All aspects of gold mining are harmful to the environment but this fact was largely ignored in the 1880s as individual men and big corporations rushed to dig the metal from the ground. Kennedy Mine, which operated from 1886 until 1942, was one of the deepest mines along the 120 miles of hard-rock gold deposits in the quartz vein of the Sierra Nevada. The Kennedy mill, running to full 100-stamp capacity, produced approximately 850 tons of tailing waste every twenty-four hours. After farmers and ranchers complained about the runoff from the tailings polluting their streams and fields the company was required to build an impoundment dam. Huge wheels and flumes were constructed to carry slurry from the mill to the large impoundment located at the top of a hill.
The park includes a interpretive kiosk with a mural depicting the mill and wheels in operation. A steep road with parking spots allows visitors to view a deteriorated wheel, a restored wheel and the impoundment pound. Another wheel is located across the street at the amphitheater lot.
The main parking lot is large enough for any RV. The kiosk can be accessed by a short walk up the hill. Do not drive your RV up to the impoundment. The road is extremely steep and the lot at the top is small. The amphitheater lot is large enough for any RV. Walk around the closed gate to view the wheel. This wheel is easier to see and much more accessible because it’s not in a glass shelter or on a steep hill like the one in the park. Park
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