My wife and I love to visit ghost towns as we RV across the Western United States. Each town has a story to tell, interesting places to explore and endless opportunities for shutter bugs. Forest City, California is no exception. It has photogenic old buildings, several fascinating stories attached to it and if you visit in the fall, a resident bear. In the mid to late 1800’s fresh fruit was a delicacy and a much needed staple for the town’s miners. A diet without fresh fruit could lead to scurvy and other illnesses. To avoid this, the residents of Forest City planted apple trees to provide a source of fruit. Over a hundred years later these trees are still bearing fruit, even if the residents are no longer there to harvest and consume it. Now the low hanging apples and ripe ones that have fallen to the ground are a ready food source for the local bear each autumn. In the vicinity of the old school house we found ample evidence of our apple loving friend. Numerous tracks and apple “dumplings” were left behind since the last rainfall which was several hours prior to our visit. Needless to say, we were watchful where we went (and stepped !) during the remainder of our visit. Ghosts, bears and dumplings, just another adventure in RVing!
Schools out forever in Forest City!
Fresh tracks in the school yard.
Main street.
Spotted this guy a couple of days later. Was this the apple loving bruin?
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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