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If you have ever been through the town of Graeagle, you were welcomed by quaint red buildings lining the highway that passes through town. If you ventured inside some of the red buildings, you may have found the wonderfully nostalgic candy shop and deli and the great folks who run it along with a row of quite unique gift shops and art galleries. If you came during the holidays, perhaps you took an old fashioned sleigh ride and sipped complimentary hot cider. A trip through the market will take you back in time and send you away with fresh cuts of meat from their old fashioned butcher shop.
A lake in the town center offers rentals of paddle boats and other toys by summer. A beautiful riding stable welcomes day trippers and the Graeagle Frosty is also open year round. It is not uncommon to see this tiny town filled with tourists meandering through its more than quaint downtown, even in the dead of winter. Year round recreation surrounds Graeagle as does world class golf and fishing opportunities.
Up the road a piece, near the famous Railroad town of Portola, beautiful Lake Davis lazes among the mountain with a belly full of fish. 2012 will be the 14th year of the annual Lake Davis Fishing Derby, a local’s favorite event featuring fabulous prizes and a great opportunity to catch up with the neighbors. Campgrounds, RV sites and rooms at Lake Davis Resort means plenty of room for all to stay and fish, fish, fish.
Lake Davis Resort
7582 Buckbrush Dr.
Portola, CA 96122
Phone: 530-832-1060
Frenchman Lake Recreation area near Chilcoot is another superb fishing and family outing area to visit while visiting Plumas County. Located within Plumas National Forest this mountain playground hosts five campgrounds and more fish that you can throw a line at. Frenchman Lake typifies the beauty of the Plumas County region with its forested lands. Rainbow trout, including Eagle Lake strain, are stocked in Frenchman Lake for your enjoyment. Camping is permitted in Chilcoot, Cottonwood Springs, Frenchman, Spring Creek, and Big Cove Campgrounds, totaling 199 campsites with 5 walk-ins. All campgrounds have tables, stoves, water, and toilets, Some units can accommodate trailers up to 22 feet. No cabins here so don’t forget the sleeping bags.
No visit to this scenic area would be complete without a visit to the famous Portola Railroad Museum. The Feather River Rail Society operates this gem and owns most of the equipment housed in their facility. The theme is a living museum replicating a small railroad locomotive facility typical of the 1950`s & 60`s with one of the largest and most historic collections of diesel locomotives in the United States. The 37-acre grounds include a
16,000 square foot shop building and two and one half miles of trackage. The
total number of various locomotives is 40 and the quantity of passenger,
caboose, and freight cars are 85.
Unlike other railroad museums, this facility encourages visitors to climb
into the locomotive cabs, sit in the engineer’s seat and wonder through the
cabooses and passenger cars that are on display. “Our visitors enjoy an `up close and personal, hands-on` experience of what it was like to be around such a railroad facility,” says David Epling, Museum Director & Manager.
“If you leave here clean, you did not see it.”
Their world famous “Run-A-Locomotive” program allows you to rent a vintage diesel locomotive and operate it on the museum grounds, under the close supervision from your own private qualified engineer instructor. A
certificate suitable for framing is awarded after every locomotive rental.
The R-A-L program permits up to four persons to receive instructions while
sharing the cost. There are no age restrictions but parent supervision is
required for children under the age of 18.
The museum is open 7 days a week; hours are 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m daily the first Saturday in April through the first Sunday in November. Admission is FREE, donations suggested. Museum is located at 700 Western Pacific Way Portola, California.
BEFORE YOU VISIT… Browse www.wplives.org or call 530-832-4131 for
information regarding highway directors, museum events & exhibits, the
caboose train rides, the well-stocked gift shop and R-A-L reservations. Rick Barlupi
As long as you love the great outdoors or fishing or camping or trains eastern Plumas County has somethin’ fun for everyone.
