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Bishop • Mammoth Lakes • Bridgeport
THE SIERRA SIERRA
VOL. XXlV, No. 25
Experience the Mountain of Difference
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Vol. XXV, NO. 21
We don’t want all the business–just yours!
Rick andLeeAlice Cassel Spotlights: Vining, Bridgeport, andretire Walker from Bishop Creek Chevron
By Christina Reed The Hired Pen
Eastern Sierra, CA—Among the scenic wonders of the Eastern Sierra, the towns of Lee Vining, Bridgeport, and Walker are gateways to rivers, lakes, valleys, canyons, hot springs, mountain vistas ByandChristina Reedthat take your breath away with the beauty. Native have lived on the landscape for thouThe HiredAmericans Pen sands of years, and many of the names for places are indigenous in nature, including Mono County, where these small Bishop, CA—Mule Days 2021 preparations towns are located.
second oldest courthouse, in use, in California. Bridgeport’s prominence in Mono County was enhanced by the wealth created in Bodie, were gold mining was going strong. Bridgeport became the supply center, as well as providing farming,
are moving forward, and Rick and Alice Cassel, owners of the Bishop Automotive Mono County’s creation was by an act ofCenter, the state’sare legislabusily security at the ture inmaking 1861, andschedules the boundaryfor between California and Nevaworld-famous event, assettled well in as1863. otherThe activities da was the first issue to be mining town surrounding most-busy time. The of Aurora wasthis initially the Mono County seat offamily government, has been a part of Mule Days for decades, and the long-time business owners talked in their office for a bit recently about their retirement from Bishop Creek Chevron. The Cassels and their son, Nate Gratz, who is the general manager, say, “With much gratitude for a long and successful journey with Chevron, local owners Rick and Alice Cassel, along with their partners at RSI, have sold Bishop Creek Chevron to new owners, Eivan Maida and family, and Bishop Creek Chevron Inc.” The sale took place recently and they are looking forward to more time for traveling says Alice. Rick Cassel began his career with Chevron in 1965, he explains, and was initially in marketing and then moved up into retail. Rick and Alice, together, provided excellent service and local support, and proudly contributed to many of the community events in the eastern Sierra for the past 40 years.
Rick and Alice met in the eastern Sierra. Mono Lake is one of the most scenic places in Mono County, Alice moved here in 1972 to “ski in Mamand the small town of Lee Vining sits at the southwest edge moth.” Rick says, of hethis has beenlake. here since 1980. famous “I moved to the Owens Valley for the hunting but it was given to Nevada in the end. Another part of Mono and fishing.” He adds, “I always wanted to live County in the south was given to Inyo County. Bridgeport inbecame a small The couple builttothe thetown.” county seat, which it remains thistwo-acre day. BridgeBishop Creekwhite Chevron and (completed Bishop Automotive port’s iconic courthouse in 1881) is the
The Walker River provides tourists with trout fishing, camping spots, and supports a vast number of agricultural and ranching businesses. Photos by The Hired Pen
geologically active area. Leroy Vining founded the tiny town in 1852, and mining was the primary occupation. The KutzaBridgeport is Mono County’s seat of government, and the dika Paiute tribe is seeking federal recognition, and have recourthouse is the second oldest, in use, in the state of California. cently received news that the tribe might finally receive this Rick and Alice Cassel,and long-time Bishop Creek Amber Gratz (Nate's wife), Rick and Alice Cassel, and lumbering, dairying, mining owners industry ofequipment. The much-sought-after legal recognition. Chevron, recently announced their retirement, and the David and Danielle Sexton (Rick and Alice's daughter). Bridgeport Indian Colony is a federally recognized (1974) couple were busy with Mule Days events, as they stay Photo courtesy of the Cassel family. sovereign Indian Tribe of California. This means they govern active in the community. From left: William, Nate and Walker * * Canyon, * themselves on their lands, and the members are descendants The town of Walker, near Walker is one of the tourof the Mono, Miwok, Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe peoples. ist and agricultural communities in the Antelope Valley. The motive Center. They have a “knowledgeable The Bridgeport Market is one the tribe’s Center in 1999, from theofground up.economic “We inter- Walker River supports trout angling, and agricultural busiests in Bridgeport. crewinand the Cassels say, “being needed more room,” says Rick, of the move nesses bothfamily,” California and and Nevada. Named, possibly, for
from downtown Bishop to the current location LeeUS Vining on Highway 395. The business also serves Overlooking mystical Mono Lake,automotive Lee Vining sits at the the region the with towing, tires, repair, edge of the Mono Basin, and a lake with no exits. Volcanism and smog checks. created the lake 760,000 years ago, and the lake remains briny and salty despite the fresh water entering from surrounding The family, with Nate as general manager, streams. Features in and around the lake, like Negit and Paowill continue toPanum own and Bishop Autoha Islands, and the Crateroperate (south shore) are part of a
active in our community brings themexplored joy, and Joseph Walker, a pioneer / mountain man who and keepsthethem would thank crossed Sierrayoung.” range nearThey Bridgeport. Thelike GoldtoRush was priorplaces Chevron employees, customers, on,their and many in Nevada and California are namedvenfor dors, including and community loyalty the Walker, the Walker for Rivertheir (California andover Nevada) and Walker Lake (Nevada). The Mountain View Fire (Noyears, and they look forward to continuing to vember claimedat onethe life,Bishop and destroyed 80 buildings. serve2020), customers Automotive CenThe towns ofyears Coleville and Topaz were also affected ternearby for “many to come.” by the fire.