Small Town Guide Ferndale California

Hidden in a River Valley

It’s easy for travelers on Highway 101 to pass by Ferndale, California. Five miles west of the fabled highway, the town is situated between heavily forest hills to the south; farmlands and the marshy mouth of Eel River to the north; and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The town center is nearly tucked away in the small river valley and can be barely seen from the heavily used highway

However, many turn onto Highway 211 near the town of Fortuna, head south and stop in this picturesque town, which is 256 miles north of San Francisco. Possibly, it’s the row of colorful Victorian-style buildings and homes that attract them. Or they came to see the finish of the annual Kinetic Sculpture Race or the running of the slot car races known as “The Ferndale Fray”

Still others may stop to visit because they realize how familiar this small town happens to be, despite never setting foot in it beforehand. They may feel they’ve seen this town somewhere. And, if they’re movie buffs, they’ll realize it was the setting for one of their favorite movies and TV shows.

Whatever the case may be, Ferndale has become a popular destination or stopover for those travelling though California’s extreme northern coast. The reasons may vary; however, if one were to sum it up, its appeal is that this town is both familiar and unique.

A State Historical Landmark

Much of Ferndale’s attraction is the town itself. It has been registered as a state historical landmark. As a result, many of the homes and business in the area have been well-preserved.

The buildings were built around or before the time of the city’s incorporation in 1893. The oldest is Shaw House (built by Seth Lewis Shaw in 1854), which is now known as Shaw House Inn. The homes throughout the community as well as the storefronts on Main Street still covet Victorian-style architecture of the 1880s.

The town is often called Cream City because of these buildings and its lucrative past. The structures are sometimes known as Butterfat Palaces. In part, this was due to the time when they were built. In the late 1800s, the town had a thriving dairy industry.

Film History

The colorful buildings in this town of more than a 1000 residents has done more than make Ferndale a destination for tourists. It has come to represent the quintessential “small town U.S.A.” for filmmakers. Movies such as “The Majestic” starring Jim Carrey, and “Outbreak” with Dustin Hoffman have featured the town.

Also, the town of Salem’s Lot in the first film adaption of the Stephen King novel of the same name was actually this northern Californian town.

Hollywood is not the only entertainment organization to take notice of Ferndale. Several hundred miles south in Carlsbad, California, a replica of the town can be found at Legoland Theme Park.

Besides the buildings, there are several attractions and landmarks within its borders. For example, Humboldt County Fair, the oldest in California, is held in Ferndale every August at the fairgrounds on the northern edge of town.

The Kinetic Sculpture Race

Possibly the most famous event is the annual running of the Kinetic Sculpture Race. This is one of the most unusual, and most festive, human-powered vehicle races in the country.

The race is between riders on pedal-powered amphibian vehicles. Looking more like parade floats and sometimes having as many as six or more riders operating them, the vehicles are mobile art-pieces. Some look like dragons, ducks, buses, or anything the imagination can come up with.

The race takes place on the roads (paved and dirt) and waterways of Humboldt County. However, the race ends in Ferndale. Also, many of the more colorful or creative vehicles are on display at the Ferndale Museum.

The museum, itself, is an attraction. Located on Shaw Avenue, Ferndale Museum has a Magneto switchboard, Pacific telephone toll board, working crank telephones, and a working blacksmith forge on permanent display.

Ferndale’s Parks

East of Main Street on Bluff is Ross Park. In this 105-acre park, there are four hiking trails, several stands of Sitka Spruce, Douglas Firs and Redwood Trees. Also, it has an area preserved for migrating birds. The park boasts of nearly 100 different species of birds. Also, it’s a park that can be enjoyed year-round, due to the town’s temperate climate.

Other interesting areas within the town’s borders are Ferndale Cemetery and Firemen’s Park. Both are on the south end of town.

Firemen’s Park is the town’s largest park. Its most notable feature is a Spruce tree grove. Since 1934, the tallest of these Spruce trees (150 feet) has been decorated and lit for Christmas. In addition, has been the site for its annual Christmas celebration.

...this cemetery has become an attraction with its century old headstones and meandering path going up a side of a hill.

Not exactly a park, but impressive to say the least, is Ferndale Historic Cemetery. Established in 1868 and a few miles from downtown, this cemetery has become an attraction with its century old and ornate headstones and meandering path going up a side of a hill. Even Trip Advisor dedicated some space for it on its website.

The cemetery also holds events open to the public. Often, they're themed tours and usually require reservation and payments for them.

The Ferndale Fray

The newest feature here is called the “The Ferndale Fray” (also known as The Fray in Ferndale). Established in 1997, this annual events pits nearly 100 “racers” of slot cars against one another.

Slot cars are raced on tracks placed on eight tables. This event is usually popular among the youth; however, adults will compete, as well.

The Lost Coast

Another key aspect to Ferndale is its location. The town is on the edge of what is known as the Lost Coast. This is a strip of partially undeveloped coastland in Humboldt and Mendocino County. Much of the area is preserved and has dense forests of redwoods. Also, much of it consists of the coastal mountain range known as King Range (the area is federally owned and designated as King Range National Conservation Area).

Also, to the north of Ferndale is the city of Eureka, Humboldt Bay, and Arcata. Arcata is the location of the closest public university in the area, Cal Poly Humboldt. Not far from there are several national and regional parks including Redwood National and State Parks, Samoa Dunes Recreation Area, Six Rivers National Forest, Trinity National Forest, and Headwaters Forest Reserve.

Work Cited

• Ferndale City editors: “City of Ferndale” Ferndale, California Web site (Retrieved 2026) http://ci.ferndale.ca.us/

• Wikipedia Editors: “ The Lost Coast” Wikipedia (Retrieved 2026) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Coast

• The Kinetic Grand Championship webpage: https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/

• "Ferndale Historic Cemetery": Trip Advisor

• City of Ferndale Editors: "Ferndale Cemetery"