Boulder Creek-History

Boulder Creek was founded as a logging camp. There was a rival settlement located just a mile west, named Lorenzo. Timber claims were first made in 1865, and by 1870 there were a dozen claim camps. John H. Alcorn, son of Branciford Alcorn, built a hotel in 1870 near the river. Tilford George Berry was another founding father. Berry Falls are named for him in Big Basin. Boulder Creek incorporated as a village in 1902, but voted out town government in 1905. For a time the two settlements competed to be the center. Southern Pacific Railway chose the Boulder Creek site for its station and the town quickly grew. Finally Lorenzo dissipated. Boulder Creek became one of California's busiest logging towns, shipping out over 2 billion feet of redwood. Lumber was trained out 24 hours a day, almost every day which helped rebuild San Francisco after the earthquake. Boulder Creek was probably more infamous than famous: it had as many as 26 saloons, gambling houses, cat houses and hotels.  With the advent of trucking and growing environmental concerns, the logging business slowed. Boulder Creek became a resort and hide out. During the late 1940s many summer cabins were built and the area maintained a fairly large summer population. In the 1980’s the San Lorenzo Valley was discovered as a charming place to live away from the maddening crowded “ City” life. And the once summer cabins and quiet tourist communities became the Bedroom communities of the Silicon Commute.

Today Boulder Creek serves as the 'Gateway to Big Basin, Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club. The downtown  offers many unique shops and a local brewery which are only some of Boulder Creeks charms. Fine dining can be found at Scopazzi’s Restaurant & Lounge.

Boulder Creek , is like many of the townships in the San Lorenzo Valley with it’s unique charm, down home feeling and a great place to live.