Rampart, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rampart
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 Rampart
Location in California
Rampart
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Placer County |
| Elevation | 6,201 ft (1,890 m) |
Rampart is a small, quiet place in Placer County, California. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes or buildings that are not part of an official town or city.
Rampart is located right by the Truckee River and the old Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Tahoe City. It's also close to popular ski areas like Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. This area sits high up, about 6,201 feet (1,890 meters) above sea level. Rampart was first shown on a USGS map in 1936.
A Look Back in Time
In 1910, a rich family from San Francisco, the Walters, bought a piece of land in Rampart. They added more land until they had almost 11 acres. In 1913, they started building a large main lodge. This was the first of 12 buildings they would build.
The Walters family used the property as their mountain getaway every summer. It was a place for women, guests, and children to relax. The family owned the property until 1959. After that, it became a vacation lodge. Guests could enjoy activities like horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, and skiing. You can still see signs of an old rope tow for skiing and a tennis court from those days.
In 1971, Rampart became a busy place for rentals. But then, a fire destroyed the main lodge. The family who owns the property now bought it in 1973.
What's There Now?
Over the years, the buildings at Rampart have not been kept up. Many of them have big problems, like roofs that have fallen in or damage from the fire. They are boarded up, so it's not easy to go inside.
You can still find many clues from the past in the area. For example, there's a spot among the trees where people used to dump glass and other trash. You can also still see parts of the old rope tow ski lift from the 1950s.
