Our Communities

Hornitos

This Gold Rush town was one of the richest in the early development of the Gold Rush era.  Hornitos had a reputation of being a rough town, and wasreportedly a hangout for the notorious Joaquin Murrieta, known as one of the scariest outlaws in the west.

President Grant made Hornitos his resting stop on his way to Yosemite in 1879.  Today, Hornitos is filled with valuable historical sites, landmarks, and many exciting tales of the Old West.  A wonderful stop along the county road that leads one of the Lake McClure and Lake Don Pedro subdivisions.

Domenico Ghirardelli built his first store here,

before moving to San Francisco , and Chocolate fame.  

Outlaw Joaquin Murietta (Robin Hood) is said to have frequented the dance halls and saloons, from which he maintained secret escape tunnels.  Today remain stone and brick buildings, some still whole, more in ruins.

Landmarks

Historic Town Center

Hornitos holds the mystery of a ghost town.  It challenges today’s tourist to imagine that in 1860 it was the center of a district whose population was some 6,000, and by 1870 had topped 10,000 residents.