Your Guide to Buying a Home in Paradise, CA

Buying a Home in Paradise, California

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Paradise is located in Butte County

Population: 25,408 Paradise like many cities in California is rich in history. Much of that history bringing about current day festivals. Paradise was known as California's apple center, hence Johnny Appleseed Day each October. But it was the discovery of the largest gold nugget ever found in California that is responsible for the town's largest annual celebration, Gold Nugget Days each April. The nugget, discovered in 1859, weighed 54 pounds in the rough. From it came a refined 49.5 pounds of pure gold worth $10,960 at the time.

Life in the pines is above the valley fog, and winter varies a great deal according to just exactly where you are in the area.

The area known to locals as "the Ridge" consists of the Town of Paradise, the outlying area of Magalia and the Paradise Pines, the mid-Skyway area below town known as the "banana belt" and perhaps up to Inskip, depending upon who you ask. The sense of community here is unmatched.

Since all recreation can´t consist of nature-watching, our town-wide festivals, legendary antique shopping, specialty shops and local dining and entertainment await you.

Many things related to Mother Nature do lure visitors to the Ridge. We´ve prepared numerous parks and trails for your arrival, or choose to fish, camp or hike in areas virtually untouched. Drive carefully though, because we share our home (and roads) willingly with deer of all ages, raccoons, fox, a host of wild and bird species and more.

Our rich soil and generous rains mean that, in addition to the breathtaking natural pines and oaks, flower gardens on the Ridge bloom like no others. The grass grows greener, the sky is bluer and the air is clearer and our local plant and wildlife reflect the effects of these facts. So will you.

Of course, one of the reasons that so many people decide to live in the area is room--room to run, to raise a family, to retire in peace, and to grow. A place to create memories or a place to put down roots. The Ridge is the kind of place that dares you to resist returning.

Whether you have dreamed of giving your family enough space to tire themselves out before dinner, having ample nearby lakes, rivers and streams to splash around in, or just an acre of your own to admire and watch change with the seasons, the Ridge is that place.

From visiting the Gold Nugget Museum, browsing through interesting gift, collectable and antique shops, enjoying parks and nature, or participating in recreational activities one will find an abundance of things to see and do on the Paradise Ridge.

Some of the things to do in our town consist of the following

Gold Nugget Museum
Begin exploring the Paradise Ridge with a visit to the Gold Nugget Museum. The museum features historical artifacts from the local Paradise Ridge area in a number of interesting displays' and Nuggetville, an outdoor exhibit which recreates an Old Western town.

• THE COUNTRY STORE:
  The lumber for the front of the store came from the original covered bridge in Butte Creek Canyon.
• THE MINER'S CABIN:
  The cabin accurately represents the dwellings of most Ridge residents in its early years.
• THE RESEARCH ROOM:
  The Research Room contains books and articles about history and the subjects contained in the museum exhibits, and much more.
• THE DOLL MUSEUM:
  Donated as an entire collection in 1987 from the Faye Jones Estate, this display contains about 500 dolls.
• THE RUNABOUT:
  This 1909 Brush Runabout was restored by the Industrial Arts students at California State University, Chico and permanently loaned to the museum.
• THE GOLD MINE:
  Made of plaster, it is intended to give some sense of the atmosphere in an underground mine. The mining equipment outside the mine is all from local operations.
• THE SCHOOL ROOM:
  This one room school is an integral part of the museum's Living History programs for the schools and the community.
• GUN CABINETS:
  Includes rifles and pistols that have been used in the United States from the early 1800s until WWI.
• INDIAN EXHIBITS:
  From the Maidu tribes who preceded the white man on the Ridge, this exhibit contains baskets, arrow points and fish-net weights as well as mortars and pestles.

Terry Ashe Recreation Center
The Terry Ashe Recreation Center is the hub of many special events and activities all year long. Here, one will find a basketball court, children's playground, picnic area and shaded grassy areas.

Lookout Point
Lookout Point, along the Skyway to Paradise offers spectacular views of Butte Creek Canyon.

Honey Run Covered Bridge
The Honey Run Covered Bridge was built in 1894 by George Miller and is located in Butte Creek Canyon. It lays claim to being the only 3-level covered bridge in the United States.

Coleman Memorial Community Museum
Up the road from the covered bridge is the Coleman Memorial Community Museum. This museum has local Indian artifacts, early 1800 gold mining equipment and relics of the Civil War era.

Stirling City Hotel
This rustic 100-year-old building is the Stirling City Hotel. It's owned by Charlotte Hildgeman, who operates the hotel as a bed and breakfast, restaurant, and country store. Each of the rooms are individually decorated with family heirlooms and other collected antiques.

Inskip
Six miles north of Stirling City is the tiny Inskip. The old hotel was destroyed by fire in 1868 and rebuilt. A local legend is that the fire was arson and that a "resident ghost" named "Charley" is still looking for the arsonist. The hotel and a couple of buildings are all that remain of this once-bustling community.