Georgetown California

Tucked in the middle of Gold Country, at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Georgetown California has a small-town charm that's sure to please vacationers.

When we arrived during mid-July, the town was pumping with hundreds of Jeep owners for the annual Jeepers Jamboree, an off-road adventure that follows the Rubicon Trail.

It looked like fun, but we were here for river rafting. Located just about 15 minutes from the American River and historic town of Coloma, Georgetown makes a fine base for touring Marshall Gold Discovery State Park and the surrounding sights of the Mother Lode.

The entire town (number 484 on the California Historical Landmark list) is located on only about 2 city blocks, so you can easily cover everything in a day. During the height of the Gold Rush, Georgetown was home to about 5,000 residents. Today, only about 962 full-time residents live here.

Georgetown is steeped in Gold Rush lore. Founded by George Phipps in 1849, Georgetown was first named Growlersburg, in reference to the gold that "growled" in miner's pockets and pans. Solid deposits of gold were found throughout town during the 1850s, making it a huge base camp for miners.

To accommodate the growing population of gold-hungry miners, a large boarding house named White's Hall was constructed in 1853. Also known as the American Hotel, the building was burned during a fire in 1897, and was quickly reconstructed. In addition to a miner's home, the hotel also served as a sanitarium and brothel.

With such a fascinating history, we had to stay here. Today, the American Hotel is better known as The American River Inn. This Georgetown bed-and-breakfast, which has hosted stars including David Hasselhoff and Carol Channing, was part of our OARS Wine and Raft Tour. The tour included lodging, a day of wine tasting in El Dorado Wine Country, and a second day of rafting on the south fork of the American River.

Our host, Betty, was accompanied by her adorable black cocker spaniel, Dolly, who offered us a warm welcome upon arrival. Our stay included afternoon hors d'oeuvres and wine, along with a delicious full breakfast of quiche, ham, muffins, bagels, coffee and fruit salad in the morning. The individual-sized quiches, made in a muffin tin, were absolutely delicious.

Each of the hotel's rooms are decorated with old antiques, dolls and Victorian furnishings. In fact, many of the antiques are actually for sale.

I noticed a Ghost Hunter's Guide to California's Gold Rush Country in the hotel gift shop, and couldn't help but wonder if the place was haunted. Turns out, it is.

Word is that not only are the bodies of several miners still buried beneath the basement (casualties of a collapse of the Woodside Mine, which runs beneath the building), but a ghost named Oscar still haunts Room 5, pining for his lady love, a prostitute who used to frequent the room.

Apparently Oscar had planned to marry the woman, but he was shot on the footsteps of the hotel during a brawl with a customer. She was later found dead below the hotel balcony.

I definitely felt a ghostly presence at the top of the stairs, where Oscar (described as a romantic and friendly spirit) is known to hang out. He is said to be fond of honeymooners — shaking the bed, switching on the lights or tearing off the sheets. When he makes his appearance, Oscar is said to enter through the balcony and leave through the door at the top of the stairs.

Room 5, the Honeymoon Suite, is certainly the prettiest room in the hotel. Former NFL football star (and 3-time Superbowl player) John Niland was staying there with his wife during our visit. Niland, one of the top offensive lineman between 1966-1975, came down to join us during happy hour, sharing his stories about the Dallas Cowboys and his six Pro Bowls. He was a super-friendly guy.

If you're looking for more spooky lore, another haunted Georgetown lodging is the Georgetown Hotel & Bar (6260 Main Street; 530-333-2848). Opened on Aug. 7, 1849 by George Phipps, the hotel burned down three times (1852, 1856 and 1896). Among its many uses was a brothel, so it's not surprising that the place is haunted by a ghost named Merna, a lady of the night who was murdered by a boyfriend.

Merna is said to hang out in Room 5, often moving the drapes and turning on the faucet. Former caretaker "Big Dave," who died of a heart attack on the toilet, is also known to haunt the hotel (in a playful way), along with a phantom boy who bounces a ball down the stairs. Other rooms that have experienced spiritual activity include the kitchen, Room 10, Room 1 and Room 11.

If you have time, be sure to explore the Georgetown attractions, which all run along Main Street. The Miners Club (6285 Main Street; 530-333-4766) is a bustling bar where you can grab a cool one and catch up with the local townsfolk. Built in 1862, it operated as a morgue during the Civil War and is still rumored to be haunted. On Fridays, the bar plays host to karaoke parties.

There are several Georgetown restaurants to choose from.

Starvin' Dog Pizza (6297 Main Street; 530-333-1520; www.starvindogpizza.com) is a fun Georgetown restaurant with a full bar and wide variety of pizzas. For something out of the ordinary, try the Feta Spinach Chicken or Hawaiian Chicken Tomato pizzas. 

Georgetown Coffee Co. (6259 Main Street; 530-333-2240; http://georgetowncoffeeco.webs.com) serves up breakfast burritos, bagels and biscuits for breakfast, and soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch. To get your motor running, try the Gold Rush, a mixture of coffee and espresso shots. Iced mochas, chai lattes and other coffeehouse treats are also sold here, along with ice creams, shakes and smoothies.

One of the top recommended Georgetown restaurants, Camp Virner (8800 Wentworth Springs Road, Georgetown; 530-333-4674), is an Italian-American-German restaurant with top-notch steaks, soups and other hearty fare. The service is friendly, and locals rave about the food.

At Worton's Market (6274 Main Street; 530-333-1489) you can pick up groceries, espresso, sandwiches and ice cream. The store also sells gifts, fishing and camping supplies. There are a few tables outside, complete with red and yellow umbrellas, where you can enjoy lunch while doing a little people watching.

Georgetown is located roughly 1 hour from Sacramento in California Gold Country. It serves as a fine touring base for American River Rafting Adventures and the Jeepers Jamboree on the Rubicon Trail.

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