Old Faithful Geyser of California
DETAILS:
Location: 299 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga, CA 94515
Hours of Operation: Everyday - 8:30AM to 7PM (March thru September) / 8:30AM to 6PM (October) / 8:30AM to 5PM (November thru February)
Parking: Free parking lot on site.
Cost: $15 adults / $13 students, seniors, military, teachers / $9 children (4-12) / children under 4 are free / $13 for visitors arriving by bicycle.
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Miscellaneous:
The geyser erupts every 30-40 minutes and lasts for 2-6 minutes. I’d recommend asking the attendant when you arrive when the geyser last erupted so that you can determine if you want to roam the grounds first or wait for the next eruption before exploring the rest of the property.
The geyser can reach 30-80 feet in the air and averages 60ft in height. If you stand close enough, you’ll definitely get misted during an eruption.
Summers can get pretty hot in the area (regularly reaching 100 degrees). Thankfully, the venue offers plenty of shaded cabana areas to watch the geyser from.
I’m constantly amazed by the new things I learn about. For instance, did you know you can’t hum while holding your nose? Or that a strawberry isn’t a berry but a banana is. And how if you put your finger in your ear and scratch, it strangely sound like you’re playing Pac-Man. Ah, knowledge is power. Just as impressive as any of these aforementioned facts is the revelation that “Old Faithful” isn’t just the singular name of that famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park, but actually refers to a specific class of geysers so-dubbed because they erupt in regular intervals. This phenomena is so rare, however, that there are only 3 recorded “Old Faithful” geysers on the planet; Yellowstone’s, Pohuto Geyser in New Zealand, and the last one which is located right here in California!
Old Faithful Geyser of California, located in Napa Valley, was first discovered in the late 19th century after a local settler accidentally unearthed it while drilling for a well. After changing hands several times, the land was eventually purchased by Howard & Olga (Kolbeck) Cream in 1974 who developed the property around the geyser as a tourist attraction. That legacy is carried on today by current owner; Koray Sanli, who has placed an emphasis on the geyser’s scientific importance in addition to its natural wonder. Since all geysers are there result of geothermal pressure build-up in active volcanic areas (gulp!), regular geological surveys have been conducted on site to study its impact on the area. Some of the evidence found even points to the suggestion that the Old Faithful Geyser of California is a good predictor of pending earthquakes (prior earthquake studies seem to reveal that eruption times for the geyser lengthen considerably from its regular interval a day or two earlier).
So while you might want to call ahead and make sure that the geyser has been erupting normally every 30-40 minutes (just to be safe), it’s definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in the area. In addition to the geyser, the 6-acre park also contains a small geology museum, historical artifacts spread throughout the property, an animal farm (containing an assortment of llamas, goats, and sheep), a garden, bocce ball, and some surprisingly elegant picnic areas. So there’s plenty to do and see while you’re waiting for that next eruption!
RESOURCES:
Old Faithful Geyser of California website.
