MADERA SUGAR PINE FLUME
1874-1933
TAKING TWO YEARS TO CONSTRUCT AND OPENING IN AUGUST 1870, THE FLUME
RAN 52 MILES FROM SUGAR PINE SAWMILL TO THE PLANING MILL AND RAILROAD
IN MADERA. THIS WOODEN FLUME TRANSPORTED LUMBER AND LOGGERS TO MADERA
ACROSS DEEP CANYONS, STREAMS AND MOUNTAINSIDES, AN AWESOME ENGINEERING
FEAT. SHUT DOWN IN THE 1890'S THEN REBUILT AND REOPENED IN 1900 IT
SURVIVED UNTIL THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN 1933. ABOVE IS ONE OF THE FEW
REMAINING PIECES OF THE AMAZING FLUME THAT BEGAN NEAR HERE.
DEDICATED BY
E CLAMPUS VITUS
GRUB GULCH, CHAPTER 41-49
3/21/98

VIEW DWIGHT BARNES ARTICLE HERE

THE SUGAR PINE FLUME WAS ONE OF THE LONGEST MAN-MADE STRUCTURES IN MADERA COUNTY AND TRANSPORTED LUMBER FROM SUGARPINE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MADERA. LUMBERJACKS RODE THE FLUME TO TOWN ON THE WEEKENDS BY WAY OF "FLUME CARS". HOW THEY GOT BACK IS YOUR GUESS!!
(TRIVIA: TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS THE LARGEST MONUMENT BUILT BY E CLAMPUS VITUS, ANYONE WITH OTHER INFORMATION IS WELCOME TO RESPOND!!).

Located on State Highway 41, North of Oakhurst approx. 3 miles at the intersection of Sky Ranch Road.

GPS locator:
N37° 22.575'
W119° 37.585'