Middletown

Under clear, smogless skies, where gliders soar and balloons punctuate the sky, lies Middletown, a small town with old-West charm. Middletown is the portal to a paradise called Lake County, a scenic land of gleaming water, sports adventures, fascinating folklore, geological wonders, glitzy casinos, and celebrity entertainment.

First there were the Indians, a tenacious tribe called Pomo by the early Californians -- The Pomos are famous for their basket making ability.  Long before the coming of the European settlers, a band of these hardy people settled at the drainage of Putah Creek and named their home "goose-town," Lok-noma in their tongue.

No one knows when eyes other than Indians' came to gaze upon Lok-noma.   Maybe the first to see it was crusty, old Caleb Greenwood, wearing buck- skins, leading wagon trains, and cursing up a storm when he was over 80.  He claimed he was bear hunting hereabout in 1826.  Or maybe it was Josette Legace, wife of the intrepid trapper, John Work, who camped along Putah Creek in 1833 -- or Salvador Vallejo who came riding up from Sonoma in 1836.

Adventurers and explorers came and went like seasons, but little changed until 1845.  Then the Callayomi Grant, including Loconoma (Lok-noma), was ceded to Robert Ridley and the Guenoc Grant, likewise, to George Rock.  Rock took up residence in the Stone House, now an historic monument in Hidden valley, then the harbinger of a village called Guenoc, around which Jacob Leese grazed his longhorns.  Time passed, gold glittered, and California grew.

More rovers began to wind their precipitous way over Mount St. Helena.  Ultimately they would wind their way in stage coaches -- and these contrivances of course, had to have their depots.  Enter George Farley and a stage stop set smartly midway between Sam Brennan's Calistoga and spectacular Clear Lake, which he aptly named "Middle Station."  Follow Farley with Berry who built a hotel in 1870, and instead of Middle Station, you have Middletown, known for its hot springs, hideaways, quicksilver mines, and a string of devotees as diverse as gamey Old Greenwood and glamorous Lillie Langtry.  Diverse on the surface yet akin in grit.

Grit: that's the earmark of Middletowners ranging from the Wappo to the dauntless ladies who developed Anderson Springs, from those who mocked the ashes of the fire in 1918 to the unstoppable Earle Wrieden, who served on the board of supervisors for 24 years.  Or call it "GooseTown Gumption."

Hidden Valley Lake

Hidden Valley Lake is a master planned community which was developed by Boise Cascade Corporation starting in 1968. Single family, custom home lots comprise 98% of the 3268 properties which were marketed and sold to public purchasers over the ensuing decade. Located just two hours from the Bay Area and Sacramento, Hidden Valley Lake (HVL) began as a predominately second home and retirement community.  However, through the three decades of its history, about 1500 homes have been built and a more typical blend of younger families, semi-retirees, retirees and weekenders has emerged. Coyote Valley Elementary School was opened in 1995 for grades K-6.  Coyote Valley now has more than 450 students attending, while another 350 students attend the middle and high schools in Middletown (six miles south).

The community has undergone a transformation in the last five years with the construction of a new sanitary sewer system now serving 1800 properties, repaving of all 31 miles of HVL private roads, installation of a new, high tech gate security system and remodeling and reconstruction of all the major community buildings and amenities.  A total of more than $23 million invested! It is no wonder that this special place would attract that kind of investment commitment with California's cleanest air, the sunniest climate in the north (neither coastal nor valley low clouds and fog invade), plentiful water with 45" of annual rainfall, a world class golf course, a quiet fishing lake (no large power boats) and lovely oak Savannahs and 20 mile views from hillside home sites.

Lake County

Lake County offers an endless array of watersport opportunities for individuals seeking recreation and relaxation: swimming the calm waters of Highland Springs Reservoir, parasailing over Clear Lake, windsurfing at the more remote Lake Pillsbury, fishing for trout at Indian Valley Reservoir, canoeing on the serene waters of Blue Lakes, to name a few.

The largest natural freshwater lake completely within California, Clear Lake attracts anglers, boaters, skiers and swimmers year after year to the communities of Lake County. In fact, Clear Lake is well-known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, but many people do not identify the famous lake with the county in which it is centered.

Known as the Bass Capital of the West, Clear Lake has more than 43,000 surface acres, ample space for fishing, swimming, sailing, waterskiing, jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, kneeboarding, and other water sports.

Pro and amateur anglers can cast their lines at several "hot spots" in Clear Lake to catch Florida strain largemouth black bass, yellow and blue channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill.

There are 11 public boat launch ramps along the shore of Clear Lake. Fishing boats are available to rent, and local retailers sell a variety of fishing equipment. Several guides in the area offer their services for fishing Clear Lake. Several businesses around the lake rent water ski boats and equipment, jet skis, wave runners, pontoons, kayaks, pedal boats, and paddle and row boats. Two businesses offer parasail rides, one near Library Park in Lakeport, and the other at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa near Kelseyville. Additionally, sailboat rides and paddlewheel boat rides are available from local businesses.

Clear Lake is home to the NorCal Boat & Ski races each summer, and it draws a contingent of seaplane owners and flyers for the annual "Splash In" event. Model seaplane enthusiasts often converge in Lake County for a meet.

Visitors and residents enjoy boating to different areas around the lake to explore the communities along the shore or to have a meal at a lakeside restaurant.

Many beaches and campgrounds can be found around the lake, and Lake County offers opportunities for hiking, hunting, birding, rockhounding, bicycling, skydiving, gliding, horseback riding, golfing, gaming, and wine tasting.