-heart) to enjoy at home. After the year that was 2020, no matter how the situation changes throughout 2021, Butte County restaurants will be ready to serve you, and they can’t wait to open their doors to welcome you for indoor dining again.

2020 saw Butte County restaurants of all sizes working overtime to keep up, stay open, and serve everyone...

Butte County’s Beer & Wine Scene

PINTS & POURS

A community-focused, locally sourced brewery making both the classic styles and original innovations.

British Bulldog Brewery

14540 Camaren Park Dr, Chico

British Bulldog was conceived from a passion to make British style brews in the traditional way using techniques from the 1700's.

The Commons Social Empourium

341 Main St, Chico

At The Commons you are in control of your own pour. Whether it’s a taster, a half glass or a full pint, it’s easy to find your favorite beer. Each tap has a screen describing what you’ll be tasting. Top off your glass and gather around for a friendly conversation at our community tables or venture outside for games on our dog-friendly patio.

loved by locals

SECRET TRAIL BREWING CO.

@SECRETTRAILBREWINGCO

Whether you’re a beer enthusiast or wine connoisseur, you’ll find plenty of choices while in Butte County.

Hops fans will want to check out Chico, where all beer talk in the area starts with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (read more on pg. 56-58), the most well-known brewer, and often synonymous with Chico as the home of the craft brewing industry. While its flagship Pale Ale received a lukewarm response upon its initial offering in 1980, Sierra Nevada eventually rose to the top of the craft brewing world, sparking a renaissance across the country. In Butte County, though, it’s really been in the last decade that a community of educated beer drinkers with a taste for smaller breweries developed. Most noticeable has been the

evolution of a craft brew explosion in Chico, where today you’ll find ample taprooms, tasting rooms, and breweries.

Many of the small breweries dotting Chico, such as Secret Trail Brewing Co. and Mulberry Station, are in more industrial areas, offering a more casual experience with a markedly different vibe from a college bar. Tasting rooms, such as the Chico Taproom, The Commons Social Empourium, or The Lost Dutchman Taproom, offer a range of local brews. And even while Downtown, you can enjoy a pint at laid-back, more adult locations, such as Nor Cal Brewing Co or the English-inspired Allies Pub, featuring its own British Bulldog Brewery label. The growth in smaller brewers and breweries has also seen the rise of beer alternatives, such

Chat with the makers themselves, and take a bottle or two home to savor after your trip is over...and to get inspired for your return.

as ciders from Lassen Traditional Cider and Cellar Door Cider, as well as glutenfree rice ales and lagers from Eckert Malting and Brewing

Not to be outdone, Butte County’s wine scene is quietly but quickly making a name for itself as well. Thanks to fertile, deep topsoil and high valley heat that brings out the sugars and intensifies the flavor of classic European varietals, growers have found success in the region. Oenophiles can enjoy tastings from about 20 wineries and vineyards across the county, particularly in the agricultural hotbeds in Durham, Oroville, and Bangor, which each boasts an enviable list of wine purveyors and growers. The four-winery Durham Wine District and three-winery Bangor Wine Region make for great tasting day trips, while Oroville offers several independent wineries, such as

Purple Line Urban Winery downtown and Long Creek Winery and Ranch just minutes from Lake Oroville.

Organic wines also feature prominently in the local wine scene, thanks to breezy valley winds that mean growers can use sulfur as a natural fungicide or even none at all. Some of the more renowned organic wineries in the county include Nascere Vineyards and Dog Creek Cellars, located in Durham, and LaRocca Vineyards, all of which have been featured on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail in recent years.

Whatever your preference, make sure to explore Butte County’s breweries and wineries during your visit and discover for yourself the local tastes, chat with the makers themselves, and take a bottle or two home to savor after your trip is over... and to get inspired for your return.

BUTTE COUNTY’S WINE SCENE IS QUIETLY BUT QUICKLY MAKING A NAME FOR ITSELF.

BREWING INNOVATION

By Michael Riser

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is known all over the world for their delicious varieties of beer, but they’re also one of the brightest jewels in Butte County’s crown. To this crew of beer-loving entrepreneurs, innovation means loving where you are, being loyal to your biggest fans, and always honoring your roots, even as you push forward with new ideas.

A DEEP LOVE OF COMMUNITY

For co-founder Ken Grossman and his family, Butte County runs in their blood. When the 2018 Camp Fire devastated Paradise, Sierra Nevada was quick to offer necessities to those who lost their homes, in addition to creating the Butte Strong Fund with several partners, and starting a brewing project that would encompass scores of other brewers all donating 100% of its funds to the cause. Ken and his wife, Katie, also donated 10 acres

to the Butte Humane Society for the building of a new facility.

It’s a symbiotic relationship, as it’s the community that gave them the reach they currently enjoy. Before their international renown, locals would travel and carry their favorite beer along with them, and road-tripping students from California State University, Chico would often bring brews to music festivals and social gatherings. Yet Sierra Nevada remains a thoroughly local product: instead of relocating to a larger facility as the company has grown over the years, they’ve focused on reinvesting in the Chico brewery that made them famous, expanding the boundaries of its capacity and capabilities.

A LOCAL FLAVOR TO THE LEADING EDGE

That community heart means that when the brewers look at innovation, it isn’t merely to expand production; it’s a determination to find better ways of doing business, a commitment that has led them to look at the whole of their business from top to bottom.

Their Chico Fermentation Project created the organic Strainge Beast Hard Kombucha—the first non-beer beverage made by the company, realized through a partnership with Oregon State University’s Fermentation Science program. But they also look at more routine things, which has advanced their vision of the brewery complex with

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING

Craft Brewing Pioneers with a love for their community.

@SIERRANEVADA

the aim of making it as self-sufficient as possible. A solar array covers about 20% of their power needs, and their Waste Stream Initiative helps them recycle cardboard, stretch wrap, and rubber gloves used in the lab and bottling line, keeping 99% of their waste out of landfills. They work with hop and grain growers to maintain salmon-safe practices and to avoid pesticides. Carbon dioxide is recovered from the fermentation process and reused in pressurizing tanks, much like the biogas generated by their anaerobic digester— which pretreats wastewater headed to the municipal system—gets used as fuel in their boilers.

The Chico Taproom, where visitors can grab a delicious meal to go with a fresh pint, features vegetables grown in Sierra Nevada’s own organic garden and greenhouse. What they don’t grow themselves, they source so locally it often comes from within a 10-mile radius: Chico State’s University Farm supplies produce, Llano Seco supplies pork, and Mary’s Chickens supplies poultry—the menu even has some options for vegans. There are also free charging stations for electric vehicles in the parking lot, open to public use.

COME FOR THE BEER, STAY FOR A TOUR

With this perennial focus on the local, Sierra Nevada has also looked near to hand when crafting new beer. The Baltic Joy Porter uses local almonds from Maisie Jane’s, and the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter uses almonds, local Lundberg rice, barley from Sierra Nevada’s own fields, and some of the extremely popular peaches from Chico State’s University Farm.

The biggest fans will want to come to the taproom to experience beers that don’t normally get a wider release, or archived beers pulled up from the back catalog of past brews. Sierra Nevada is working hard to improve their small canning line to allow for more of these special brews, pushing toward a goal of monthly or bimonthly smallbatch releases by early 2021. Those who have taken advantage of Sierra Nevada’s groundbreaking virtual tours and tastings but still want to see everything in person—as soon as conditions allow—2021 will be a perfect time to visit.

"Innovation makes us more efficient, makes us a better brewer, and also aligns with our consumers."

-Terence Sullivan, Sierra Nevada Brand Manager

Support your local favorites or expand your taste bud horizons during Butte County Restaurant Week. With only 10 days of specials, you should start mapping out your menu options today!

For more info:

ExploreButteCounty.com/RestaurantWeek

Butte County Restaurant Week - always celebrated the last 10 days of January

BEST OF RESTAURANT WEEK

Twenty-two restaurants showcased $20.21 specials for the 3rd annual Butte County Restaurant Week in 2021. While all created delectable bites, the following restaurants were rated most highly by the diners.

MOST CREATIVE RESTAURANT WEEK SPECIAL

ALMENDRA WINERY & DISTILLERY

With two wine and spirit flight pairings plus lunch and dinner special, Almendra went all out for Restaurant Week, and diners loved the abundance of options!

What diners had to say: “Wow...this is the best meal I’ve had in a long time. Spectacular flavors, beautiful presentation and so delicious. They need to add it to their daily menu.”

OVERALL RESTAURANT WEEK SPECIAL

ALMENDRA WINERY & DISTILLERY

For the second year in a row, Almendra Winery & Distillery was voted tops for both their Restaurant Week Creativity and Overall Special!

What diners had to say: “I loved this meal and it was my favorite of the five places we have tried during [Restaurant Week].”

BEST VALUE

DRUNKEN DUMPLING

First-time participants Drunken Dumpling knocked it out of the park with their sampler plate of three types of dumplings, a side of kimchi, and two soups. What diners had to say: “More than enough to take leftovers home, definitely an excellent value.”

STANDOUT SERVICE

RED TAVERN

The ever-popular Red Tavern wowed visitors with not only their delicious Shrimp and Bay Scallops in a garlic white wine broth over creamy risotto, but also their stellar service.

What diners had to say: “Fantastic service— with five people and lots of orders, they were so attentive and knowledgeable.”

DRUNKEN DUMPLING

RED TAVERN

FOOD ON FOUR WHEELS

Finding food trucks in California has never been easier, and Butte County happily claims its share of delicious mobile options to choose from! From tasty tacos to savory barbecue to juicy burgers (and more), you’ll find the perfect food truck in Butte County. Don’t believe us? Here are some real Google and Yelp reviews from real diners raving about just a few of the many delicious mobile food spots available. When you’re ready to grab some grub, we recommend a quick location check on Facebook.

Meehos

Regularly at: 6808 Skyway Rd, Paradise

“Fantastic ambience and very friendly service. The food was fresh and delightful. Will surely recommend this restaurant to anyone. Reasonable prices and big meals. Good job.” –Edgar Z.

Joe's Lunch Togo

Regularly at: Corner of Lincoln and Bird St, Oroville

“I am not even kidding!! One of the best cheeseburgers I have ever had. Cooked perfectly, juicy and delicious. If you see the truck, STOP AND EAT!! You will not regret it!” –Matt H.

Inday's Filipino Food Truck

Regularly at: Secret Trail Brewery, 132 Meyers St, Ste 120, Chico

“I must say that this deserves more than 5 stars. It is amazing food quality and very authentic. If you're ever out looking for what to eat with family or alone this is the spot. Yummiest food out there.” –Veronica F.

Taco Trucks

TACOS EL CENTENARIO

Regularly at: 1114 W FIRST ST, CHICO

“Some of the best burritos in town. It's a no-brainer, don't go anywhere else for a burrito. Always fast, always polite and friendly.” –Andrew B.

TACOS SUPER TONAYA

Regularly at: 1456 MANGROVE AVE, CHICO

“These burritos are hefty, and hit the spot. It's busy whenever I go, but that's how you know it's good. Worth the trip, worth the wait, worth the price. I love this taco truck.” –Florence B.

TACOS EL GRULLENSE

Regularly at: 396 E PARK AVE, CHICO

“The BEST tacos in town. There’s just no debate. $1 tacos + the juiciest asada you’ve ever had. Can’t go wrong here, I swear.” –Cameron M.

FIESTA TACO

Regularly at: 933 NORD AVE, CHICO

“Possibly the best taco truck in the whole of the US. Exceptional service, efficiency and outstanding food for pennies on what you would pay anywhere else.” –Andrew L.

Burgers, Sandwiches & More

THE BLACK KETTLE

Regularly at: SECRET TRAIL BREWERY, 132 MEYERS ST, STE 120, CHICO

“The Black Kettle has the best food I have ever ever had. Pure ecstasy is the only way to truly describe the food. You are a fool if you have not eaten anything from The Black Kettle yet.” –Danielle G.

RIGHTEOUS BURGER

Regularly at: TOWN & COUNTRY PARKING LOT, 2586 OLIVE HWY, OROVILLE

“Amazing burgers with so many options, love their fried cheese and their fries! Great price for the combos and absolutely awesome service! Favorite burger place in Oroville!” –Savannah E.

THE PATTY WAGON

Regularly at: 7126 SKYWAY RD, PARADISE

“The very best hamburgers & fries in Butte co. along with everything else. The folks are really nice people.” –Linda D.

E&J’S MOBILE KITCHEN

Regularly at: 5917-5905 CLARK RD, PARADISE

“Excellent food. Best food truck in town by a longshot. Clean working space. Lots of choices. Even Alligator Bites! All original recipes. Wow!”

–John B.

Something Different

CRISPY EGGROLL

Regularly at: 2501 S WHITMAN PL, CHICO

“Eggrolls mandatory, everything else on the menu super good, but I recommend the curry noodles. Owners are super nice, too. This place is a must-go every time I'm in that part of town.” –Dustin G.

CHICOBI’S

Regularly at: SECRET TRAIL BREWERY, 132 MEYERS ST, STE 120, CHICO

“Chicobi's fare is fresh, fun and fantastic! Obi works with you to create the perfect menu for your event. You definitely can't go wrong with Chicobi's!” –Katarina D.

BOOTLEG BBQ

Regularly at: 1184 EAST AVE, CHICO

“Great is an understatement. Ribs were meaty and the original sauce was tasty. Highly recommend the Bootleg BBQ if you want a takeout delight.” –Ronald A.

CAMPFIRE BBQ

Regularly at: 8095 SKYWAT RD, PARADISE

“I've tried all the other BBQ, but this one is freaking amazing! The menu is simple yet delicious! The entire menu here is made from scratch, and you can really taste the love that goes into it!” –Bernadette R.

STATE THEATRE Restoring the

For over 90 years, the now-historic Oroville State Theatre has been a centerpiece of the downtown landscape.

Built in 1927 by renowned California architect Timothy Pflueger, with its first performance on April 7, 1928, the State Theatre started its life as a vaudeville theater. In the style of the time, it was ornately decorated and equipped with a Wurlitzer organ.

Over the decades, though, as it moved from silent movies to contemporary blockbusters, from one owner to another, those original flourishes disappeared—painted over, removed, shrunk, or otherwise forgotten.

The State Theatre Arts Guild (STAGE), the all-volunteer group that operates and manages the theater, is working to change that by returning the building to its original appearance and ambience. As is the case with all things worth having, it’s a slow and steady process.

In the spring of 2019, visitors to the State Theatre would have encountered a space that felt somewhat rundown with strips of paint missing on one wall here, a bit of the ceiling there, with a general air of incompleteness. But rather than from disrepair, those strips of missing paint were intentional, revealing nearly 10 layers of paints from over the decades, including the original colors and decorative finishes from the 1920s and 1930s. Along with historical photos of the building from its glory days, STAGE is using those stripped samples to repaint and renovate the State Theater and bring it back to its “period of greatest influence,” generally considered between 1934 and 1948, with that signature art deco influence.

Some of those photos are displayed in the State Theatre’s lobby. Black and white framed photographs from various points of the theater’s life show the changes over the decades. You can see why STAGE is working so hard to bring the past into the present: in 1941, the theatre had an ornate, brightly lit marquee and conspicuous “State” sign that put the “modern” design to shame.

And by the time STAGE reopened the doors to the State Theatre in fall 2019, after its summer break, visitors were now wowed by renovations that brought the theatre’s past to its present: an updated art deco water fountain and ceiling detailing, a large renovated mural on the staircase

landing, and, most notably, a new digital marquee, which pays tribute to the 1941 design and (quite literally) makes the State Theater once again shine downtown.

FROM BOLD TO BLAND

Built for and operated by T&D Jr. Enterprises, which also owned the Senator Theatre (in Chico), the State Theatre’s original design reflected a time when going to a movie was still considered a capital-E Experience.

But when United Artists bought the theater in the late 1970s, they “modernized” it, painting over or changing most of the remaining original flourishes, and “twinning” the theater with a dividing wall so they could show two movies at a time and decreasing the capacity from nearly 1,600 to only 600. By the time United Artists sold the State Theatre to the City of Oroville in 1983, much of the spirit that was built into the Theatre in 1927 was lost.

2019's restoration of the mural brought one more original detail back to life.

BRINGING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT

Today, STAGE manages the theatre’s day-to-day operations and continues to promote the dream of its complete restoration: a modern theatre with the style and elegance of its original designs.

In that same spirit, the State Theatre opens its doors for a variety of contemporary and vintage-inspired events, including the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, classical music concerts, tribute bands, youth productions, and other community presentations. Particularly popular is the playing of the Mighty Wurlitzer, which you can enjoy during select performances and special occasions. Whenever it’s played, the sounds of the organ fill the auditorium and drift into the lobby, transporting you back to State Theatre's heyday.

And if you close your eyes and listen, you can almost see what the theater was like 90 years ago—and where its supporters hope it will be in the future.

FOR YOUR VISIT

Open October 1 through July 5, tours are available only during special events and for groups by reservation. Visit to discover the various restoration endeavors or hear the notes of the Wurlitzer in person.

Check the theater’s website for a calendar of events, including a variety of live performances, at OrovilleStateTheatre.com.

Restoring

THE WURLITZER

STAGE continues renovation on a Wurlitzer organ that was returned to the theater in 2018, thanks to the support of benefactors and ongoing individual citizens’ donations.

The State Theatre originally had an organ, but it was removed when the silent film era ended; today, with the installation of the Wurlitzer, the theater is one of only 200 theaters in the country to have a functioning organ. With about 1,200 pipes connected to dozens of instruments, the Wurlitzer is one of the most expensive and time-consuming parts of the overall restoration—but it’s well worth the effort. Help restore the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ by adopting a pipe at OrovilleStateTheatre.com/ Product/Adopt-A-Pipe.

WATCH THE WURLITZER BEING PLAYED BY SCANNING THE CODE BELOW!

ON DISPLAY At Chico

State

As the creative training ground for young artists and performers in Butte County, it should be no surprise that Chico State University is home to a variety of galleries and performance spaces—but it may be a surprise to learn that you don’t have to be a student to visit them.

Perhaps the most well-known of Chico State’s museums is the Gateway Science Museum, actually located about a half-mile off campus. Dedicated to inspiring the exploration of science in youths, this is a particularly good spot to visit if you have kids in tow, but kids at heart will have fun, too!

Back on campus, just steps from the bustle of Downtown Chico, Laxson Auditorium is a central part of both the university and the larger Chico community. With 1,200 seats, it is the largest theater in Butte County, so it hosts touring groups, special guests, concerts, and more, including student-produced performances, throughout the year, making it a popular datenight destination on any given weekend.

Walking farther into campus, you’ll discover spaces that promote work ranging from professional exhibits to fully student-created and curated. At Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology in the Meriam Library complex, you’ll be able to explore the fully student-led museum, where museum studies students research, design, and install three new exhibitions each year.

At the nearby Arts and Humanities building, three museums and galleries share the first floor, showcasing a variety of artwork just steps from each other. The Janet Turner Print Museum houses a permanent collection of more than 3,500 fine art prints from 40 countries spanning six centuries, with several public exhibitions throughout the year. Students pursuing their Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) showcase their work at the Masters of Fine Arts Gallery with rotating exhibitions, while the Jacki Headley University Art Gallery hosts exhibits from regional, national, and international artists as well as the MFA culminating exhibitions and Annual Juried Student exhibition. For undergraduate art students, the B-So Space is a student centered space primarily used for Bachelor of Fine Arts students

GATEWAY SCIENCE

to showcase their culminating solo exhibitions as well as feature work from various art classes and student clubs. So during your next visit to Butte County, make sure to catch a show and explore a gallery at Chico State—no student ID needed.

Most of the museums and galleries are normally open to the public only when school is in session, but due to COVID-19, all were closed or offered online exhibitions only in 2020. Please check the Chico State website for current openings and hours.

Butte College Art Gallery features regular exhibitions of contemporary art.

Beauty at

BUTTE COLLEGE

Located in the ARTS building on the main campus, the Butte College Art Gallery features regular exhibitions of contemporary art and also hosts an Annual Juried Student Exhibition and Awards Ceremony that honors some of the college’s most talented art students. Make sure to check their Facebook page for up-to-date hours before your visit.

LAXSON AUDITORIUM

ARTS & CULTURE ABOUND

In the vibrant arts and culture community in Butte County, street murals greet visitors, history abounds, and performances run year-round. Discover world-renowned hand-blown glass, sample the photography, lithography and handmade crafts at galleries throughout the county, learn about the area’s history, and more.

ART MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

1078 GALLERY

1710 Park Ave, Chico

B-SO SPACE

Ayers Hall – Room 105, Chico State

400 W 1st St, Chico

CHICO ART CENTER

450 Orange St #6, Chico

G-TOWN HOT SHOP & GLASS

ART GALLERY

2280 Ivy St Suite 120, Chico

JACKI HEADLEY UNIVERSITY

ART GALLERY

Arts & Humanities Building – Room 121, Chico State

400 W 1st St, Chico

JANET TURNER PRINT MUSEUM

Arts & Humanities Building – Room 123, Chico State

400 W 1st St, Chico

MASTERS OF FINE ARTS GALLERY

Arts & Humanities Building – Room 122, Chico State

400 W 1st St, Chico

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS GALLERY

900 Esplanade, Chico

ORIENT & FLUME ART GLASS

2161 Park Ave, Chico

SATAVA ART GLASS STUDIO

819 Wall St, Chico

SUTHERLAND GLASS ART

100 Kentucky St, Gridley

HISTORY MUSEUMS & BUILDINGS

BIDWELL MANSION STATE

HISTORIC PARK

525 Esplanade, Chico

BOLT'S ANITQUE TOOL MUSEUM

1650 Broderick St, Oroville

BUTTE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM

1749 Spencer Ave, Oroville

C.F. LOTT HOME

1067 Montgomery St, Oroville

CHICO AIR MUSEUM

165 Ryan Ave, Chico

CHICO HISTORY MUSEUM

141 Salem St, Chico

CHINESE TEMPLE

1500 Broderick St, Oroville

COLMAN MUSEUM & CENTERVILLE SCHOOLHOUSE

13548 Centerville Rd, Chico

EHMANN HOME

1480 Lincoln St, Oroville

GOLD NUGGET MUSEUM & DEPOT MUSEUM

502 Pearson Rd, Paradise

GRIDLEY MUSEUM

601 Kentucky St, Gridley

PATRICK RANCH MUSEUM

10381 Midway, Chico

PIONEER HISTORY MUSEUM

2332 Montgomery St, Oroville

STANSBURY HOME

307 W 5th St #5505, Chico

VALENE L. SMITH MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY

400 W 1st St, Chico

PERFORMANCE SPACES

BIRDCAGE THEATRE

1740 Bird St, Oroville

CHICO THEATER COMPANY

166 E Eaton Rd #F, Chico

HEADLEY GALLERY

THEATRE ON THE RIDGE

EL REY THEATER

GOLD NUGGET MUSEUM

VALENE L. SMITH MUSEUM of ANTHROPOLOGY

JASON HALLEY

@AARONELDINBAUER

EL REY THEATER

230 W 2nd St, Chico

LAXSON AUDITORIUM

400 W 1st St, Chico

PARADISE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

777 Nunneley Rd, Paradise

SENATOR THEATRE

517 Main St, Chico

STATE THEATRE

1489 Myers St, Oroville

THEATRE ON THE RIDGE

3735 Neal Rd, Paradise

FAMILY/KID FRIENDLY SPACES

BARRY KIRSHNER WILDLIFE

SANCTUARY

4995 Durham-Pentz Rd., Oroville

CHICO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

325 Main St, Chico

CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER

1968 E. 8th St, Chico

FEATHER RIVER NATURE CENTER & NATIVE PLANT PARK

Montgomery St & Old Ferry Rd, Oroville

GATEWAY SCIENCE MUSEUM

625 Esplanade, Chico

LAKE OROVILLE VISITORS CENTER

917 Kelly Ridge Rd, Oroville

NATIONAL YO-YO MUSEUM

320 Broadway St, Chico

G-TOWN HOT SHOP

CHINESE TEMPLE

@BLUESLKPHOTO

@JAKEGUILD

The Fun Starts Here

Oroville is a small city where recreation abounds. With five lakes and a river running through the middle of it, our beautiful city has a variety of recreational opportunities for all ability levels.

When you’re ready to wind down from adventure, visit our historic downtown district where you can shop for unique gifts and enjoy local cuisine all within walking distance of the river.

Table Mountain

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MURAL MANIA

While not primarily known as an art destination, you’ll find a variety of murals, sculptures, and other public art throughout Butte County. From the vibrant and modern murals in Chico to those reflecting the agricultural and Gold Rush history in Oroville to smaller artistic surprises across the county, enjoying a self-guided public art tour is a great way to explore the area. As you adventure out, see if you can find the murals and sculptures listed below as well as the dozens of others not listed!

CHICO

1. Love by Jed Speer

2. Peace and Harmony by Shepard Fairey

3. Together by Jed Speer

4. Today Decides Tomorrow by Autumn Robertson and Rafa Orti

5. 1078 Gallery Mural by Siana Sonoquie

6. Our Hands by Donna Billick

OROVILLE

7. Mine Shaft Mural by Ted Hanson and Frank Wilson

8. Union Mural by Forest Wong

9. Black Bart Attack on the Oroville, 1882

PARADISE

10. Here We Grow by Jed Speer

11. Key Phoenix by Jesse Mercer

DURHAM

12. Durham Mural by Christine MacShane

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FOUR-LEGGED FUN

Explore art and culture during Butte County Museum Weekend. Participating museums, galleries and theaters throughout the county welcome the public for free access and other ticketed special offerings!

For more info:

ExploreButteCounty.com/MuseumWeekend

CAMPUS EXPLORATIONS Collegiate Adventures Await

With a major California State University and an athletic powerhouse community college, Butte County offers a robust collegiate experience for students, alumni, fans, and visitors alike.

At Chico State, you’ll find one of California’s most iconic universities, serving up a unique yet quintessential college experience. With their close proximity to each other, the university and Downtown Chico community are closely intertwined, with students an everyday part of life, both on and off campus.

Of course, when school is in session, students can be found in every corner of the 119-acre campus—and if you’re visiting, you should explore it, too! With majestic shade trees, a rose garden, and iconic brick Romanesque architecture, a stroll through the campus of the second-oldest school in the California State University system is well worth a trip of its own.

Off campus, you’ll find yourself around students constantly. During local annual events, like Thursday Night Market and Taste of Chico, they add an extra energy that only comes from the freedom of youth. Even venturing beyond campus, you’ll mingle with students throughout the ever popular Bidwell Park and iconic photo ops like Monkey Face, Bear Hole, and Yahi Trail. On the weekends, the streets of Downtown Chico come to life as students hit the town at some of their favorite bars, such as Madison Bear Garden or Riley’s, with Sunday morning classic brunch spots, like Mom’s and Sin of Cortez, full of those recovering from the night before.

@BRIDGITMCKAY

Beyond campus and the city center, you’ll discover some hidden gems in outdoor classrooms that are also great spots for visitors to explore, such as the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve and Paul L. Bryne Agricultural Teaching and Research Center, more commonly known as The University Farm.

Venture south to Oroville for an entirely different collegiate experience with a visit to Butte College. Located on the outskirts of Oroville, the mostly commuter community college provides a much more rural and agricultural vibe for its students who are training to be the next generation of nurses, law enforcement, EMTs, firefighters, welders, and more. Students in the Agriculture, Natural Resource/ Environmental Studies, Biology, and other

programs also enjoy hands-on learning experiences at the 928-acre Butte College Wildlife Refuge that the college is located on, which acts as an outdoor laboratory and is also a beautiful spot for visitors to enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing. And on weekends during the fall, you can enjoy a classic Saturday night football game on campus with the Butte College Football program. With two National Championships under its belt and famous alumni that includes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, every game is full of excitement.

With so much college life in Butte County, both campuses offer the opportunity for a perfect trip for creating new memories while reminiscing about your own days on campus.

During local annual events, like Thursday Night Market and Taste of Chico, they add an extra energy that only comes from the freedom of youth.

MORE TO EXPLORE

Continue your college connection with these favorites

Chico Paper Company

A powerful combination of framing shop and art gallery for nearly 50 years, you’ll want to explore and select a piece from a local artist to take home with you.

Crazy Horse Saloon

Get crazy with a ride on the mechanical bull—just to remind yourself that you’re not as young as you once were.

Made in Chico

Selling only Chico-made art, photography, and other goods, the store is your opportunity to take home a piece of Chico with you.

Naked Lounge

Start off your day with a handcrafted espresso drink in this popular coffee shop and music venue located right in the middle of Downtown Chico.

Woodstock’s Pizza

With great pizza, trivia nights, and the latest game on the big screen, all at an updated location, it's a great place to spend an afternoon.

@PILE_OF_GARBITCH

@KYRASGREENWOOD

@JUST_INTHEZONE

A Few of Our

FAVORITE THINGS

With innovators, designers, creators, and makers across Butte County, you’ll find a wide variety of locally made goods perfect for birthdays, holidays, souvenirs, and more. Any gift from our 2020 Twelve Favorite Things holiday guide is guaranteed to be a hit!

Mary Lake-Thompson

2121 Montgomery St, Oroville

Holiday Flour Sack Towel Set

We love Mary LakeThompson’s holiday towel sets, which add the perfect touch of whimsy to any kitchen and are almost too cute to use.

Tender Loving Coffee

365 E 6th St, Chico

La Patrona Blend Coffee Beans and Mug

When we can’t make it to the cafe, we love brewing a cup of La Patrona Blend at home, made and savored with a little extra TLC.

Wild Ink Press

183 E 6th St, Chico

Merry Wreaths

Boxed Note Cards

We know that friends and family will love the Christmas wreaths cards from Wild Ink Press.

Amy Waltz Designs

290 Airpark Blvd, Chico

Small Silver Organic Rectangle Earrings

Bold and statement-making yet delicate enough for anytime wear, don’t be surprised if you catch us wearing these earrings to all our (virtual) parties.

Poppy Rose Candle Co.

Online only on Etsy

Trio of Mini Holiday Candles

The holiday candles from Poppy Rose Candle Co. are our must-haves for cozy winter nights at home and making a good gift an even better one.

Upper Park Clothing

122 W 3rd St, Chico

Black Box Logo Beanie

The classic Upper Park beanie is perfect for those cold weather explorations, and our friends love taking them home as mementos of the great times had in Bidwell Park.

Almendra Winery & Distillery

9275 Midway, Durham

Luna Red Wine

Almendra’s Luna red wine is the perfect blend for tasting at home while preparing a holiday meal or as a gift to a favorite friend.

Milk & Honey 1860

3317 Dry Creek Rd, Butte Valley

Gift Crate

We love the soaps, lotions, and wool from Milk & Honey 1860. Instead of trying to pick a favorite, we’re fans of their gift crates, which feature a few of their best products.

Sierra Oro Farm Trail Seasonal; Online Only

Holiday Farm Fresh Foodie Box

Featuring many of our Butte County favorites, including Sohnrey Family Foods, Lundberg Farms, Llano Seco, Maisie Jane’s, and the Lavender Ranch, the Sierra Oro Farm Trail holiday foodie box is so good, we’re buying at least three for gifts this year!

Brushstrokes Studio & Art Gallery

1967 Montgomery St, Oroville

Oroville Prints by Ben North

The emotion Ben North captures in every photo makes you just feel something, and his landscapes look great in any living room.

Treasures from Paradise

969 Bille Rd, Paradise

10” Carved Bears by Dan Forschler

We just had to share these wooden bears, carved from trees felled by the 2018 Camp Fire. With a bear at home, no matter where you live, you’ll have a little piece

Orient & Flume

2161 Park Ave, Chico

Art Glass

We think the holiday season should be the “Treat Yo’ Self” season, and the beautiful hand-blown glass from Orient & Flume is the perfect elegant gift for yourself (or a loved one).

AGRICULTURAL PAST MEETS PRESENT

For the past 150 years, Butte County has been an agricultural leader in California, with innovative ideas and farmers with a deep respect for the land.

With agricultural roots reaching back to the earliest innovations in California farming, Butte County today is still home to farms, large and small, carrying on the legacy of quality and innovation that has existed in Butte County for more than 100 years, producing some of the state’s best olive oils, fruit, rice, and nuts.

Chico’s founder, John Bidwell, is known as “a founding father of modern California agriculture.” He championed diversified commercial agriculture, pioneered the growth of the almond and walnut industry, and grew his ranch into a model of California’s farm industry in the second half of the 19th century.

Long after John Bidwell, almonds and other tree nuts continue to flourish in Butte County. For five generations, Sohnrey Family Foods in Oroville has been growing

ANDREW SOHNREY

@KAMRON__BLT

almonds, walnuts, rice, and prunes and selling high-quality consumer products while focusing on stewardship of the lands they tend. They generate renewable energy for their farm and food manufacturing facility through two solar panel systems and use drones and orchard moisture sensors to reduce their water usage, among other conservation efforts.

You can also buy almonds and other nut products from Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products. A third-generation almond-farmer’s daughter, Maisie Jane began roasting nuts in the family kitchen at 17, and the company grew from a college project into a sustainable business. For a seasonal treat, head to Harrison’s California Chestnuts to buy chestnuts directly from the growers during the fall harvest.

Olive oil production in Oroville is thanks to another 19th century agriculture pioneer: Freda Ehmann, an Oroville farmer who launched California’s olive industry by perfecting a process to preserve the fruit for shipment in 1898. Today, multiple local olive oil producers build on Ehmann’s legacy. Lodestar Farms offers award-winning olive oils from their Mission olive groves with a distinct regional flavor. Fertile volcanic soil combined with a Mediterranean climate makes Oroville an ideal location for the Mission olives, with 75% of their production in the country located in the Oroville area, including from other local favorites Butte View Olive Oil and TLC Olive Oil.

In Oroville, you’ll also find the Mother Orange Tree, the oldest living orange tree in Northern California, planted in 1856. The success of its planting set off a rush to plant more orange trees in the second half of the 19th century. Today, the local industry that

Butte County today is still home to farms, large and small, carrying on the legacy of quality and innovation that has existed in Butte County for more than 100 years.

EXPERIENCE THE FARM

Such great locally grown goods are made to be celebrated

Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend

Every Columbus Day weekend, dozens of wineries and specialty farms throughout the county roll out the red carpet for a food and wine extravaganza. Participants can enjoy award-winning food and wine and meet the farmers at their own pace.

Farm City Celebration

The Farm City Celebration brings together the urban community and the agricultural community to forge a bond through educational ag events, including the annual Harvest Festival and Agri-Business Bus Tour and Lunch.

North Sierra Foothill Wine Trail

On the third weekend in April, taste the best wines from 12 artisan producers across the northern extreme of the Sierra Foothills Appellation. Crossing a variety of microclimates and terroirs, you’re able to enjoy a variety of selections and styles.

COUNTY HAS BEEN AN

IN

WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS & FARMERS WITH A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE LAND

remains is small but persistent, with local Satsuma mandarin growers, such as Mt. Ida Mandarin Ranch, Tri-L Mandarin Ranch, and Doering’s Mandarins selling seasonally from their farms and farmers markets.

With warm weather and water-retaining adobe soil, Butte County is also a fertile area for growing rice, with Richvale particularly suited for growing the crop. Of the more than 400 rice growers in the county, the Richvale-based Lundberg Family Farms is the most well-known. Founded in 1937 with sustainability and stewardship at its core, the rice growing family continues to build on this legacy, receiving the 2020 Rodale Institute’s Organic Pioneer Award for their innovative work in organic farming, use of renewable energy, and TRUE Zero Waste certification. (Read more on pg. 94-96)

South of Chico, on the east bank of the Sacramento River, Rancho Llano Seco is a sixth-generation family run farm that is situated on one of the last intact Mexican land grant properties from 1845. It responsibly and humanely raises pork and beef—using best practices as certified by Global Animal Partnership—as well as grows heirloom beans and ancient grains.

For the past 150 years, Butte County has been an agricultural leader in California, with innovative ideas and farmers with a deep respect for the land. We can’t wait to see what the next century brings.

@ANHTAYLOR

@HAYLEY.FELDMAN

BUTTE

AGRICULTURAL LEADER

CALIFORNIA,

@WOOKEYRANCH

Sohnrey's

@MILKHONEY1860

TAKE HOME THE BOUNTY

FARMERS MARKETS COUNTYWIDE

With farmers markets in Chico, Oroville, Gridley, and Paradise, there’s no shortage of places to get the freshest Butte County produce. One of the most popular markets is the Chico Certified Farmers Market, which you’ll find Downtown on E 2nd Street every Saturday, rain or shine.

MAISIE JANE’S GIFTS

1324 DAYTON RD, CHICO

Nut butters, roasted nuts, chocolate-covered nuts, dried fruit, honey, even organic products—nut fans can find it all and more at Maisie Jane’s gift shop in Chico.

MILK & HONEY 1860

3317 DRY CREEK RD, BUTTE VALLEY

Enjoy handcrafted goat’s milk lotions and balms as well as fleece and woolen products from their Civil War-era farm.

SOHNREY FAMILY FOODS

41 SKILLIN LN, OROVILLE

Create the perfect gift basket with one visit to Sohnrey’s gift shop. In addition to a variety of almonds and specialty flavor almond butters, you’ll find local rice, honey, preserves, and house and kitchen wares.

From dedicated shops to farmers markets to everything in between, you can find the best of Butte County’s local goods throughout the region.

GROWING INNOVATION

The story of innovation at Lundberg Family Farms dates back to the 1930s. Albert and Frances Lundberg lived in Nebraska during the Dust Bowl, learning a merciless lesson about the combined effects of overplowing and drought. In 1937, when they took their family west to the small Butte County town of Richvale, the Lundbergs decided to do things differently by working in partnership with nature and prioritizing soil health in every step of the process. Over the course of their children’s and grandchildren’s lives, Lundberg Family Farms has become known for pioneering organic rice farming practices that tend to soil, air, water, and wildlife as carefully as their crops.

A HISTORY OF INNOVATION

Albert Lundberg taught his four sons—Eldon, Wendell, Harlan, and Homer—to leave the land better than they

LUNDBERG FARMS

One of today’s best-known organic rice farms. @LUNDBERGFARMS

found it. They allowed fields to fallow, rotated crops, and incorporated rice straw.

One of today’s best-known organic rice farming techniques was even born of a failed Lundberg field. The Lundbergs became early adopters of organic farming in the late 1960s, before the practice even had a name, and weed control was a perpetual challenge. One field of organic rice was so overgrown with weeds that it seemed unsalvageable, so they dried it up. That’s when they discovered that the weeds died faster than the rice, leaving them free to turn the water back on and continue growing the crop.

THE DRIVE TO IMPROVE

That single event changed the trajectory of organic rice farming in California, and Lundberg continues to use deep water and dry-up techniques to kill weeds organically—no herbicides needed.

Soil health and organic farming are part of Lundberg’s larger commitment to establishing benchmarks in environmental health. The company offsets its operations with 100% renewable energy, including 1.9 MW of solar energy generated on-site, and it’s worked with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to better understand the impact farmers have on the environment.

To that end, the Lundbergs flood a portion of their fields each winter to replicate California’s once-abundant wetlands. This not only helps restore nutrients to the soil by decomposing leftover rice straw, but also provides habitat for thousands of ducks, geese, shorebirds, sandhill cranes, and other wintering waterfowl. Once the birds move on, the water is returned to rivers and streams, where zooplankton from the fields support the salmon population. And before they start their tractors in the spring, the Lundbergs work with California Waterfowl to recover eggs from every field where ducks have nested. Over the years, more than 30,000 ducklings have been rescued from Lundberg’s fields!

Still, the Lundbergs aren’t known to settle. While returning rice straw to the soil provides clear benefits to the birds, fish, and fields, the Lundbergs monitor any associated methane released so they can continue to leave the land better than they found it.

This ongoing commitment to sustainability earned Lundberg one of Rodale Institute’s Organic Pioneer Awards for 2020, a prestigious achievement for a family-owned business with roots that go back nearly a century.

A BUTTE COUNTY TREASURE

Lundberg’s relationship to Butte County is an integral part of the company’s identity. In addition to its own unique varieties of rice, Lundberg grows public varieties from the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, and the local community has always been proud of Lundberg’s legacy of stewardship. While 2020 saw the farm temporarily close its on-site store and tours for safety reasons, Lundberg has ramped up its online presence by sharing videos, all manner of delicious recipes (including vegan and vegetarian dishes), and glimpses into farm life and production through social media— friendly reminders that soon, all will be welcome to once again experience Butte County’s vibrant rice farming culture firsthand.

"Reworking some of these spaces not only helps us protect our communities, but also gives us that amazing access to resources that are there but tough to get to."

-Anders Lundberg, Grower Services Manager

BU T TE COUNTY CROPS

STAY A WHILE

LODGING

AMERICAS BEST VALUE INN

740 Broadway St, Chico 95928 530.343.3286

AMERICAS BEST VALUE INN OROVILLE

580 Oro Dam Blvd E, Oroville 95965 530.533.7070

BAMBI INN

7436 Humboldt Rd, Butte Meadows 95942 530.873.4125

BEST WESTERN HERITAGE INN CHICO

25 Heritage Ln, Chico 95926

530.894.8600

BEST WESTERN PARADISE

5475 Clark Road, Paradise 95969 530.876.0191

BUDGET INN

1475 Feather River Blvd, Oroville 95965 530.533.2121

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT

2481 Carmichael Dr, Chico 95928 530.894.6699

DAHL'S MOTEL

2010 Feather River Blvd, Oroville 95965 530.534.7392

DAYS INN OROVILLE

1745 Feather River Blvd, Oroville 95965 530.533.3297

DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON

685 Manzanita Crt, Chico 95926 530.345.2491

GOODMAN HOUSE HISTORIC INN

1362 Esplanade, Chico 95926 530.566.0256

GRIDLEY INN & RV PARK

1490 CA-99, Gridley 95948

530.846.4520

HAMPTON INN & SUITES

1651 Springfield Drive, Chico 95928 916.300.5863

HAVEN INN OF CHICO

2212 Park Ave, Chico 95928 530.342.5704

HERITAGE INN EXPRESS

725 Broadway St, Chico 95928 530.343.4527

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LAKE OROVILLE

550 Oro Dam Blvd E, Oroville 95965 530.534.5566

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CHICO

2074 E 20th St, Chico 95928 530.891.0100

HOTEL DIAMOND

220 W 4th St, Chico 95926 530.893.3100

HOTEL JAMES

10 Lost Dutchman Dr, Chico 95973 530.894.5743

MATADOR MOTEL

1934 Esplanade, Chico 95926 530.342.7543

MOTEL 6 CHICO

665 Manzanita Ct, Chico 95926 530.345.5500

MOTEL 6 OROVILLE

505 Montgomery St, Oroville 95965 530.532.9400

STAY A WHILE

OXFORD SUITES 2035 Business Ln, Chico 95928 530.899.9090

PACIFIC MOTEL 1308 CA-99, Gridley 95948 530.797.9298

PONDEROSA GARDENS

7010 Skyway Rd, Paradise 95969 530.872.9094

QUALITY INN NEAR CHICO STATE

715 Main St, Chico 95928 530.343.7911

REGENCY INN 2566 Esplanade, Chico 95973 530.898.0134

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT 2485 Carmichael Dr, Chico 95928 530.894.5500

RODEWAY INN 1717 Park Ave, Chico 95928 530.342.9472

SAFARI INN MOTEL 2352 Esplanade, Chico 95926 530.343.3201

SUNSET INN

1835 Feather River Blvd, Oroville 95965 530.533.8201

SUPER 8 CHICO

1470 Manzanita Ct, Chico 95926 530.345.2533

SUPER 8 OROVILLE

TYPE

MOTEL

THE OUTPOST

7589 Humboldt Rd, Butte Meadows 95942 530.873.3050

TOWN HOUSE MOTEL

2231 Esplanade, Chico 95926 530.343.1621

MOTEL

630 Main St, Chico 95928 530.895.1323 • •

VILLA COURT INN MOTEL

MOTEL •

MOTEL

1527 Feather River Blvd, Oroville 95965 530.533.3930 •

@BAYLOR.IS.BORING @TLG_ENT

EVENT INSPIRATION

They'll be back, we promise!

With the coronavirus, sheltering in place, and continued social distancing measures in place, 2020 was a rough year for events. As you’re planning your 2021 Butte County visit, make sure to check out the events calendar on Explore Butte County’s website for the most up-to-date information. Until then, get inspired with past photos from some of our favorite annual events.

TO GET THE LATEST ON EVENTS IN THE REGION, SCAN THE CODE BELOW!

MEETING PLACES

Find the perfect meeting and event space in Butte County

Under 50

51-150 People

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, CHICO

601 WALL ST, CHICO 530.899.0335

Entire Chico Clubhouse | 3997 Sq Feet | 267 Standing

Conference Room | 374 Sq Feet | 25 Standing

Multipurpose Room | 761 Sq Feet | 92 Standing or 50 Seated

Arts & Science | 761 Sq Feet | 92 Standing or 50 Seated

Entire Teen Center | 8253 Sq Feet | 551 Standing

BUTTE COLLEGE

3536 BUTTE CAMPUS DR, OROVILLE 530.895.2511

Cafeteria | 441 Seated or 946 Standing

Campus Center Lounge | 100 People

Arts Theatre | 256 People

BUTTE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

199 E HAZEL ST, GRIDLEY 530.846.3626

Expo Hall Meeting Room | 10.6k Sq Feet | 1000 People

Butte Hall Meeting Room | 4320 Sq Feet | 350 People

Jake’s AKA Goldies Meeting Room | 500 People

Refuge Meeting Room | 50 People

BUTTE COUNTY LIBRARIES

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Chico | 83 Seated or 197 Standing

Durham | 20 People

Gridley | 49 People

Oroville | 44 People

Paradise | 49 People

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO

400 W FIRST ST, CHICO

Various Rooms | Capacity Ranges 10 to 1,000+

CHICO MASONIC FAMILY CENTER

1110 W EAST AVE, CHICO 530.342.7143

Main Hall | 5448 Sq. Feet | 782 People

Large Dining | 3850 Sq Feet | 554 People

Small Dining | 1598 Sq Feet | 228 People

York Rite Room | 1800 Sq Feet | 227 People

151-250 People

251+ People

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, CHICO

2481 CARMICHAEL DR, CHICO 530.894.6699

Meeting Room | 750 Sq Feet | 40 People

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON

685 MANZANITA CT, CHICO 530.433.1636

Conference Room | 3120 Sq Feet | 380 People

Butte & Glenn Rooms | 1520 Sq Feet | 190 People

Lassen & Shasta Rooms | 500 Sq Feet | 35 People

Board Room | 375 Sq Feet | 26 People

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES, CHICO

2074 E 20TH ST, CHICO 530.891.0100

Meeting Room | 350 Sq Feet | 25 People

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES, LAKE OROVILLE

550 ORO DAM BLVD E, OROVILLE 530.534.5566

First Floor Conference Room | 1400 Sq Feet | 80 People

Second Floor Meeting Room | 330 Sq Feet | 8 People

OXFORD SUITES, CHICO

2035 BUSINESS LN, CHICO 530.899.9090

Honey Run Hall | 1152 Sq Feet | 70 People

Honey Run One or Two | 576 Sq Feet each | 30 People

Big Chico Creek | 576 Sq Feet | 30 People

Little Chico Creek Boardroom | 8 People

PARADISE AIRPORT

4405 AIRPORT RD, PARADISE 530.521.2289

Meeting Room | 1120 Sq Feet | 74 People

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT, CHICO

2485 CARMICHAEL DR, CHICO 530.894.5500

Event Room | 448 Sq Feet | 20 people

SILVER DOLLAR FAIRGROUNDS

2357 FAIR ST, CHICO 530.895.4666

Commercial Building | 14000 Sq Feet | 1000+ People

Harvest Hall | 4000 Sq Feet | 250 People

Education Building | 20000 Sq Feet | 1000+ People

PARTY TIME

With indoor and outdoor venues perfect for small gatherings to blowout bashes, there’s no shortage of places to host an intimate affair, tie the knot, or party the night away in Butte County.

Under 50 51-150 People

Event Venues

ALMENDRA WINERY & DISTILLERY

9275 MIDWAY, DURHAM 530.343.6893

Barrel Room | 7000 Sq Feet | 200 People

ARC PAVILION

2040 PARK AVE, CHICO 530.891.5865

Venue | 3600 Sq Feet | 240 Standing or 160 Seated

BUTTE CREEK COUNTRY CLUB

175 ESTATES DR, CHICO 530.343.7979

Oak Room Boardroom | 12 People

Grand Ballrooms | 30000 Sq Feet | 300 People

C.F. LOTT HOME

1067 MONTGOMERY ST, OROVILLE 530.538.2401

Coach Room | 50 People

Gazebo Grounds | 150+ People

CANYON OAKS COUNTRY CLUB

999 YOSEMITE DR, CHICO 530.343.2582

Venue | 2400 Sq Feet | 150 People

CENTERVILLE ESTATES

13386 CENTERVILLE RD, CHICO 530.891.0641

Wedding Venue | 250+ People

CHICO EVENT CENTER

197 E 2ND ST, CHICO 530.898.8387

Event Center | 4000 Sq Feet | 399 Standing or 200 Seated

CHICO WOMEN'S CLUB

592 E 3RD ST, CHICO 530.894.1978

Interior Seating Space | 1050 Sq Feet | 200 People

CREEKSIDE ROSE

GARDEN & EVENT CENTER

545 VALLOMBROSA AVE, CHICO 530.895.4711

Rose Garden Main Hall | 2600 Sq Feet | 200 People

151-250 People 251+ People

DIAMOND STEAKHOUSE

220 W 4TH ST, CHICO 530.895.1515

Cupola Room | 33 People

Wine Cellar | 73 People

GALE VINEYARDS

9345 STANFORD LN, DURHAM 530.891.1264

Grounds | 200 People

HONKER BAY RANCH

1446 FARRAR LN, OROVILLE 530.534.8380

Grounds | 300+ People

IRONGATE GARDEN INN

4673 NORD HWY, CHICO 530.487.4598

Grounds | 200 People

LAKESIDE PAVILION

2565 CALIFORNIA PARK DR, CHICO 530.895.4666

Events Space | 275 People

LONG CREEK WINERY & RANCH

323 WARD BLVD, OROVILLE 530.589.3415

Grounds | 100 People

MANZANITA PLACE

1705 MANZANITA AVE, CHICO 530.343.1431

Banquet Hall | 650 Seated

Outdoor Pavilion | 300 Standing

NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH

2801 NOTRE DAME BLVD, CHICO 530.343.6006

The Island | 400 People

The Dome | 1200 People

The Chapel | 70 People

Fellowship Hall | 300 People

PARADISE LUTHERAN CHURCH

780 LUTHER DR, PARADISE 530.877.3549

Luther Hall | 4160 Sq Feet | 160 People

Chapel | 2376 Sq Feet | 122 People

Loft | 45 People

PATRICK RANCH MUSEUM

10381 MIDWAY, CHICO 530.342.4359

Venue | 300+ People

RIFFLES RESORT

4488 PACIFIC HEIGHTS RD, OROVILLE 530.534.5550

Grounds | 300+ People

SIERRA NEVADA BREWERY

1075 E. 20TH ST, CHICO 530.983.3520

Big Room | 350 People

STANSBURY HOME

307 W. 5TH ST #5505, CHICO 530.342.3037

Inside | 50 People

Outside | 200 People

TABLE MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE

2700 ORO DAM BLVD. W, OROVILLE 530.533.3922

Banquet Room | 91 People

THE PALMS

2947 NORD AVE, CHICO 530.399.0404

Grounds | 150 People

TJ FARMS ESTATES

3600 CHICO AVE, CHICO 530.343.2294

Grounds | 300 People

VICTORIAN ROSE

429 B ST, BIGGS 916.412.5319

Garden with On-Site Reception | 125 People

Garden with Off-Site Reception | 200 People

Parlor Room | 35 People

WHITE RANCH

214 HAGENRIDGE RD, CHICO 530.342.6530

Wedding Venue | 200 People

WINDCHIME WEDDING CHAPEL

1120 SPRUCE AVE, CHICO 530.893.9384

Ceremony Space | 15 People

WHITE RANCH EVENTS

THE PALMS HONKER

Start your adventure with an Experience Pass.

Explore Butte County Experience Passes bring together the best attractions and adventures (and sometimes savings) from throughout Butte County all in one convenient location. With new passes added throughout the year, these experiences built by Butte County locals, are delivered right to your phone via text or email.

What are you waiting for? Sign up today! ExploreButteCounty.com/Explore-Passes

PLANES, TRAINS, & AUTOMOBILES

Whether you fly in from a nearby airport or take the scenic route, it’s easy to travel to and around Butte County so you can focus on the fun stuff!

GETTING TO BUTTE COUNTY

By Plane

Enjoy your pick of four airports within a four-hour drive of Butte County. From the Bay Area, San Francisco International is just 3.5 hours away, and Oakland International is only three. A flight to Sacramento International puts you just 1.5 hours away, while the drive from Redding Airport is even shorter. SuperShuttle provides transportation between Chico and Sacramento International Airport.

Locally, Chico Municipal Airport, Oroville Municipal Airport, and Paradise Airport are available for private and charter flights.

By Train

If taking the train is more your speed, there is an Amtrak train platform adjacent to the historic 1892 Southern Pacific depot, now the Chico Arts Center, in Chico.

By Bus

Greyhound Bus has a stop in Chico at the Amtrak train platform as well as a stop in Oroville on Oro-Dam Boulevard. Glenn Ride has connections in Chico for bus routes into the Glenn County communities of Hamilton City, Orland, and Willows.

Traveling Around Butte County

B-Line is the regional transit service in Butte County. Buses serve routes within Chico, Oroville, and the Ridge communities of Paradise and Magalia. Regional bus routes connect these communities and include additional stops in Gridley, Biggs, Palermo, and Durham. Visit their website to see maps and descriptions of each route. There is even a real-time bus tracking map as well as a trip planner. Each bus is equipped with a bike rack and a wheelchair lift.

For those looking to rent a car, Hertz, Budget, Avis, and Enterprise are regional options. Ride-share companies Uber and Lyft operate in the Chico area. There are also several cab companies serving Butte County. Elite Limo in Chico can help you cruise around Butte County in style.

loved by locals

Photo shot by Michele Dodge, winner of the 2021 #BirdButteCa Birding Photo Contest!

GRAY LODGE WILDLIFE AREA

Michele Dodge