A small town with a big stories
Oak Street, Parkfield 1912
From homesteaders and miners to ranching families and cowboy traditions, Parkfield has had many chapters. Through booms, busts, and near-abandonment, its character has remained the same. Visit Parkfield take a step back in time and experience the California of old.
EARLY HISTORY
Before settlers arrived, the valley around Parkfield was seasonally inhabited by the Tachi Yokut people, who referred to it as “Cholame,” meaning “the beautiful one.” White settlers arrived around 1854, drawn by the promise of land and ranching opportunities. By 1899, Parkfield’s population reached nearly 900 residents, supporting stores, hotels, saloons, and blacksmith shops.
Coal mining in Indian Valley and mercury mining at the Patriquin Mine brought workers and investment, while small-scale oil exploration added to the excitement. These ventures briefly boosted the town before most operations declined, leaving ranching as the community’s lasting livelihood.
The Parkfield Stagecoach, 1906
Cowboy culture
As mining declined in the 1920s, ranching became the heart of Parkfield’s community, and it remains so today. Cattle ranches still dominate the surrounding landscape, and the traditions are kept alive both in private gatherings, like calf brandings, and in public events, such as the Parkfield Ranch Rodeo and the Early Californios Skills of the Rancho.
THE EARTHQUAKE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Parkfield’s story is shaped not just by its people, but by the land itself. Sitting just a stone’s throw from the San Andreas Fault, the town is the most studied spot on Earth for earthquakes, earning it the nickname “Earthquake Capital of the World.” Magnitude-6 earthquakes have occurred roughly every 22 years, attracting scientists to the area for decades. Fortunately for residents and visitors, the frequent seismic activity helps relieve pressure on the fault, so most earthquakes are too small to feel. Learn more about Parkfield’s geology here.
Parkfield Rodeo, 1920s
PARKFIELD’S REVIVAL
By the mid-20th century, Parkfield had dwindled to just a handful of residents, and the town teetered on the edge of obscurity. In 1989, Jack and John Varian opened the Parkfield Café, bringing new life to the community. The rustic log cabin-style café, built with reclaimed materials, offered hearty cowboy-style BBQ and quickly became a destination for locals and travelers alike.
By 1991, the Parkfield Lodge opened, incorporating historic structures such as the 1920s Water Tower and the Post Office (which had been moved by horse in 1906). Together, the Café and Lodge have created a vibrant hub for the community, keeping this little town alive and thriving for generations.
We are blessed to call Parkfield home, and we would love to share it with you!
John Varian & Steve Johnson during construction of the Parkfield Lodge, 1991