Forest City California now called “Forest, CA” is a real lost gem. The town was once a booming gold rush town. Now several authentic buildings remain such as a school, a dance hall, store fronts, cabins and cemeteries. Next to the dance hall is an old 2 stamp mill with steam engine and boiler that has been restored.
E Clampus Vitus (ECV)
The town is a popular meeting spot for Clampers. The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus (ECV) is a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the heritage of the American West, especially the history of the Mother Lode and gold mining regions of the area. They are responsible for many of the plaques you see throughout the Mother Lode.
Rick at Calexplornia.com has a great article on the town and so does Backcountryexplorers.com.
A couple winters ago a storm blew the roof off the dance hall and it was covered with a giant blue tarp. I dont know if it has been repaired yet. Please comment below if you know.
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The entire town of Forest City, located on USFS public lands, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1993. This protection has kept those existing buildings intact. The Dance Hall is owned and operated by the Forest City Historical Association, of which I am the current President of the Board of Directors. As a nonprofit organization, we fund raise to preserve the Dance Hall and promote the historic nature of the town, and we were able to repair the roof damage. There is a small museum located in the former barbershop within the Dance Hall building, open on weekends from Memorial Day through early October. It is possible to rent the building for private event by emailing burrobird@gmail.com for information.