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. (AMADOR
COUNTY RESTAURANTS)
GOLD
RUSH
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.
WINERIES
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. (AMADOR
WINE TOURING)
PRESTON
CASTLE
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.
VOLCANO
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.
WATER
SPORTS
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.
