The town of Poker Flat had its time starting in the early 1850s. It sits deep in a remote canyon in Sierra County, CA. The small town supported the gold rush miners who worked the area. There are plenty of rumors, stories and legends, including tales of lost stashes of gold, hangings, and plenty of gambling. It is said gamblers in the town used flat gold nuggets as poker chips. The miners used skis in winter, and were a part of the skiing history associated with gold mining in this area. Poker Flat is most famous as the setting for the 1869 Bret Harte story, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat".
Today, only some remnants of this history remain. A cemetery, the remains of the "Scott House", numerous foundations, and evidence of mining history can be seen in this remote location.
The mountains surrounding Poker Flat.
Foundations near the creek.
Poker Flat, 2024.
The Scott House.
Iron objects and things.
Elderberry, near Poker Flat.
