Dales, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dales, California
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 Dales, California
Location in California
Dales, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Tehama |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 28 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 221983 |
Dales is a small, unincorporated community located in Tehama County, California. It's about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Red Bluff, right on California State Route 36. This quiet area is known for its natural beauty and a rich history connected to early California settlers and the famous Dales Station.
Contents
History of Dales
Early Days of Dales
The name "Dales" comes from the Dale family, who bought a ranch here in 1913. Before them, the property belonged to the Long family and then the John Norwood Gates family. The Gates family's home was known as the "Halfway House." This was because it was located halfway between the cities of Red Bluff and Manton.
John Norwood Gates and his family lived in the home around 1867. John Gates was an early pioneer in Tehama County, arriving in 1859. The Halfway House was originally on the north side of Payne's Creek. However, the Gates family moved and rebuilt it on the south side, closer to its current spot.
The ranch became a regular stop for mail and passenger stagecoaches. They kept fresh horses and livestock in the Dale's barn. The Dale family raised cattle and offered meals and lodging to travelers. This made their ranch a well-known landmark in the area.
Dales Station and Floods
In 1922, the Dales built a wooden service station because the Ford Model T cars were becoming very popular. But in 1937, a big flood hit the area. It destroyed the service station and the wooden bridge over Payne's Creek.
The Dale's home, the old Halfway House, survived the flood. However, it floated about 12 feet (3.7 m) to its current spot! The next year, the Dales rebuilt the station using strong stones from nearby lava beds on their land. This made sure future floods wouldn't cause as much damage.
After rebuilding, the Dale family started leasing the space to others. It became a restaurant and bar. They finally sold the Station in 1962. Dales Station grew to include living spaces for owners and a commercial kitchen. It was a popular spot for many years.
Around the year 2000, the Station closed down. It remained unused for five years, changing owners, and slowly fell apart. In 2006, it was bought and restored. The restaurant and bar finally reopened in November 2010, bringing back the name Dales Station.
Dales Today: Nature and Community
Life in Dales
Today, Dales is home to about 25 homes and around 70 residents. There are also several ranches and a trout farm. The community shares its PO Box ZIP Code (96075) and phone area code (530-597-xxxx) with Paynes Creek, California. However, its street addresses use the Red Bluff ZIP Code (96080).
Local Geography and Wildlife
The area around Dales has unique natural features. To the west, you can find vernal pools like Hog Lake. Just north of the Station is Dales Lake, another vernal pool. There are also volcanic buttes, which are isolated hills formed by volcanoes. These include Tuscan Buttes, Soap Butte, and Inkskip Hill.
You can also find natural mineral springs and rolling hills covered in blue oak savannah. Several seasonal gulches, which are small valleys, are here. Payne's Creek, a stream where fish travel upstream to spawn, flows through the area. Dales also borders the Sacramento River Bend area.
This region was once home to ancient Native American tribes like the Yana, including the Yahi and Nomlaki. They lived and thrived here for thousands of years. The Ishi Wilderness is a protected public area named after Ishi. He was the last known survivor of the Yahi tribe, who made contact with the modern world in 1911. This wilderness area borders other protected lands, including wildlife preserves. These preserves are important winter homes for the migratory Tehama deer herd, which is the largest migrating deer herd in California.
Volcanic Landscape and Ecosystem
Dales Station is located in a beautiful valley about 650 feet (198 m) above sea level. It's on the way to Lassen Volcanic National Park. The natural environment here is a riparian landscape, meaning it's near a river or stream. This area is home to many different kinds of wildlife.
You can see bald eagles, hawks, osprey, owls, geese, swans, and many other birds. Payne's Creek, behind Dales Station, flows all year round. It's home to trout, salmon, smallmouth bass, and other fish. Animals like fox, coyote, raccoon, skunk, and deer are also common here.
Tall cottonwood and live oak trees provide homes and food for local animals. They are a very important part of the local ecosystem. Even though the landscape is lush, it's also an ancient volcanic area. You'll find lava boulders, lava beds, and volcanic buttes. Dales is on the slope leading from California's Central Valley to the mountains. This is where the Sierra Nevada mountains meet the active volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains. Before Mount St. Helens erupted, Mount Lassen was the last volcano to erupt in the United States. That eruption happened in 1914 and lasted for over two years!
