Columbia · California Gold Country
A quarter mile east of Columbia State Historic Park — sixty-eight full-hookup RV sites and ten tent sites, set among the large oaks and pines.
The history
Around a hundred years ago this land belonged to the Bell family, who raised fruits and vegetables where the RV park now sits. Ed Hill, an experienced marble worker from Vermont, married one of Bell's daughters and talked his father-in-law into letting him open a quarry.
It opened in April of 1918, just before the end of the First World War, and almost nothing went to plan. A cable supporting the 110-foot steel tower broke and the tower came down, killing two men. Remnants of the twisted tower can still be found in the brush on the hill. The marble that followed turned out to be full of dry seams — too cracked for the slabs that lined the banks and hotels of the day.
What could not be cut was blasted, crushed, and sold as grits for chicken feed, at a fraction of the price. Then 1929 came, farmers stopped buying, and the quarry and the Bell farm were forced into bankruptcy.
The marble here contains no gold. It was formed long before the Sierra rose — and it predates Yosemite by millions of years.
Accommodations
We offer a variety of full-hookup sites, fitting anything from a large rig to a tent-trailer. Within our ability, we make an effort to accommodate the site of your choice.
Up to 45 feet
Available daily, weekly or monthly.
Up to 40 feet
Available daily, weekly or monthly.
Ten sites · level ground
A perfect camping experience for those who prefer to sleep under the stars. Available daily and weekly.
The park
Our store carries groceries and ice, RV supplies, propane, and a gift shop. The lounge has laundry, a comfy sitting area, a library, and a morning cup of coffee. Restrooms and showers are attached to the office, open all the time, and free with no passcodes.
Horseshoes, volleyball, shuffleboard and tetherball on the lawn. Firewood bundles in the store, and a fire container at the office if you need one.
From our guests
“This is a park with mostly flat gravel sites, FHU, trees, peace and quiet and a great location. It is a very short walk through the boulders to the historic town of Columbia with its shops, characters and cemetery on the hill.” camp-roadtripper666692 · Campendium, April 2022
“The Campground is clean and the folks are super nice that run the place. We had a spot that afforded us a little privacy. They have a pool, horseshoes and a laundromat. We stayed two days and would go back again.” Rich-Zona · Campendium, October 2018