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Piedra Road (Fresno County)

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Piedra Road is an 8.6-mile highway corridor which runs mostly along the Kings River in Fresno County.  The corridor as presently configured begins at Live Oak Avenue near California State Route 180 and terminates Trimmer Springs Road at the former quarry town of Piedra.  Piedra Road was developed in 1911 as a frontage facility of the Wahtoke District Branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.  The railroad branch was withdrawn to Minkler in 1965 and Piedra Road would begin to become a major Fresno County highway connecting to numerous recreational locales. 




Part 1; the history of Piedra Road

Piedra Road was built as a frontage of the Wahtoke District Branch north of Kings Canyon Road (then Dunlap Road) to the quarry town of Piedra on the Kings River.  The line was constructed in 1911 by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway branching north of downtown Reedley.  The Wahtoke District line was approximately 22 miles in length and included numerous siding facilities such as Wahtoke, Wahtoke Winery, Minkler, Gravesboro, Avocado and Piedra.

Piedra Road can be seen north of Dunlap Road running along the Wahtoke District on the 1914 C.F. Weber map of Fresno County.  


Piedra would receive Postal Service as "Delpiedra" in 1920.  The original run of service would cease in 1943 but would later resume in 1949 simply as "Piedra."  Piedra in Spanish means "rock" or "stone."

The beginning of the Wahtoke District line can be seen branching north of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe mainline on the 1924 United States Geological Survey map of Reedley. 


The 1923 United States Geological Survey map displays siding facilities at Wahtoke, Wahtoke Winery and Minkler along the Wahtoke District north of Reedley.  A junction with the Porterville-Orosi Branch also of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway can be seen branching at Minkler.  Piedra Road can be seen beginning north of Dunlap Road near Minkler.  




Piedra Road can be seen following the Wahtoke District north to Trimmer Springs Road near the town site of Piedra at the Kings River on the 1920 United States Geological Survey map of Orangedale School. 



The Wahtoke District would be abandoned from Piedra south to Minkler in April 1965.  The remainder of the line south to Reedley would be abandoned in 1975 and 1979.  Piedra Road has been straightened in modern times and one of the primary highways used by traffic to reach the Pine Flat Reservoir from Fresno. 



Part 2; the history of Piedra Road

Piedra Road begins a short distance south of California State Route 180 (Kings Canyon Expressway) at Live Oak Avenue.  As eastbound California State Route 180 approaches Piedra Road traffic is advised that a left-hand turn permits access to Avocado Lake, Pine Flat Dam and Wonder Valley. 


Northbound Piedra Road crosses Bryd Slough and Kern-Friant Canal. 






Piedra Road continues north amid views of Red Mountain.  The highway passes the entrance to Avocado Lake Park.  Said park was formally created in 1957 at the site of what was Avocado siding. 







Piedra Road enters the community of Piedra and intersects Elwood Road.  Elwood Road provides access to Wonder Valley to the east in the Sierra Nevada foothills. 








Piedra Road passes through the site of the former Wahtoke District terminus siding which would have been located to the right of the northbound highway.  Winton Park can be found on along the Kings River west of the highway corridor.  Winton Park was formed in 1954 by the Fresno County Sportsmen Club and was later acquired by Fresno County in 1961. 



Piedra Road crosses the Kings River via bridge completed in 1953 and terminates at Trimmer Springs Road.  The original highway bridge was located a short distance to the east behind the Piedra Public Library.



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