Ponderosa2023

Community Spotlight

Auberry Auberry is a charming little foothill town just 5 minutes off the beaten path of Hwy. 168 as you head east toward Shaver Lake. For outdoor lovers it is the gateway to the spectacular San Joaquin River Gorge Parkway recreation area for picnics, wildflower hikes, mountain biking, horseback trails and fishing. Big Sandy Rancheria, of the Band of Big Sandy Western Mono Indians, is nearby offering the Mono Wind Casino. The modern residents form a cozy bedroom community to Clovis and Fresno, enjoying its vintage feel from the historic sawmill and SJ&E Railroad days, while the outlying community enjoys the western ranch lifestyle. Small mom and pop businesses preserve the feeling of an era gone by. Stop by for a cup of java with live piano music, explore local indigenous plants in the nursery or immerse yourself in small town culture and history. Big Creek When you venture into Big Creek, the scenery will excite your senses: the winding road through a giant tree forest, the sudden vista of bald granite mountains of the Scenic Byway area to the north, majestic cascades of water coming down to the powerhouse, looking across the deep gorge to a quaint Victorian era town perched on one gigantic granite rock. The town itself has narrow lanes chock full with cottages and clapboard bungalows where children and dogs play in the lanes, families walk to church hand in hand on

Sundays, and the locals stop in to chat at the general store. The lifestyle of this community is like stepping back into history. Think of a wholesome, safe, rural American town in a spectacular setting. To get there, take the short side trip to Big Creek from the Shaver Lake Dam and explore — it’s full of delightful surprises! History buffs, be sure to inquire into the amazing story of the Big Creek hydroelectric power history while you are there. Today, Southern California Edison Company generates the hydroelectric power and the town is home to about 300 residents. Friant This little town, well known as a summer hot spot, also offers year-round recreation. Millerton Lake State Recreation Area is a popular destination for valley residents for fishing, boating and the extensive trails system for biking and hiking. Check out the Millerton Historic Courthouse inside the park, the visitor’s center at the Friant Dam, or below the dam, you can visit the State Fish Hatchery and the popular Fresno Beach Volleyball Facility at Lost Lake. Scenic bike routes will take you from Millerton to Woodward Park or enjoy a relaxing guided canoe tour down the San Joaquin River Parkway. For gaming enthusiasts, Table Mountain Casino offers first rate dining and entertainment, or you can tee-off at Eagle Springs Golf and Country Club.

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