spring 2013 draft v4 rgb.indd - Bothe

Napa Valley State Parks Association
Spring 2013
The Napa Valley State Parks Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation: Tax ID# 94-2459815.
Website: http://www.napavalleystateparks.org
Email: [email protected]
NVSPA Partner, NCRPOSD
by John Woodbury
The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District was created by the voters of Napa County in November
of 2006, for the related purposes of preserving the open space and cultural resources of the county and providing
opportunities for the public to experience these places. Over the past six years the District has acquired approximately 4,000 acres of open space and opened 10 miles of wilderness trails and 4 miles of paved bicycle/pedestrian
paths. Over the next 12 months the District expects to open the county’s second regional park (Moore Creek Park
north of Lake Hennessey) including about 12 miles of wilderness trails, as well as the dramatic (and grueling) 8 mile
Berryessa Peak Trail. The District is also about to break ground on an outdoor education camp (Camp Berryessa) at
the north end of Lake Berryessa.
When State Parks announced they would be closing Bothe-Napa Valley State Park and the Bale Grist Mill State
Historic Park due to budget shortfalls, it was a natural step for the District to try and keep these parks open. The
District partnered with the Napa Valley State Parks Association to put together a proposal to save these parks.
Under this partnership, the District has an agreement with State Parks to operate and manage both parks, and now
operates the campground, picnic area and backcountry trails of Bothe-Napa Valley, including repairing, maintaining
and improving the historic buildings and related infrastructure. The District and the Association have a separate
agreement through which the Association operates the Bale Grist Mill, including interpretive programs and special
events, as well as the Visitor Center next to the campground. More can be found out at www.NapaOutdoors.org
John Woodbury is General Manager for the District and has extensive experience with regional open space access efforts through the
Ridge Trail, Bay Trail and Bay Area Open Space Council.
Thank You from NCRPOSD
by Tony Norris
The elected District Board of Directors have been
gratified and impressed by the volunteer efforts
mustered by our partner Association including the
building of camping yurts at Bothe-Napa Valley
State Park. Thank you all! A broad range of work
activities continue to attract interests of volunteers including a digitized evaluation made pro
bono by the local architectural firm Napa Design
Partners for the historic buildings. Bolstering
this community effort has been the infusion of
donations to keep things going at our two State
Parks, which has included dedicated funds to
renovate and preserve site structures. Nearby
property owners like Larkmead Vineyards have
been very supportive in this way. The Napa Valley
Vintners Association helped greatly to broaden
awareness for raising needed donations. With
this local focus of efforts and funding our two
State Parks become more appealing destinations
for Napa Valley visitors.
Tony Norris is President of the District Board of Directors of
NCRPOSD, former Parks Manager, past Chair of the Napa
County Ridge Trail Committee and an active member of the
Vine Trail Board of Directors.
Memory Lane
When I read the “Story of Paradise” in the Winter
Newsletter it brought back such wonderful memories of
swimming in the Paradise Park pool.
In the early 1900’s my maternal
grandfather, whose name was Owen Henry
Philbrick, homesteaded 190 acres above
Laytonville, past Willits in Mendocino
County, near where Seabiscuit was born.
By Marlene Zimmerman
When I was in elementary school at Mount George we
started visiting him in the summers. It must have been
in the late 1930s or very early 40‘s. He taught me how to
shoot (at cans).
On our way home from Mendocino County,
our stopping point after the long trek
down the mountains via Mount St. Helena
was Paradise Park. We would go into
the beautiful Lodge and talk about our
adventures over a cool “Shirley Temple”
and then we would swim in the pool.
Owen was originally from Iowa; moved to
Visalia where my Mother was born, and
eventually settled in Oakland where he
built homes in Berkeley.
Seeing the photo of the amazing bar and
reading the story of Paradise brought
When my grandmother died, my grandfather
back memories of my grandfather, the
Marlene in 1943
came to live with us in the house on
ranch, and driving down those winding
Coombsville road in Napa where I was born. I remember,
roads, as I looked forward to that “Shirley Temple” and
as soon as the first sign of spring came, he would go
swimming in the Paradise Pool.
north to his Mendocino ranch.
Kayaks in Bothe?
by Bob Dwyer
Seems like a good question. If you are a serious kayaker,
birder, and wildlife observer like I have become since
retirement, the answer is yes! For Kayakers, the Napa
Valley is an ideal place to stay, because within miles there
is a plethora of destinations for kayaking. Furthermore,
camping at Napa’s Bothe Park provides reasonable and
spacious accommodation. There are camping spaces for
tents and trailers with plenty of room for kayaks too.
For starters, going down valley, and then heading east
out of Rutherford on Hwy 128 you will come to Lake
Hennessey. This is a delightful reservoir for paddling,
with numerous and assorted birds as well as other
wildlife to see. There is a launch ramp and restrooms …
all for a small day use fee.
Most people are surprised to learn that the Napa River
offers a terrific paddle. You can launch at Kennedy Park
at the south end of Napa off Soscol Avenue, just below
Napa Valley Community College. A scenic paddle north
from there into the city of Napa takes you to an offshore
view of the riverside businesses and residences. It’s an
unusual paddle with an amazing variety of sights in a city
setting!
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Further to the east of Bothe is Lake Berryessa, a large
body of water that provides access into Putah Creek at
the northeast side of the Lake. Cuttings Wharf area
provides the kayaker with access to a myriad of water
channels teeming with birds and wildlife in the Napa
River Delta, which leads into Richardson Bay
So bring your Kayak, along with your camping gear and
use Bothe as a base camp for a kayaking adventure in this
world famous wine and culinary paradise. After a day
filled with astounding sights and sounds as you quietly
and unobtrusively navigate a variety of waterway, you
can take a walk along the endless trails in Bothe, visit
the Park’s iconic Bale Mill, or just sightsee the Napa
Valley and partake of its food and wine.
Bob in his kayak
Paradise Park
1940s through 1961 By Cara O’Neill
In the article “The Story of
Paradise”, which appeared in our
Winter Newsletter, we learned
that San Franciscans Jeanne and
Reinhold Bothe fell in love with
the Upper Napa Valley. So much
so that they purchased some
beautifully forested acreage
filled with streams, and numerous
wildlife. On it they built Paradise
Park, which included a lodge,
cabins, camping areas, a lovely
pool, endless trails…even an
air-strip across Hwy 29.
For almost a decade their wealthy friends wined and dined in the large dining area, drank at the spectacular 80-foot
bar, and enjoyed the beauty of this unique outdoor experience.
Thanks to those who read the article and contacted us, we also know that wedding receptions, graduating class
celebrations, dinner-dances, special anniversary dinners, swimming parties and an amazing variety of conventions and
numerous other gatherings were held at Paradise by Calistogans and St. Helenans during those years as well.
However, the resort industry began to slow down during the Second World War, and on Jan 1st, 1943 an ad appeared
in the Weekly Calistogan announcing that the Paradise Tavern was closing for the “duration”.
Records show that Reinhold and Jeanne Bothe sold and repossessed Paradise Park several times even allowing some
name changes. Locals were known to have jokingly said: “Looks like Bothe is making a living out of selling Paradise
Park.”
Then in March of 1949 the Bothes ran an ad announcing the Lodge had reopened. Interestingly, that same year
the Weekly Calistogan reported that the Methodist Ladies Aid Society announced a meeting was to be held at the
Tucker Farm Center hall to discuss the “possibility of getting the state to take over part of the 4,000 acre Coit
tract in Tucker District as a state park”!
Over the years a growing interest in such a project increased. Records found in the archives of the Visitor Center
at Bothe indicate that in l958 the State of California’s State Park Commission requested that a “plan, report and
appraisal be prepared for the Paradise Park Project 23.” In 1959 such an acquisition list was presented to the
Commission. After much negotiating and many meetings, in July of 1960 Jeanne Bothe handed over the keys to the
lodge and cabins and after 25 years of private operation, the park known as Bothe’s Paradise was purchased by the
State of California.
The large Paradise Park sign, which had consistently captured my attention as a child, was removed that same year.
Demolition of the main lodge began in the spring of l961. Most of the cabins were sold to individuals and moved.
The upper floor of the once glamorous Lodge was lowered in two parts to be sold intact and moved across Hwy 29.
Story has it that while this demolition was taking place, a small plane landed at the airstrip. The pilot and passenger
sauntered across the road. When asked if they could be helped, they replied, ”We just stopped by to have a drink at
the Lodge”. One can only imagine their surprise!
In the years since the state of California took possession of this unique land with its creeks and forests, and it
became known as Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, it has provided endless opportunities for valley residents as well as
travelers.
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by Ranger Sandy Jones
Yahoo! We made it successfully through the
first year of operation under the management
of Napa County Regional Park and Open Space
District and Napa Valley State Parks Association.
The New Year brought some rain, then we enjoyed
almost two months of beautiful sunny days, which
brought many hikers and campers to Bothe, as well
as enabled several projects to be completed by our
dedicated camp hosts and staff. After many years
of minimal maintenance, everything is now taking
shape and looking ten-fold better. Restrooms were
power-washed and their interiors painted, along with
the outside of the kiosk and most of the up-stairs
of the Wright House. Rob, our maintenance chief,
and Eric, NCRPOSD employee, installed seven yurt
platforms, and with volunteers, assembled seven yurts.
Another campground host used
his skills creating
access pathways, and bordered green space areas
around the campground. The volunteer Forest Practices
Group saved the NCRPOSD thousands of dollars by
helping to take down the “State” identified hazard
trees. The mill hosts have been a welcome addition,
happy to wear period dress to greet visitors and give
tours. Local volunteers and camp hosts have kept
the doors of the Visitor Center open and phones
answered. We feel it is important for those calling
the park to be able to speak with a person, and have
their questions answered right away, rather than
waiting for a call back. With all this help, our return
visitors have complimented us on how great Bothe is
looking, and new guests have commented that it is one
of the cleanest campgrounds they have ever stayed in.
As spring rushes in along with increased visitation, we
will have new camp hosts and staff to help with the
operations. Four new seasonal Park Aide employees, along
with returning staff, will be starting in April to continue
keeping the park in tip-top condition and to register
campers during the busy spring and summer seasons .
Thanks to all who have made this first year of operation
a success!
Restoration of Steelhead Fishery
in Ritchey Creek by Dana Cronin
I will be attending Colorado College in the fall, where I plan to study Environmental Conservation and/
or Journalism. One motivating factor for my pursuit of preserving the environment has been the recent
action to restore the fishery on Ritchey Creek to its original state of abundance.
Ritchey Creek runs through our local Bothe State Park, under Highway 29, and ultimately to the Napa
River. Just fifty years ago, Ritchey Creek was full
of steelhead trout, a population of fish that is now
considered threatened.
The trout used
to be able to swim up Ritchey Creek from
the ocean, where they
would spawn each year from
late March through early
June.
However, over the years,
four
impediments
were built on Ritchey
Creek, which have
prevented the steelhead
trout from swimming
up our creek to spawn.
What makes Ritchey Creek so special
is that it is in a protected watershed
in the
Napa Valley with the potential to support the
spawning habits of steelhead. Its characteristics make it the perfect habitat for the steelhead, which
require cool water, year-round water flow, low siltation, clean forest, and an unbroken migration route to
and from the ocean--restoration is also taking place downstream along the Napa River.
This project to restore the steelhead fishery in Ritchey Creek by removing the barriers immediately
grabbed my attention due to its high probability of success. I see a chance to save and repopulate a valuable
native fish and bring life and activity to a currently compromised yet promising creek. With community
support, I know that Ritchey Creek can be restored to its original state to support the steelhead.
by Tony Norris
Trails
are
quickly
becoming key features
to make local State
Parks more accessible.
Now the Bay Area
Ridge Trail Council has
adopted Bothe-Napa
Valley State Park for a
trail route up Ritchey
Creek for eventual
connection to State
and regional parks over
the ridge into Sonoma
County. Additionally,
the Napa Valley Vine
Trail Coalition will
have a route through
Bothe-Napa Valley and
will share the planned
regional trail path with
the Ridge Trail exiting
the State Park entry
to cross Hwy 29 and
head north to connect
with the City of
Calistoga bike path at
Dunaweal Lane. Along
the Fair Way project
route these joint trails
will eventually connect
through
central
Calistoga to the Oat
Hill Mine Trail managed by our District at the east edge of town. This joint regional segment has already
excited significant financing for design and engineering. As well as being the northern terminus for the
Vine Trail, the Oat Hill Mine Trail will be shared by the Ridge Trail up into a string of beautiful public or
protected lands all the way to our Moore Creek Park site. More can be found out at www.RidgeTrail.org
and www.VineTrail.org
What is that Fabulous Flower in
Campsite #5?
California Indian Pink Silene californica
Check out Campsite #5
in late spring and
early summer to see the brilliant, deeply lobed
scarlet petals over the low growing mound of foliage
about one foot tall by one foot wide. Native to open
woods from Southern California north to Oregon,
California Indian Pink is a knock out perennial in
bloom, and a hummingbird favorite. Its Genus name,
Silene, is derived from the Greek name for a forest
spirit often associated with Dionysius the god of
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wine. A common
explanation of how
this flower received
its name is that it
appears to have
been through the
laundry with a pair
of pinking shears.
(yosemitehikes.com)
NVSPA 2013 CALENDAR
Harvest Dinner September 7
A wonderful evening under the stars and towering oak trees outside the
Bale Grist Mill. This is the main fundraiser for the Napa Valley State Park
Association. Please plan to join us for this enchanted evening. The Harvest
Dinner is great opportunity to support your parks.
Old Mill Days October 5 and 6
The Bale Grist Mill celebrates the Napa Valley’s rural past at Old Mill Days.
Step back in time to learn about life as a pioneer.
Sawyers and Antique Machinery Get Together – November
Tool sale and swap meet, saw demonstrations
Pioneer Christmas December 14
Join us at the Mill to celebrate Christmas and learn how to make Christmas
gifts of the past. Fun for the whole family
Napa ValleyState Parks Association
3801 St. Helena Hwy. North
Calistoga, CA 94515