The Chandelier Tree and Drive-Thru Tree Park are notable attractions which were located on early US Route 101 (Redwood Highway) in Leggett. The Chandelier Tree is a 276 foot high Coastal Redwood which had a tunnel carved into the trunk circa 1936-1937 by the Underwood family. Despite Leggett being bypassed by modern US Route 101 in early the 1970s and replaced with California State Route 271 Drive-Thru Tree Park remains a popular stopping point for travelers in northern Mendocino County. Part 1; the history of the Chandelier Tree The Chandelier Tree is a Coastal Redwood located in the community of Leggett along the southern segment of California State Route 271 (formerly US Route 101 and the Redwood Highway). The Coastal Redwood grove the tree is located in was purchased by Charles and Hazel Underwood in 1922. Underwoods carved a tunnel through the Chandelier Tree either in 1936 or 1937 as the central feature of Drive-Thru Tree Park. Chandelier...
Cienega Road is an approximately 18-mile rural highway located in the Gabilan Range and San Andreas Fault Rift Zone south of Hollister. Cienega Road begins at Union Road near Hollister and terminates at California State Route 25 near Paicines via Cienega Valley. Cienega Road is named after Cienega Valley and Rancho Cienega del Gabilán. This highway began to develop following the establishment of the Gilmore Colony vineyards in 1888. Originally the portion of highway between Union Road and Bird Creek was known as Bird Creek Road. The Cienega Road name was extended north of Bird Creek to Union Road at some point around World War II. Modern Cienega Road is now mostly associated with the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area which was founded in 1975. Part 1; the history of Cienega Road Cienega Road begins at Union Road south of the city of Hollister near the San Benito River. From the Hollister area the corridor Cienega Road ...