Home, Home on the Grange

While most communities have town halls, Prunedale operates a bit differently. The Prunedale Grange is no doubt the heart of Prunedale. You go there to vote, it has a remarkable history, and if anything important is going on in town you'd go there to find out about it. The grange was originally opened in the late 1800s as a meeting spot for local farmers. As members of the grange, they would work together for political rights and the grange would be their place to organize community events. This Prunedale landmark serves many of the same purposes for the community now as it did over a hundred years ago. The Prunedale Grange can be found on the top of Moro Road.

Fresh Milk No More

Back in the day, you used to be able to go to Milkbarn and get fresh milk every morning. Getting fresh milk was a form of community gathering. You could sit in your car and get a fresh glass of milk delivered right to you. But as time passed, the local grocery stores drove the Milkbarn's business out of the water. After all, it would be impossible for the Milkbarn to compete with a full scale grocery store like Safeway or Supermax. Regardless, the Milkbarn's building still stands between San Miguel Canyon Road and North Prunedale Road waiting to be used for a future business venture.

Steak with a Side of Murder...?

Most people living in Prunedale may be familiar with the old Steakhouse. It sits quietly on the top of Moro Road slowly deteriorating. It was recently transformed into a Church, but for several years it remained closed and abandoned. Many do not know the mystery behind the closing of the establishment; it has a cryptic history as a murder scene. In the early 90s, the owner of the restaurant, a man suffering from PTSD from the Vietnam War, came in early and murdered his own mother with an axe, chopping her up bit by bit. Shortly after, he commit suicide and the bodies were discovered by one of the restaurant regulars later that day. Ever since it's closing, the establishment's haunted past has created a looming atmosphere in the surrounding area.

Almost Ancient

The photo below may not look like much to the unsuspecting eye. In fact, today it's nothing more than a storage room for the Prunedale Senior Citizen's Center. But despite it's deceiving looks, it very well may be the oldest landmark in all of Prunedale. The building you're looking at was once a stop for the early stagecoach that traveled through the area now known as Prunedale. Although the town hadn't been formed yet, the stop offered basic food and service. This landmark is said to date back to the 19th Century. If you have a keen eye, you can find this spot along North Prunedale Road.

Murky Rails

One of my earliest childhood memories is going to the Elkhorn Slough with my dad and placing pennies on the train tracks. As soon as one of the metal monsters passed over the coin, a flat copper memento would be the only thing left. Even though the Elkhorn Slough isn't technically in Prunedale, it is a place that embodies what this blog is all about. It's history dates back thousands of years and a trip to the Slough will fascinate you with the unknown. Venture beyond the beaten path of the Elkhorn Slough; the combination of nature and human machinery make this a magical place. Who knows, you might just find an abandoned train.

Abandoned Lot, Forgotten History

This abandoned empty lot can be found off of North Prunedale Road. It is huge to say the least and it's one of the spookiest spots in all of Prunedale. This place has a real haunted and lonely feel to it. You can find anything from old stuffed animals to derelict hammocks as you walk through the expansive lot. It was once a junkyard, but that time has long ago passed. All that now remains of that era is small bits of garbage that are minuscule in comparison to the otherwise giant eucalyptus trees.

The Roots of Prunedale

If you live in Prunedale, there’s no doubt that you’ve stopped by Glen’s General Store at some point within the last month. The store is a one stop shop for all basic household necessities for everything from soap to a bag of chips. It has a historic role as the first place to go in Prunedale to purchase goods. Sadly, the store has been largely undermined by Supermax and Safeway; nevertheless, I still find time to make my way into the store for an occasional purchase of a soda or a sandwich when I’m on the go. You can find Glen’s General Store off of San Miguel Canyon Road near Highway 101.

Spooky Dried Cats Anyone?

This one was a little bit weird... I spotted this dried up cat on an old house's porch off of San Miguel Canyon Road. At first I was shocked, but I got in close enough to get a photo. Apparently the owner of the house found the cat under his basement and preserved it to show off to his visitors. How charming.

Antique Antique Store

I honestly don't know too much about this place. I have no memories of it being open, but apparently it was around since the 1960s and closed about 10 years ago when the owners passed away. The land for the store came from excess highway land. Drive by Echo Valley Road and take a left turn right before you reach Highway 101 to find this antique of an antique store.

Why Prunedale?

I've lived in Prunedale for eighteen years now and it's a town that people seem to know nothing about. It is one of those places with many layers that most have not taken the time to uncover. The average Californian will probably just drive by without stopping to notice the history, intrigue, and mystery of this rural town. That's why I've decided to take the time to wipe the dust off of some of the area's unexplored locations.