Other old site?

[Mark Wagner]

Does anyone know the status of Fiddletown?  Is Kestner still around?  Road passable? Outhouse still Gold Rush era? Anyone been using it (site, not kybo)?

Mark

[James Webster]

My last trip to Fiddletown, about 7 years ago, was not favorable. The road was almost impassable. I've been off roading on suicide rated trails that were in better condition. I had to do some road building. The road is what keeps me away. I don't think it's improved. Kessner has been trying to give the property to various groups without success. I'm told the light dome from Stockton has grown a lot. A fellow named Jim, a tall lanky guy who did astro photography, and belonged to the Tri Valley club was going there. I don't remember his last name. I also gave a fellow from this group the directions and he said he was going this summer. I'll have to dig around in my old emails and ask him if he made it there.

James Webster 

On Tue, Nov 4, 2025, 4:58 PM Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

Does anyone know the status of Fiddletown?  Is Kestner still around?  Road passable? Outhouse still Gold Rush era? Anyone been using it (site, not kybo)?

Mark

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[Mark Wagner]

Thanks, James.  Guess I'll cross it off my list.  I remember the road being a challenge (with great care) 20 years ago.  Sure had some good times there.

I have a few ideas for more fun times, perhaps I'll post them soon.

[Steve Gottlieb]

I last observed at the site in March of 2005, when there was a large group that included several folks from the Sacramento area including Alvin Huey, Randy Muller, Marsha Robinson, Jane Smith, Jim Ster, Shneor Sherman and others. So, I can’t say for sure that the road is currently as bad as Jim mentions. I know that once in awhile Kestner would donate some money to the neighbor (Paula) to help fill large ruts in the road, though I’m sure those were only temporary fixes.

Bob Kestner contacted me, though, last year. He wanted to donate the property to an astronomy club or group with a 501(c)3 status with the goal that it would be maintained and improved as an observing site (particularly the access road).  I gave him contact numbers of the local clubs (Stockton, SVAS) and Richard Ozer may have also asked around. But as far as I know he was unsuccessful in finding a taker. Besides the road and the dilapidated outhouse, which I’m sure is unusable, there’s a question about the current darkness of the site. Back in the day that Mark, Jim Webster and others may remember, it was certainly darker than any of the bay area sites and likely in a blue zone. But when I looked at the 2022 light-pollution map, it’s now well into a green zone, so it may not be worth the drive in any case.

Steve

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