Calistoga Depot[3][4][5][6][7][1] is a former train station in Calistoga, California.

Calistoga
The former station building in 2011
General information
Location1458 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga, California
Owned byNapa Valley Railroad (1868–1885)
Southern Pacific Railroad (1885–c. 1978)
Mark Navone ( –2017)[1]
Merchant family (2017–present)
History
OpenedOctober 1868
Closed1929
Napa Valley Railroad Depot
Coordinates38°34′47″N 122°34′41″W / 38.579778°N 122.578095°W / 38.579778; -122.578095
Built byNapa Valley Railroad
Sam Brannan
NRHP reference No.77000313[2]
CHISL No.687
Added to NRHPApril 18, 1977

History edit

The station building was built in 1868 by Sam Brannan, who intended to bring in tourists to the area by his Napa Valley Railroad – the first passengers arrived that October.[3][5] Southern Pacific Railroad purchased the line in 1885, and the Depot was folded into their system.[8] Passenger service ended in 1929.[9]

The Depot is registered as a California Historical Landmark on July 31, 1959; it is listed as number 687.[10][4] It was additionally listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1977, as Napa Valley Railroad Depot.

The building was restored in 1978 by Calistoga Depot Associates. That year, Central Pacific Coach No. 12 was moved to the depot to act as tenant space, housing a wine shop for over 30 years. The car was moved to the California State Railroad Museum in 2020 for restoration.[5]

In 2017, the property was purchased by the Merchant family, owners of the nearby Indian Springs Resort and Spa.[1]

Design edit

The building was painted white in 2020; it had previously been Colonial yellow since 1906.[6]

Preceding station Southern Pacific Railroad Following station
Terminus Calistoga – Vallejo Larkmead
toward Vallejo

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Sweeney, Cynthia (12 December 2016). "Calistoga resort owners purchase town's historic Depot". North Bay Business Journal. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Kirkpatrick, Kirk (27 May 2017). "Local developer has plans to give Calistoga's Depot a major facelift". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 16 December 2020. Merchant has a grand vision for the property, generally known as "The Depot" in Calistoga.
  4. ^ a b "CHL # 687 Napa Valley Railroad Depot Napa". www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com.
  5. ^ a b c Sweeney, Cynthia (10 September 2020). "The train has left the station: Historic Calistoga railcar heads to museum". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b Sweeney, Cynthia (12 August 2020). "Historic Calistoga Depot undergoes a transformation". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  7. ^ Stadelman, Robert (1987). The Calistoga Depot: Its history and its restoration. Rail Theme Restoration & Development Co.
  8. ^ Eberling, Barry (26 February 2020). "Wine Train wants Napa County to OK winery stops". Napa Wine Taste. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  9. ^ Mobley, Esther (5 September 2019). "In Napa Valley, the Wine Train has always been one of the region's biggest controversies". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  10. ^ "NAPA VALLEY RAILROAD DEPOT, CALISTOGA". CA State Parks.