(707) 328-5277 (707) 673-7667
Specializing in Trilogy Resale Homes
and Delta Area Properties Office: (707) 374-5222
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A Rio Vista Tour:
A River Runs Through It...
Perhaps it's the allure of
river towns as they were described by Mark Twain in works like "The Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn"
and "Tom Sawyer". Maybe it's a deeply
rooted longing that all humans have, whether they grew up in
a bustling
city or an endless track of modern suburbia to enjoy a slower paced existence. Perhaps it's just the natural deceleration that time seems to have
in a place where a mighty tract of water moves slowly and inexorably
towards the sea, season after season. Whatever the attraction
is, talk to people who have lived in Rio Vista for most of
their life and you'll get the sense that Peace is as prevalent
in the hearts of local residents as picket fences are abundant
on the back streets of this sleepy river city.
Established in 1857 as "Brazos
del Rio" (Arms
of the River), the town that was to become Rio Vista was washed
away in the great flood January of 1862. Re-established later that
year (and a mile farther south on higher ground) it survived
as a vital stopping place for the
great steamers and riverboats that plowed the calm waters of
the vast Sacramento waterway and helped found the thriving
territory that has
become the State of California.
Known far and wide as "The Heart of the Delta" Rio Vista's proximity to the confluence of California's two mightiest rivers, and the 1000 miles of the delta's pristine rivers, marshes, and wetlands has made it a Mecca for boaters, fisherman, wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers, wind surfers, and people in general who seek a friendly smile, a slower pace, and a tranquil atmosphere. Come see for yourself why we call Rio Vista a "Diamond in the Rough".
Amazingly, the
town of Rio Vista has grown little
in comparison to the urban sprawl of most of the cities the surrounding
area. Even
the recent addition of Trilogy to the township has not intruded
upon the vast amount of open space surrounding our town. Though
no one can predict what the future may hold for development,
for now there is much room to breath, relax, and enjoy "The
Delta Lifestyle".
"Civilization", (should you require it), is only minutes away via Highway 12 in either direction.
If
you tell most folks from anywhere outside the Delta you're from Rio Vista, the
usual response is "Never heard of it, where is it?" To reply "It's about mid-way
between Sacramento and San Francisco" doesn't seem to invoke much
recognition.
But tell them "It's the town that 'Humphrey
the Humpback Whale' came to visit back in the fall of 1985 and in May of 2007 where the Humpback mother and daughter dubbed 'Delta and Dawn' got stuck too..." and suddenly everyone
seems to know exactly where you're from!
The fact is, that aside from a few celebrity whales once having "vacationed" here and the annual Bass Festival Derby, there is nothing particularly famous nor "infamous" about Rio Vista at all. And that's just the way most folks here prefer it. If there were a "just the right size" contest for American townships, Rio Vista would most certainly make the finals with:
1
Post Office
3 Schools (Elementary, Middle, High)
2 Banks
3 Gas stations
2 Car dealers
1 Hardware Store
1 (very friendly and nicely
stocked) Local Market
1 Liquor Store
2 Motels
1 Video/DVD
Rental
1 Bakery
1 Car Wash
...a few Churches, Restaurants, Pubs,
and Specialty Shops...
and oh yes...1 Traffic Light.
Only four businesses (including Main street's Radio Shack), sport "National
Franchise" names...three of them fast food joints on Highway 12
at the outskirts of town. All in all...a very self
sufficient town that has "nothing" that some might require and
"everything" some seek their whole life long.
The
weekly newspapers, "The Rio Vista Beacon" and "The River
News Herald", will keep you informed of how much money the Ladies
Soroptomist group
raised
for a local charity if you
yearn for the news, and you can always entertain yourself by reading
the Police Blotter to stay abreast of how many cats were rescued
from a nearby sycamore tree. If you're in that rare hurry to get
somewhere there will always be someone you know coming out
of the hardware store who needs advice on mending a fence or
a friend who needs help deciding what the freshest produce
at Liras market is today...oh well...so much for tight schedules.
In the evenings as the
boats disperse, traffic begins to settle down, and a quiet
comes over the area that's the kind you only find from a
town
that's at least 20 miles from the drone of the nearest metropolis.
Locals gather for a cold beer and a hot meal at Fosters Big
Horn where
the
largest collection of game trophies
(west of the
Pecos anyway) is housed. Classic car owners seem to gravitate
toward Gemma T's Drive-In for the the best roadside cheeseburgers
(with
curly
fries!) known
to man.
Families gather at Maria's Mexican Restaurant a few steps away to enjoy the freshest
and most gratifying Mexican food you've ever tasted at
reasonable prices, made with pride, and served with a smile.
And all the while the silence of the delta night begins to
fall.
A near full moon rises on the river. A Great
Horned Owl bellows down on River Road...
Sunsets are especially beautiful here. The
Delta is known for them. Perhaps it's the fact there is so much
water to reflect them
upon.
Perhaps it's because there's so much sky. Perhaps the automobiles
from the metropolis' to the west provide the extra atmospheric
catalyst for the color
vibrance. Maybe it's a combination of the three. We prefer the
explanation that it's simply because there is better opportunity
to enjoy them
here.
Maybe that's why Humphrey, Delta, and Dawn lingered so long...you never know.
There is a place...
When people think of California and it's many natural wonders, they often envision the mighty redwood and sequoia stands, the rock chasms of Yosemite, and numbers of other visually stark landscapes this state is famous for. Few are aware (many Californians as well), that there is an immense and remarkably diverse labyrinthian network of pristine waterways beckoning to be explored right in their back yard...the California Delta.
Where the mighty Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers collide before flowing into the Carquinez Straits and on into San Pablo Bay lies a world of quiet beauty and nearly endless discovery.
This is a place which harbors untold secrets. A place you can travel a hundred miles by water, and only have seen one tenth of. A place where historic river towns, little changed from the Gold Rush days loom around a bend in the river and make you swear you had gone back in time a century and a half. A place you can explore four California counties, dozens of cities and towns, view a hundred species of wildlife, eat at fifty restaurants, visit a hundred marinas, and never set foot in an automobile.
If you don't own your own watercraft there are a number of places to rent everything from sailboats to motor yachts, and nimble runabouts to dawdling houseboats. If traveling by water is not your preferred method of locomotion you're in luck. A stout system of levees surround and crisscross the entire area, making most of the delta and all of it's wonders accessible to almost anyone. Full-hookup RV parks & campgrounds are plentiful.
If you love to fish, sturgeon and striped bass are plentiful. You'll find many helpful locals happy to steer you in the right direction. The Delta welcomes anyone in the mood for adventure, birding, waterside dining, wine tasting, or just messing around.
Everything you'll ever need to know about the delta and it's endless possibilities for recreation can be found on the web at any one of several sites devoted to "The Delta Lifestyle" Below are a few links to help you get started.
California
Delta CHAMBERS & VISITORS BUREAU
SacDelta.com
DeltaCalifornia.com
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