Kennedy Tailing Wheels Park – Jackson, CA

Came to check out this little park. Great to learn about the history or explore.

I was just bebopping around the Sierra foothills on a lazy weekend day this past summer. I was in Jackson, CA, driving around. I happen to drove out to the Kennedy Tailing Wheels Park. Admission and parking is FREE. The park is created around the remains of the Kennedy Mine’s Tailing wheels. The city even threw in a section for a dog park, but that area is a sad dirt patch with no shade.

The main attraction of the park is the glass enclosed tailing wheel #4. It’s 68 feet in diameter with 178 buckets. Quite an impressive sight. The Kennedy gold mine operations ran from mid 1850s through 1942 (the government shut down the operations to focus on due WW II efforts). The original wheels were located up the hill closer to the mine operations and moved to the park for display. The whelks were reassembled and laid out in reverse order.

Wheel #4 is the only wheel restored. A portion of the financial assistance came from the local community. Awesome. Wheels 1 and 2 are across the street on the Kennedy mine property, not much of it is left. The Kennedy mine is now a tourist attraction. You can walk across the street to view wheels 1 and 2. They’re viewable from afar behind the fence. Not much to look at though, just crumbled aged pieces of wood. Wheel #3 is near wheel #4. That wheel is also in disrepair and falling apart, but somewhat better condition than 1&2.

Behind wheel #4 is Indian Gulch. That’s the area where the mine waste carried from the tailing wheels ended up. In 1914, a dam was built so the mine waste was impounded to the dam basin.

Another thing is the park is not flat and has slight elevation, and the strolling paths are not paved and have steps. The sights are viewable from the pave sidewalk/roadway. Amenities: restroom, picnic benches, strolling path shaded in areas by old Oak trees, and dog park.

I was just bebopping around the Sierra foothills on a lazy weekend day this past summer. I was in Jackson, CA, driving around. I happen to drove out to the Kennedy Tailing Wheels Park. Admission and parking is FREE. The park is created around the remains of the Kennedy Mine’s Tailing wheels. The city even threw in a section for a dog park, but that area is a sad dirt patch with no shade.

The main attraction of the park is the glass enclosed tailing wheel #4. It’s 68 feet in diameter with 178 buckets. Quite an impressive sight. The Kennedy gold mine operations ran from mid 1850s through 1942 (the government shut down the operations to focus on due WW II efforts). The original wheels were located up the hill closer to the mine operations and moved to the park for display. The whelks were reassembled and laid out in reverse order.

Wheel #4 is the only wheel restored. A portion of the financial assistance came from the local community. Awesome. Wheels 1 and 2 are across the street on the Kennedy mine property, not much of it is left. The Kennedy mine is now a tourist attraction. You can walk across the street to view wheels 1 and 2. They’re viewable from afar behind the fence. Not much to look at though, just crumbled aged pieces of wood. Wheel #3 is near wheel #4. That wheel is also in disrepair and falling apart, but somewhat better condition than 1&2.

Behind wheel #4 is Indian Gulch. That’s the area where the mine waste carried from the tailing wheels ended up. In 1914, a dam was built so the mine waste was impounded to the dam basin.

Another thing is the park is not flat and has slight elevation, and the strolling paths are not paved and have steps. The sights are viewable from the pave sidewalk/roadway. Amenities: restroom, picnic benches, strolling path shaded in areas by old Oak trees, and dog park.

If you are into hard rock gold mining history; you’ll enjoy this interesting look into this particular part of the mining operations of the Kennedy Gold mine. The only surviving tailing wheel out of several that were constructed.
You can walk or drive to the top of the hill for an overview of the very large tailing pond.
The grounds include picnic tables, dog park for your pet. Public Restrooms are available.
Update: I want to mention, across the street, if you follow the dirt trail it will lead you to the remaining ruins of the tailing wheels continue. You will also be able to view the mine shaft elevator tower, as well as the old mine house. Enjoy the brief hike.

Plenty of parking. Hanicapped accessable all throughout the park. It is beautifully restored. You cant help but feel this place. The folks that made these wheels, the dam. This was made with real human hands, sweat, ingenuity. No fabrication. I am amazed at its beauty, their size, and their purpose. We take so much for granted. How easy it is to go to grocery store for food. How easy it is to flush a toilet, flip a light switch, hop in our car and just turn a key. I have much admiration and respect for the men and women who helped pave this easy way of life. And yes I got all of that from just being here.
Great job with the restoration. If not for them this review would not be possible.

Brilliant Park. A wonderful slice of history to be discovered here. It is very small, and can be quickly visited. A quick walk up the hill and you’ll find out why these giant wheels were installed here 100 years ago. there is bathroom and water fountain facility as well as as info kiosk at the entrance and parking.