Lake County’s thriving agricultural area, Big Valley, is centered around the charming community of Kelseyville, home to over 3,000 people. The town was called Uncle Sam Mountain known today as the landmark Mount Konocti. The name was changed in 1882 in honor of the Kelsey family, among the first settlers in the region.
Pears, walnuts and wine grapes are all cultivated here. Kelseyville, known as the “Pear Capital of the World,” celebrates a Pear Festival every September.
The town of Kelseyville boasts art galleries, a coffee shop and deli, a ice cream parlor, a motel, a quilting and fabric store, antique stores and restaurants. There is a high school, a middle school and tow elementary schools. Wildhurst Vineyard’s tasting room is in the historic IOOF Hall on Main Street. The Brick Tavern, one of Lake County’s oldest buildings, once served as the town post office.
Kelseyville is the town nearest to Clear Lake State Park which features an acclaimed visitors center and camping, boating, hiking and swimming facilities.
The Taylor Planetarium and Observatory, operated by the Lake County Office of Education, is located near the Kelseyville schools on Konocti Road. Visits can be arranged by calling 707-279-8372.
Between Kelseyville and Lakeport along Big Valley Road, lies little Finley, which includes a post office, grocery and deli, Mexican restaurant and the local headquarters for the Lake County Gleaners. Just down the road are the Rainbow Ag store, Steele Wines and the Farmers Market that is conducted every Saturday during the summer.
Snug in the shadow if Mount Konocti is the community of Soda Bay which enjoys a protected waterfront. Sheltered from west winds by the promontory of nearby Clear Lake State Park, the bay provides fishing, swimming boating and other water sports for residents and visitors. Within walking distance are a restaurant, a store and other amenities.
The soda springs for which the bay is named bubble up vigorously of its eastern shore from shafts over 100 feet deep. At least one Indian legend credits the beautiful Princess Luplyoma for the bubbling waters: the daughter of Chief Konocti threw herself into the lake here after her father and her lover, the young chieftain Kah-Bel, killed one another in battle.
Clear Lake State Park offers campgrounds, lake swimming, kayak rentals, boat ramps/docks, picnic facilities, fishing, hiking, bird watching, nature trails and a museum and visitors center.
Three residential developments along the hills rimming the southwest shore of Clear Lake are known collectively as “the Rivieras.” Clear Lake Riviera focuses around a shipping center on Soda Bay Road Near Point Lakeview Road, the location of Ray Perry’s real estate office, CPS Country Air. Located at 9730 Soda Bay Road, Ray can be found working hard at marketing and selling properties in all of Lake County. The shopping center also includes a grocery store, pack-n-mail, video store, a fitness center and a dentist office. The community supports a golf course, country club and restaurants and a marina. Situated for stunning views, the Riviera Hills Restaurant and golf course are open to the public.
Homes in Riviera West climb the slopes of Mount Konocti across Soda Bay Road from Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. Riviera Heights hugs the mountain above the eastern edge of Soda Bay. Homes share the terrain with walnut orchards.
Along the lakeshore to the north and the south of Clear Lake Riviera are several lodgings off Point Lakeview Road or Soda Bay Road. They include cabins and RV and mobile home parks.
Buckingham Park is a peninsula extending from the base of Mount Konocti, narrowing Clear Lake from eight miles to one mile. Once the site of vineyards planted by George Buckingham, residences and a marina now occupy the peninsula. Near Soda Bay Road tucked within the Buckingham Park neighborhood is a restaurant and a 9-hole golf course which wraps around Little Borax Lake in a spectacular setting at the foot of the mountain. From 1869 to 1872 the California Borax Company mined there. The dense “Black Forest” at the mountain’s base provides a pine covered backdrop, rising to lava bluffs 2,000 feet above lake level.
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