In 1862, Patrick Williams acquired 540 acres of land, including the meadow where the Twain Harte Golf Course is now located. Williams planted apple and pear orchards, ran a few head of cattle and maintained a watering place for the freight wagons bound for the east slope mines. Williams’ son, John D. Williams, inherited the ranch at his father’s death, but in 1923 sold out to Keturah C. Wood.
Wood subdivided the area in 1924 and and built Twain Harte Lodge Realty (a.k.a Twain Harte Development Company and Twain Harte Realty). Twain Harte is belived to be the first private recreational subdivision in the Sierra Nevada according to Carlo DeFerrari, county historian.
This is part of the Columbia to Twain Harte, THE HARD WAY! cache series. This 25.4 mile dirt road is rough in some spots, especially in winter, but is passable by most passenger vehicles. 4WD recommended during winter weather conditions.