Calistoga's famous Petrified Forest is headed for the market after being owned by the same family for 100 years, according to KTVU. With a $12 million price tag on the 500-acre property, it houses the remains of ancient sequoias, a popular tourist destination since 1870, drawing 30,000 visitors each year, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The redwoods were buried about 3.4 million years ago by ash from a volcano that eventually became Mount St. Helena, according to the Petrified Forest website. The petrification process occurred as mineral-rich water percolated through the ashy deposits and saturated the pores of the redwoods with silica, preserving even the finest details of the ancient wood.
The same family has owned and operated this attraction for a century, but the current owners, Janet Angell and her two sisters, are nearing retirement and can no longer perform the intense labor required to maintain the forest trails. The family hopes that the property will remain undeveloped and open for the public, but the younger generations are not interested in taking over the business.
The forest is believed to contain the largest petrified trees in the world, remnants of an extinct sequoia species. The preserved trees were discovered in 1870 by Swedish homesteader Charles Evans, who found a hollow log as hard as stone while raking his pasture. This led to the involvement of paleontologists from leading universities who studied the site and its significance.
Visitors can get an up-close look at the petrified trees and view ashfall from Mount St. Helena. The property, which includes a barn, a gift shop, and a cafe, will remain open to visitors until a buyer is found, Angell told the Chronicle. She also expressed her hopes that potential buyers would preserve the site, acknowledging its importance as a pristine destination for generations of families.
As this unique piece of history goes up for sale, the Petrified Forest's future remains uncertain. The $12 million price tag leaves many wondering who will step up to protect this valuable natural wonder and its ancient remains, ensuring that it remains a cherished attraction for generations to come.
