JOLON — The annual Spring Tour for the San Antonio Valley Historical Association is in the planning stages for an event titled, “Stage Stops and Saloons Along Old Jolon Road.”
Saturday, April 26, is the date chosen for a trip down memory lane along one of Southern Monterey County’s oldest roads just south of King City. Starting time will be 9 a.m. at San Lorenzo Park in King City.
This year’s event is being done in cooperation with the Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum, where the day will begin at the Main Barn with a PowerPoint presentation of stage stops between Soledad and San Miguel from 1873 and 1910. Mixed in will be scenes from saloons that have lined the route over the years.
The event will be conducted by caravan with participants encouraged to carpool with guests. A few stops are planned along the route that heads southwest on Road G14, ending up about 20 miles later at the site of the old town of Jolon and the entry to Fort Hunter Liggett at Mission Road.
Lunch will be served at the historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, dating back to 1883. There will be a chance to visit the site of the old Dutton Hotel, the Tidball Store and the St. Luke’s Cemetery.
Also featured will be information about the Dew Drop Inn, the Bombay Club, the Adobe Club, the Voodoo Room and the Ruby Mine Saloon.
Cost for the event is $30 for members of SAVHA and $35 for non-members, payable in advance. Space is limited so reservations are requested by April 19. In the last two years, the tours have sold-out.
For more information, call or text Karen Jernigan at 831-594-3740 or email ka***************@gm***.com.
Sturdy shoes are advised as the tour may include some uneven ground. In the event of rain, the tour may be abbreviated to feature indoor presentations in King City and Jolon, but the drive should still be worthwhile as organizers have put in an order for beautiful wildflowers that can be viewed along the route.
