Kennedy Tailing Wheels Park — Attraction in Jackson

I was just bebopping around the Sierra foothills on a lazy weekend day this past summer. I was in Jackson, CA, driving around. I happen to drove out to the Kennedy Tailing Wheels Park. Admission and parking is FREE. The park is created around the remains of the Kennedy Mine's Tailing wheels. The city even threw in a section for a dog park, but that area is a sad dirt patch with no shade.

The main attraction of the park is the glass enclosed tailing wheel #4. It's 68 feet in diameter with 178 buckets. Quite an impressive sight. The Kennedy gold mine operations ran from mid 1850s through 1942 (the government shut down the operations to focus on due WW II efforts). The original wheels were located up the hill closer to the mine operations and moved to the park for display. The whelks were reassembled and laid out in reverse order.

Wheel #4 is the only wheel restored. A portion of the financial assistance came from the local community. Awesome. Wheels 1 and 2 are across the street on the Kennedy mine property, not much of it is left. The Kennedy mine is now a tourist attraction. You can walk across the street to view wheels 1 and 2. They're viewable from afar behind the fence. Not much to look at though, just crumbled aged pieces of wood. Wheel #3 is near wheel #4. That wheel is also in disrepair and falling apart, but somewhat better condition than 1&2.

Behind wheel #4 is Indian Gulch. That's the area where the mine waste carried from the tailing wheels ended up. In 1914, a dam was built so the mine waste was impounded to the dam basin.

Another thing is the park is not flat and has slight elevation, and the strolling paths are not paved and have steps. The sights are viewable from the pave sidewalk/roadway. Amenities: restroom, picnic benches, strolling path shaded in areas by old Oak trees,...

Fascinating piece of history. Amazing how they were able to design and construct such a large machines over such a vast area, 150 years ago. Really something to see. As we were leaving, a local yokel with their unleashed dogs came up the path and the dogs all but bit me. I hate dogs, especially when your dog is in my space. I don't bring my Beehives with me when I'm out and about, you shouldn't bring your dog. When I confronted the Hillbilly, he told me I should expect it because there's a Dog Park right there. Note that the enclosed area is adjacent to and not a part of "The Wheel" grounds but explaining that would only be a waste of my time. Another entitled idiot who has no idea how to share with others. But besides that, it was pretty cool to see the area and the view from the top...

Plenty of parking. Hanicapped accessable all throughout the park. It is beautifully restored. You cant help but feel this place. The folks that made these wheels, the dam. This was made with real human hands, sweat, ingenuity. No fabrication. I am amazed at its beauty, their size, and their purpose. We take so much for granted. How easy it is to go to grocery store for food. How easy it is to flush a toilet, flip a light switch, hop in our car and just turn a key. I have much admiration and respect for the men and women who helped pave this easy way of life. And yes I got all of that from just being here. Great job with the restoration. If not for them this review would not...