Walnut Grove, CA Road Trips

Prior to European and Asian settlement, the Walnut Grove area was part of the Sacramento Delta, and as a result had little potential as a permanent settlement. Much of the region was at sea level and flooded for much of the year. Some burials were performed by Native American tribes in Locke. Shortly after California's annexation by the U.S. in the mid-19th century, an ambitious project to drain the Sacramento Delta began using the labor of immigrants from China. However, under California law, Asian immigrants could not buy their own land, and they relied on white Americans to give them financial support to start businesses and offer them leases. Businessmen John W. Sharp and later Alex Brown intervened and helped several Chinese and Japanese immigrants start businesses in the Walnut Grove area. Filipino-Americans later moved into the area as farm workers, further increasing the diversity of the Asian-American community in the rural parts of the Sacramento Delta. The majority of the Chinese immigrants came from Heungshan County (now Zhongshan), although a minority of about 10% came from Sze Yup. These communities founded organizations known as tongs which helped to provide local Asian-American residents preserve their culture. They set up a wide range of businesses, ranging from restaurants and laundries to brothels and casinos, not only for the town but also for farm workers across the Delta. A fire in 1915 destroyed most of Walnut Grove, and the community splintered as a result.

1 Iron Works, 14160 Market St, ☏ +1 916-776-2156, [email protected]. (updated Aug 2025) 2 Locke Boarding House (Jack Ross Boardinghouse), 13916 Main St, Locke, ☏ +1 916-776-1661. F-Su 11AM-4PM. (updated Aug 2025) 3 Locke Historic District. Locke was used as a burial ground by the local Miwok and Maidu tribes. Chinese laborers built levees in the mid and late 19th century to drain the Sacramento Delta and reclaim land for agricultural use. Almost 100,000 acres were reclaimed but at great cost: the region was infested with malaria, and contracted workers lived off less than a dollar a day. Many of these workers settled in Walnut Grove, but in the early 20th century a 14-acre town began to be developed on the north side of the cross-delta canal. Two hotels were built, but the town's growth was slow until 1915, when a fire destroyed Walnut Grove's Chinatown. The Cantonese population of the original Chinatown moved north to Locke, and they developed accommodation for farm laborers from the San Joaquin Valley. In the mid-20th century, however, Locke began to decline as residents moved to America's fledgling suburban areas. In 1971, the neighborhood of Locke between the Sacramento River and Alley St was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was not until the 2000s that residents were allowed to own the land where they lived due to California's historic restrictions on the sale of land to those of Asian descent and the holding of land by developers.

1 Boathouse Marina, 13900 River Rd, Locke, ☏ +1 916-776 1204. Offers parking for trailers. Has services including a convenience store, laundry, showers, electricity, and a boat washdown area. (updated Aug 2025) 2 Delta Meadows Park, 13971 River Rd (on the north side of the channel between Walnut Grove and Locke). 500-acre park with hiking trails along the local canal levees. There are no services in the park such as restrooms or trash disposal. (updated Aug 2025) 3 Georgiana Slough Fishing, Andrus Island Rd. A spot to park your car and fish on the Georgiana Slough. (updated Aug 2025)

1 Tony's Place, 14157 Market St, ☏ +1 916-776-1317, [email protected]. Restaurant and bar in the Chinese-American district of Walnut Grove. Cuisine is standard American. (updated Aug 2025)

1 Cannery Landing, 14450 CA-160, ☏ +1 916-777 6653. RV park with daily, weekly, and monthly rates. (updated Aug 2025) 2 Ko-Ket Resort, 14174 Isleton Rd, ☏ +1 916-776 1488, [email protected]. RV camping. Bar and grill onsite. On the southeast bank of the Sacramento River. (updated Aug 2025)

Walnut Grove and Locke have marinas for small boats, as both towns are on the shore of the Sacramento River. The 1 Georgiana Slough Bridge crosses a tributary of the Sacramento River to the south, enabling access to the town by car from Isleton via the Isleton Road.

The 2 Walnut Grove Bridge crosses the Sacramento River in the town. It's a drawbridge.