At the end of the road on the east side of Gold Bug Park stands an old house in disrepair. It was the summer home for the Meagher family of Oakland, California. At that time William Meagher owned the four mining claims which comprise the park today.

The family would venture out to the foothills in the summer time, so that William could work the mining claims to make good his intent to improve the claims for the Bureau of Land Management.

The “home” has been used by the City of Placerville’s Recreation and Parks Maintenance crew for the last 30 years. Outdated and short on space, the “home” will soon be relinquished to the Hangtown’s Gold Bug Park Development Committee to be furbished as a Nature Center. Hoping to show plants and animals the miners encountered during the gold rush days, school groups and visitors will learn what the area was like in the 1850’s.

Some federal funding has already been obtained with the assistance of Congressman John T. Doolittle. More money will be needed to complete the interior for classroom and exhibit use.

Your contributions can be made to “Gold Bug Park, 2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville CA”. We hope you will be able to visit the park soon as we continue to make progress.

For more information, please e-mail the chairman by clicking here