Paradise California Attractions

Paradise and Magalia

Paradise and Magalia are located in the Sierra foothills, 16 miles northeast of Chico, California.

Butte County

Butte County is situated on the east side of Northern California's Sacramento Valley. The surrounding counties include Plumas on the northeast, Yuba on the southeast, Sutter and Colusa on the southwest, Glenn on the west and Tehama on the northwest. The county covers 1,675 square miles.

Rising from the Sacramento River, its western boundary, to the Sierra Nevada mountains, its eastern perimeter, Butte County's elevation spans fron 60 to over 7,000 feet above sea level and has a considerable variation in climate. Summers at the lower elevations are dry and warm, with temperatures at times topping 100 degrees. The valley winters are mild, with occasional frosts. At the higher elevations, on the other hand, temperatures are generally cooler throughout the year, and winter brings regular snowfall.

With its natural beauty, Butte County has inspired many artists and cultural innovators to make this part of the North State a center for many vibrant art exhibits, performances in music, theater and dance, and a variety of festivals and exhibitions. While enjoying the rural atmosphere of Northern California, the fine arts afford Butte County residents a rich cultural environment.

The five incorporated cities in Butte County are Paradise, Chico, Oroville, Gridley and Biggs. Chico is the county's largest city and is an urban center for the surrounding agricultural areas.

Why we call it Paradise...

Different explanations abound for how Paradise acquired its name. The most convincing story is that a famous early settler, "Uncle Billie" Leonard, and friends rode horses to the Sacramento Valley and back one hot summer day. Upon reaching the cool shade of the pine trees, Leonard dismounted and proclaimed, "Boys, this is Paradise!" Another favorite anecdote dates back to the mining days, when the Pair-O-Dice Saloon was well-known among the many gambling halls and saloons. Eventually, the mining era ended; the settlers who remained built a respectable community, and Pair-O-Dice became Paradise. In 1887 the town's first post office was named Paradise, and by 1880 Paradise was a voting precinct.

A Heavenly Lifestyle...

When you spend some time in Paradise, you will soon realize how appropriate its name really is. Although Paradise's location offers a quiet, secluded getaway, it is at the same time in a prime position geographically for residents to enjoy all of Northern California. In just about three hours, Paradisians can spend the day or the weekend skiing at Lake Tahoe, shopping or taking in the sights of San Francisco, or losing themselves in the Shakespearean plays of Ashland, Oregon.

Here on the ridge itself, you will find a charming mixture of specialty stores and large, convenient chains to take care of most of your shopping needs. Fine antique stores are abundant in Paradise, and two complete, indoor shopping malls are just 20 minutes away in Chico. Under the evergreen trees, sports and outdoor receation activities abound. There are the usual facilities for golf, tennis, swimming, baseball/softball, bowling, jogging, and horseback riding, and then there are activities unique to Paradise, such as hiking, hunting, fishing, gold mining, and waterskiing on nearby Lake Oroville.

Lake Oroville

Nearby Lake Oroville State Recreation Area is a popular fishing spot year-round, with opportunities for camping and houseboating. The dam is spectacular, a popular sightseeing stop for those who wish to marvel at this engineering feat. Check out migrating steelhead and salmon at the Feather River Fish Hatchery. Glass viewing windows enable you to see the action up close.

The picture at right is of Lime Saddle Marina, where you can launch your boat and purchase boating goodies, or, if you don't own a boat, you can rent one here, from a small fishing boat to a large houseboat.

The Gold Nugget Museum

Gone are the days of the 49ers...the 54-pound gold nugget, the Native tribes, the Chinese laborers, the stagecoaches and mule trains... You are invited to visit the Gold Nugget Museum, a unique project devoted to the preservation of this continuing heritage. The museum, through its exhibits and events, interprets the individuality of our local area and its history.

More than 100 years ago, a colorful bit of history took place in a gold claim on the West Branch of the North Fork of the Feather River, three miles east of Dogtown (Magalia). In April 1859, a 54-pound, almost solid-gold nugget was found in the hydraulic mining claim of Messrs. Willard and Company. This was the cause for a great community-wide, three-day celebration.

In commemoration of this great find, the Gold Nugget Days celebration is held on the Paradise Ridge in April each year. It is through the proceeds of this celebration and volunteer labor that the Gold Nugget Museum became a reality.

The museum is operated by an all-volunteer staff and is supported by the people of the Ridge communities. Each September the museum invites the community to a Day of Living History, where costumed volunteers present events such as candle-making, gold-panning, weaving, and blacksmithing. Each summer the museum offers Creekside Concerts on Friday evenings. The concerts feature local bands and are free to the public.

A walk through the Gold Nugget Museum is a walk into the past. Exhibits enable the visitor to see the story of early settlers and their native predecessors. Exhibits are changed periodically to keep it a truly "living museum."

The core of the collections are those that pertain to the Gold Rush era. These are augmented by other exhibits that relate to the recent past.

The museum conducts a number of programs for the community. The annual Gold Nugget Days celebration includes a parade, a ball, a queen contest, a stage revue, a barbecue, a carnival and a costume contest. A number of related events are sponsored by community groups.

Butte College

Butte College is a fully accredited, two-year community college serving Butte and Glenn counties. The 940-acre campus located south of Chico is the largest in California and one of the most attractive. Nearly 13,000 students enroll each semester. Options include approximately 50 career and four-year transfer programs. (530) 895-2511.

Honey Run Covered Bridge

One of the few covered bridges left in California and the only tri-span bridge in the United States, Honey Run Covered Bridge is located in beautiful Butte Creek Canyon just outside of Paradise.