After a month of mist and fog that greened up the landscape, the real rains are returning, and fears of a winter drought appear unfounded. Chilly temperatures have felt more like “normal” weather from a decade or more ago, nothing to alarm old-timers but a surprise for some newer residents.
The local scene in Geyserville is a little quiet for New Year’s. Many residents miss the Black and White Ball held in years past at the Oddfellows Club. Even on New Year’s Eve, the local idea of “midnight” tends to arrive around 10 p.m.
Casino plans New Year’s giveaway
River Rock Casino is offering a Mercedes and cash giveaway Dec. 31, which may qualify as the wildest event in Geyserville that evening. The same promotion will recur without the holiday on Saturday, Jan. 24.
This will be among the last New Year’s Eve events under the casino’s original River Rock name. Its new partner, Caesars Entertainment, has indicated a name change is coming. As of summer 2027, the casino will become Caesars Republic Sonoma County.
While researching the promotion, a similarly named River Rock Casino advertising a much livelier New Year’s Eve turned up online. That casino, however, is in Canada, a bit too far of a drive for most local residents.
Some fishy business
The discovery of juvenile coho salmon recently in Ackerman Creek near Ukiah has a Geyserville connection. The young fish, found in a drying pond, were rescued and brought to the Dan Clausen Warm Springs Fish Hatchery near Lake Sonoma.
The fish will be nurtured through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s broodstock program, with their spawn expected to help expand the population of this rare species. It has been at least 30 years since coho salmon were seen in the area where they were found, making the resurgence welcome news.
Blasts from the local past
The start of a new year is a good time to look back. Digital scans of 263 photographs from the Geyserville Museum collection assembled by Harry Bosworth are now available online through the Healdsburg Museum website.
Most of the images were scanned and captioned by Louise Bosworth Davis. To explore them, visit the Healdsburg Museum website, select “Learn,” choose the photo archive tab and search for “Geyserville.”
In January 1926, residents could even learn Esperanto at the ranch house on the Baha’i school grounds, according to the local paper at the time, the Sotoyome Scimitar.
Winter Wineland returns
The Winter Wineland Sonoma County tasting event returns for its 33rd year on the weekend of Jan. 17-18. Tickets are available through the Wine Road website for $95 for the weekend or $75 for Sunday only.
Geyserville is well represented, with Cast Wines, Trione, Ramazzotti, Trattore, Pedroncelli and Pech Merle participating, among others. The event provides a welcome boost during the winter slow season, with many local hotels and restaurants already booked for the weekend.
Dining and Cooking