Angels Camp is a town of 4,000 people (2019) in Calaveras County in California's Gold Country.
Understand
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Tourism information
[edit]- Calaveras Visitors Center (Calaveras Visitors' Bureau), 753 S Main St, ☏ +1 209 736 0049. Good place to stop for brochures, maps, and information on the local area. Also sells postcards and books on the local area.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Angels Camp is approximately 2½ hours' drive from the Bay Area via California Routes 49 and 4 and approximately 2 hours southeast of Sacramento.
Get around
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Map of Angels Camp
See
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- 1 Angels Hotel (Main Street and Birds Way). Built in 1851, the Angels Hotel was the hotel where the author Mark Twain heard a story that he would later turn into his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". In front of the building is the "Frog Hop of Fame", where commemorative plaques are embedded in the sidewalk for the winners of the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee frog jumping contest. The building no longer operates as a hotel and is an apartment complex. It is registered as California Historical Landmark #734 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
- 2 Calaveras County Bank, 1239 Main St. The Calaveras County Bank is a historic, two-story Classical Revival building that was built in 1900 and designed by architects E. Depierre and Perseo Righetti of San Francisco. The bank's design features an iron boxed cornice with brackets on each end and stone pilasters on both sides. The interior trim of the bank used a variety of different woods, a rarity in contemporary buildings in the area. The bank was the first to be incorporated in Calaveras County, and the building was the first in the county designed specifically to house a bank; until the 1920s, it was also the only bank operating in the county. In 1930, the Calaveras County Bank merged with the Bank of Italy and moved to a new building. The old bank building housed a meat market from 1937 to 1980 and later held a branch of the Central Sierra Bank. It was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1985.
- 3 Carson Hill (State Hwy 4). Carson Hill is a ghost town located about 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Angels Camp. It was one of the most productive mining camps in the state, with nearly $26 million in gold and quartz found in the area, including a 195 pound troy (160 pounds (73 kg)) nugget that was the largest ever found in the state when it was unearthed in 1854. Carson Hill is registered as California Historical Landmark #274. The town was served by the Sierra Railway's branchline to Angels Camp until 1935.
- 4 Mark Twain's Cabin, 20788 Jackass Hill Rd (Highway 49 south out of Angels Camp for about seven miles, turn left onto Jackass Hill Road). A partial replica of the cabin that famed author Mark Twain used to live in, with original chimney and fireplace.
- 5 Sam Choy Brick Store, Bird Way. Built in 1860, the Sam Choy Brick Store is the only building remaining from a large Chinese settlement that contained over twenty properties during the California gold rush. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. After it served as a general store, its owner sold it to Angels Camp for use as a jail, and it is still owned by the city of Angels Camp. No parking is available on Bird Way, so if you wish to see the store park on Main Street and walk.
- 6 Utica Mansion, 1103 Bush St. The Utica Mansion is a historic house that was built in 1882 as a two-story stone building designed in the Federal style. Robert Leeper, then owner of the Utica Mine, built the house next to the Utica Mill. Leeper sold the mine to C. D. Lane in 1884; he sold the house to Lane four years later. Lane and two other investors began to buy up mining claims in Angels Camp, and their enterprise soon became profitable. With his investment earnings, Lane began to expand the Utica Mansion. Lane added a two-story addition to the west and north sides of the house and a veranda on the other two sides. He also improved the interior furnishings by adding new wallpaper and fireplaces with English tiles, repainting the woodwork, adding gold moldings to hanging pictures, and installing Axminster carpets. Lane lived in the house until 1895, when he left to pursue an investment in Alaskan mining. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
- Utica Park. Public park in Angels Camp visible from Main Street, host to many events including the summer Farmers' Market. Sits atop the former Utica mineshaft, and a set of large rusting gears, flywheels, winches, and cables are on a hilltop overlooking the park.
Do
[edit]- 1 County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, 101 Frogtown Rd (Follow signs on Highway 49), ☏ +1 209 736-2561. Calaveras County's most popular annual festivity. Held at "Frog Town", the county fairground, this event draws thousands of visitors every May. The inspiration for the fair is taken from Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" in which two men gamble over whose frog can jump farthest. Sticking to the spirit of the story, visitors are able to compete in their own contest. The fair also features carnival rides, musical performances, food, a destruction derby, livestock auction, as well as a variety of exhibits.
- 2 Natural Bridge Day Use Area, 4988 Parrotts Ferry Rd (off Parrotts Ferry Road, between Columbia and Highway 4). The Natural Bridges trail is a 2 miles (3.2 km) round-trip hike that leads through limestone caverns that have been carved by Coyote Creek. They are on land administered by the Bureau of Reclamation. The first cave is only 0.75 miles (1.21 km) down the hill, and 400 feet (120 m) of elevation loss. It is 230 feet (70 m) long from entrance to entrance. The second cave is another 0.5 miles (0.80 km) further downstream.. It is 180 feet (55 m) long between its two entrances. Water depth in the Upper Cave ranges from about ankle deep at the entrance to about 8 feet halfway through. The lower cave can be traversed with just getting your feet wet. Perfectly safe to swim through with only a few fish and crawdads, but one should bring a flashlight to improve visibility in nooks and crannies. Extremely popular site, best to go on a weekday, and early. Nice wildflowers along the trail in the Spring months, and lots of additional runoff from the springs that feed the bridge at the entrance and inside the bridge add to its beauty. Dogs and bikes are not allowed on the trail due to the geological sensitivity of the formation.
- 3 Outdoor Adventure River Specialists (O.A.R.S.), 2863 CA-49, ☏ +1 209-736-4677. O.A.R.S. offers rafting trips on California's South Fork American River near Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, as well as on eight other California rivers.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- Angels Food Market & Deli, 396 N. Main St, ☏ +1 209-736-4243. Full-service, top-quality meats, fresh seafood, deli, baked breads. #1 grade produce with variety of organics. Complete wine and liquor department. Family-owned and -operated since 1935.
- CAMPS Restaurant & Steakhouse, 711 McCauley Ranch Rd, ☏ +1 209-729-8181. Steak and fresh seafood in a rustic atmosphere with views of the golf course. Greenhorn Creek brunch, lunch and dinner selections are a favorite among locals and visitors.
- Crusco's, 1240 S. Main St., ☏ +1 209-736-1440. Located in a beautiful old stone building, Crusco's is an Italian influenced fine dining establishment featuring regional specialties, fine wines, homemade focaccia bread, and desserts. One of the best restaurants in the Mother Lode.
- Far East Cafe, 51 N Main, ☏ +1 209-736-6718. Enjoy freshly prepared Chinese Food. Has a menu loaded with your favorite Chinese dishes.
- Mike's Pizza, 294 S. Main St, ☏ +1 209-736-9246. Old fashioned pizza parlor with a family atmosphere serving pizza, pasta, ribs, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, salad bar, and sodas, beer and wine. Open daily from 11AM; dine-in, take-out or delivery.
- Rodz Grille, 730 S. Main St., ☏ +1 209-736-0170. 6AM-10PM. Family dining at its best. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Featuring an all-you-can-eat salad bar, children's and senior menus. Food to go is also available.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Angels Camp RV & Camping Resort, 3069 Highway 49, ☏ +1 209-736-0404, toll-free: +1-888-398-0404. Fun, family RV park/campground. 42 sites, no restrictions on size/slideouts; tent sites with/without water/electricity and comfortable camping in lodges, rustic log cabins or 2-bdrm apartment.
- Best Western Cedar Inn & Suites, 444 S. Main St, ☏ +1 209-736-4000, toll-free: +1-800-767-1127. Pool, hot tub, exercise room. Microwaves, refrigerators, and 4 HBO channels, free high speed Internet and Internet kiosk. Fireplaces, whirlpools available. Continental breakfast.
- 1 Cooper House B&B, 1184 Church St, ☏ +1 209-736-2145. One of Angels Camp's most elegant homes, built in 1911. The only Bed and Breakfast in Angels Camp and host to special events. Rates include breakfast and afternoon refreshments. $250.
- Frogtown RV Park, 2465 Gun Club Rd, ☏ +1 209-736-2561, fax: +1 209-736-4276. Located at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Featuring full hookups, water, power and sewer. The fairgrounds has facilities for any event large or small, outdoor or indoor.
- Angels Inn, 720 S. Main St., ☏ +1 209-890-7265, toll-free: +1-800-851-4944. AAA approved. Oversized rooms include wireless internet, microwaves, refrigerators, coffee-makers, hair dryers, cable TV, covered BBQ area, and deluxe rooms with plasma TVs.
- Greenhorn Creek Vacation Cottages, ☏ +1 209-736-9372. Beautiful 2- or 3-bedroom cottages, in prestigious Greenhorn Creek. Homes available on the golf course or steps from the pool and tennis courts.
- 2 Jumping Frog Motel, 330 Murphys Grade Rd., ☏ +1 209-736-2191, toll-free: +1-888-668-0988. Home-style comfort motel. Quiet park-like setting in historic Angles Camp. Cable TV, HBO, AC, BBQ & kitchen outside. In-room coffee/tea, hair dryer, iron, microwaves, refigerators. AAA Two Diamond Rating. Commercial, corporate, and senior discounts. $75.
- 3 Travelodge Angels Camp CA (Travelodge Angels Camp), 600 North Main St (Hotel located on Highway 49.), ☏ +1-209-736-5004. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Amenities include free parking, a business center, flat screen televisions, free wifi, and an outdoor pool. The hotel is non-smoking and pet-friendly.
Connect
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Neighboring destinations
- 1 Murphys - The small town of Murphys is a Gold Rush era town that today features over a dozen wine tasting rooms and a surprising number of excellent restaurants on its historic Main Street. The town also hosts an annual Irish festival in March that draws thousands of visitors. There are several wineries nearby, and visitors may also want to make the one mile journey north of Murphys to take a paid tour through Mercer Caverns, a short cave filled with a large number of speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites.
- 2 Columbia
- 3 Jamestown
- 4 Sonora
- 5 Jackson
| Routes through Angels Camp |
| Stockton ← Copperopolis ← | W  E
|
→ Murphys → Markleeville |
| Auburn ← Jackson ← | N  S
|
→ Columbia → Oakhurst |