The most popular hiking trails lead downstream from the store toward the old Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad Line (relatively intact in some places), the Amargosa River (a beautiful riparian corridor that empties into the lower part of Death Valley), and a small slot canyon. Each location is worth a hike based on its own merits. This area became internationally famous a few years ago when the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark visited China Ranch and hiked several of the trails.
Although
archaeologists have dated human inhabitant bone fragments found in the area back
10,000 years, the first recorded European visitor was in the spring of 1830. A
New Mexico horse trader named Antonio Armijo was developing a trail to move
horses from California to Santa Fe and the trail he developed passed by this area. His route later became
known as the Old Spanish Trail. The route meandered from waterhole-to-waterhole
and was often referred to as “the longest, crookedest, most arduous trail in
the west.” This is the trail that Kit Carson followed when he was guiding the
Freemont Party from California to Santa Fe. Although modern roads have covered
most of the Old Spanish Trail, in many places it is still possible to see wagon
ruts that were left by early travelers as they crossed through this area.
In
about 1900 a Chinese man named Qu on Sing (aka Ah Foo) moved to the area after
working in the Borax Mines in Death Valley for a number of years. He planted
date trees and vegetables and raised cattle that he sold to the local miners.
Over the years he became very prosperous and the area became known as
Chainman’s Ranch. Then, as the story goes, one day a man named Morrison showed
up, shot the Chinaman, and claimed the ranch as his own property. (Apparently, the local law enforcement agency did not investigate the death.)
The date trees thrived and the area is now known as China Ranch Date Farm. An informational sign at the store indicates that “the date palm is the oldest known cultivated tree crop, dating back to at least 6,000 B.C. in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq)…Frequently cited in both the Bible and the Koran, the date palm has long been considered the tree of life in the middle east.” There are many varieties of dates and they vary widely in size, taste, color and moisture content. You can sample and/or purchase a large variety of different dates in the China Ranch general store.
The date trees thrived and the area is now known as China Ranch Date Farm. An informational sign at the store indicates that “the date palm is the oldest known cultivated tree crop, dating back to at least 6,000 B.C. in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq)…Frequently cited in both the Bible and the Koran, the date palm has long been considered the tree of life in the middle east.” There are many varieties of dates and they vary widely in size, taste, color and moisture content. You can sample and/or purchase a large variety of different dates in the China Ranch general store.
Throughout
the area there are a large number of open mine shafts and pits, some of which
are partially fenced and adjacent to the road. The mines in the main canyon leading to China Ranch were
collectively known as the Gypsum Queen and between 1915 and 1918 they produced
about 100,000 tons of gypsum. The ore was shipped to Los Angeles on the Tonopah
and Tidewater Railroad and was used in the manufacturing of plaster. However,
the mines were closed in 1918 after two miners were killed when part of the
mine collapsed.
China Ranch areas that are open to the public include a general store, a museum, a few rental units, and the hiking trails. Hiking trail guides are available at the general store. If you visit China Ranch, be sure to try the banana-date ice
cream shake!
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