For Immediate Release

March 25, 2022

Contact:  Howard Penn, President

South Fork Arts and Recreation, a 501c3 non-profit, purchased the old Sierra Nevada House property in Coloma, CA.

Coloma, Calif. – South Fork Arts and Recreation (SoFAR) (previously known as American River Music, organizer of the American River Music Festival) a 501(c)3 non-profit located in Coloma, CA, is happy to announce the purchase of the property at the corner of Lotus Road and Highway 49.  The property was previously home to the Sierra Nevada House which burned down in 2015.  SoFAR’s mission is to inspire and teach the arts and music, support recreational opportunities, and promote community development, culture, and involvement associated with the Coloma, Lotus, and surrounding region.

The property at 835 Lotus Road in Coloma is a very distinct and notable corner of the Coloma and Lotus valley along historic Highway 49, near the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, and adjacent to the South Fork of the American River, one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the country.  Beginning in 1963, it was the home of the Sierra Nevada House, a restaurant, bar, hotel, and wedding facility and popular gathering place in the valley.

SoFAR’s purchase of the property permits us to provide a facility to help us promote the arts and music, support recreational programs like our Coloma Shuttle, and organize community activities throughout the year with various public events and workshops.  The SoFAR Board of Directors plans to develop the property with various stakeholder and community input, as well as grow and evolve the programs we offer with community involvement.

Because this location is such a distinct spot in the Coloma and Lotus valley, we would like to landscape and develop the property to be a signature part of the community and the valley.  For decades the previous Sierra Nevada House brought people from all over to celebrate and share good times with each other.  We hope to bring back the joy and pleasure people felt while being at that location in a variety of manners.  At the current time, our first task is to work on a definitive master plan for the location, and we will be implementing upgrades and various programs over time.

Please keep your eyes and ears open for future communication about this project, and we look forward to hosting each and every one of you in some manner in the future.  This is an exciting opportunity and the “sky is the limit”.

Update: February 2023

Over last fall and this winter, we have been repairing the annex building that is still remaining post the fire in 2015.  We are repairing the building to have our office and other leased office or retail spaces available.  Please contact us here if you have any questions or are interested in possible spaces.