The Original Valley Ford Creamery
(1 Hour North of San Francisco)
(1 Hour North of San Francisco)
History
The area around Valley Ford was well established as a dairy and ranching community by the 1850s. The original Valley Ford Creamery was built in the early 1900s as a co-op creamery to receive the milk from the surrounding ranches, where it was turned into bottled milk and cream, cheese, and ice cream. It housed the first automated milk bottling plant in the county. Its products were in great demand, especially during the first and second World Wars, and enjoyed more than 50 years of prosperity. In the early 1960s, it was abandoned by its corporate parent, Carnation, as local creameries were consolidated into larger, regional operations.
It was discovered by local artists/artisans in the 1970s, and is fondly remembered for a colorful 25-year period as home to a number of eccentric and enterprising personalities, many of whom still live and work nearby.
In 1976, Christo and Jeanne-Claude staged their well-known Running Fence Project, which framed the Creamery and the Estero on its way to the ocean, in this locale.
About 20 years ago, it was rescued from disrepair. With that, the work began on the creamery's rebirth as an extraordinary studio complex.
It was discovered by local artists/artisans in the 1970s, and is fondly remembered for a colorful 25-year period as home to a number of eccentric and enterprising personalities, many of whom still live and work nearby.
In 1976, Christo and Jeanne-Claude staged their well-known Running Fence Project, which framed the Creamery and the Estero on its way to the ocean, in this locale.
About 20 years ago, it was rescued from disrepair. With that, the work began on the creamery's rebirth as an extraordinary studio complex.
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Estero Americano
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The Estero Americano contains 301 acres of open water and 412 acres of wetland habitat, including mudflats, seasonal brackish marsh, and freshwater marsh. The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) identified Estero Americano and its southern neighbor, Estero de San Antonio, as among the most significant habitat areas in the State. Streamside habitat along Americano Creek consists of grazed pastures with few trees interspersed with dense willow thickets. Coastal oak woodland occurs in the upper watershed.
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Valley Ford
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Nearby
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Commute/Distance
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