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Fish Camp Just two miles from Yosemite National Park, Fish Camp has a rich American history. The early settlement in Fish Camp consisted mainly of loggers who worked the densely forested Sierra Nevada Mountains. They diverted waters in the 1870s from White Chief Mountain, creating Lewis Creek. The loggers then sent lumber down the creek with the assistance of flumes to Madera. At an elevation of 5,000’, Fish Camp enjoys cool summers and quiet snowy winters. “The Talking Bear” Located at the corner of Highway 41 and Road 426, Oakhurst’s best known landmark, “The Talking Bear,” has thrilled thousands of visitors to the mountains for over half a century. Hugh Shollenbarger began his quest to obtain the lifelike California Grizzly Bear in 1963, finally finding him at The Fiberglass Menagerie Company in Alpine. He was delivered and installed in early 1965. Beginning with a fierce growl, the Bear’s message gives a brief history of the now extinct California Grizzly and asks for respect of the forest and its wildlife. His message has been played an estimated 45,000 times and his photo is taken thousands of times each year. The Talking Bear has been lovingly refurbished and maintained by its owner, Brad Ditton of Century 21 Ditton Realty. Standing majestically, the Bear welcomes visitors from around the world to snap a photo and enjoy his "bear facts." To learn more, visit www.talkingbear.com .

Oakhurst Branch Library Located at 49044 Civic Circle Dr., the Oakhurst Library offers a broad selection of materials to check out for free. This includes books, audiobooks on CDs, DVDs, music CDs, laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots and online streaming services. To gain access to these collections, sign up for a free library card by presenting a picture ID and a proof of residential address. The library also offers free access to public computers where printing can be done for a small fee. The Madera County Library, Oakhurst Branch, is a member of the San Joaquin Valley Library System, which provides free access to millions of items. Please visit the library website for access to the online catalog, ValleyCat, and online resources: maderalibrary.org . The Friends of the Oakhurst Branch Library (FOBL) is a non-profit organization that dedicates time and funding to support the purchase of new materials and library programming. Their ongoing sale shelf is located inside the library and includes books, book bags, USB drives, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs and jigsaw puzzles. Please visit the Community Events page for a schedule of monthly FOBL book sales and visit the FOBL website at: friendsoakhurstbranchlibrary.com . Oakhurst Community Park Just off Highway 41, Oakhurst’s Community Park is ideal for a picnic, a place to stretch your legs or just to sit in the sunshine and let the world go by. There is playground equipment for children and the Library is located adjacent to the park. Eastern Madera County SPCA Located at 43180 Hwy 49 Ahwahnee CA 93601. The Eastern Madera County SPCA is a volunteer organization, dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. For more information, contact Eastern Madera County SPCA, PO Box 1314, Oakhurst, CA 93644, or by calling 559-404 0925 , emailing help@emcspca.org or visiting: emcspca.org.

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