Amador County & the Sutter Creek Area

Sutter Creek as well as the nearby towns of Amador City and Jackson have retained much of their Gold Rush Era charm while providing the visitor with a wide variety of interesting shops and restaurants. Antique, art, glassware, and clothing shops abound -- and culinary treats range from fresh baked goods and coffee, to wine and cheese, to pizza and burgers, to full gourmet dinners. See restaurants here.

Amador County was born of the Gold Rush, and thrived during the deep rock mining era of the early 1900's. The Argonaut and Kennedy mines, just off highway 49 in Jackson, were two of the deepest and richest mines in the world during this period. Today, the Kennedy Mine property is open to the public on weekends, and tours are available of the surface workings. Visitors can also marvel at the impressive Kennedy Tailing Wheels, an engineering marvel prompted by early 20th century environmental concerns. The Kennedy Tailing Wheel Park, Jackson Gate Road, is open every day of the week for self-guided tours.

In addition to its historical treasures, Amador County now boasts an ever-growing number of award-winning wineries, most of which are located in the Shenandoah Valley , near Plymouth. Amador wines are now found in better restaurants around the country and the world, and our Zinfandel grapes are in demand by wineries throughout California. Most larger wineries are open to the public for daily wine tasting, and many have large sales rooms and gift shops. go to wineries

After visiting the wineries, take a little side trip through Ione to catch a glimpse of the impressive Preston Castle . Built in the late 1800's as a boy's reformatory, Preston is still in operation as an incarceration and rehabilitation facility for troubled young men.

An enjoyable drive eastward along Sutter Creek will lead you to the little hamlet of Volcano . Once the site of extensive and devastating hydraulic mining, nature has reclaimed the little valley and the town is one of the most picturesque in the county. Volcano's Cobblestone Theater and Amphitheater are home to award-winning plays and are an enjoyable and entertaining evening diversion. Check our "Coming Events" page for schedule. Just a few miles up the hill from Volcano is the Chaw Se Indian Grinding Rock State Park and Museum, dedicated to the Northern Sierra Miwok and other Northern California Native American linguistic groups.

If being on the water is what you crave, Amador County has dozens of water-sports destinations. Just south of Ione are Lake Amador, Lake Camanche, and Lake Pardee, all with excellent fishing and boating. If the Sierra backdrop is more to your liking.....head up highway 88 toward Lake Tahoe to Silver Lake  for fishing, swimming, and skiing.

Whether you're into shopping, history, the great outdoors, or just relaxing, you'll find just what your looking for within minutes of the Grey Gables Inn.

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