Growing up in Oroville was a dreadful thing for me. I remember thinking it had to be the most boring place on earth as I was growing up. That all changed when I started publishing the Gold City Gazette Online Newspaper. Otown gave me lots to write about- and I loved that.
It seems there is something for everyone in Otown. One thing that I always thought was pretty cool about Otown are the murals scattered through town. Originally, there were only a few murals that had been created by a couple of local artists- Fred Daley and Rex Burress.
Over the years, the murals have popped up all over town. Many more artists are wanting to add to the entertaining beauty that frequently focuses on historic features of the area. I think many of you may recognize the mural below from one of my other posts.
A table showing all of the Otown murals can be found below. It includes the title of the mural, the artist, and the location of each mural. A link to the location on Google maps is included to help you find each painting easily. I have also attached a link to as many of the artists’ profiles as I could find. You can learn more about the organization that arranges for these murals at the BAMA website.
The Oroville Dam spillway has always been a favorite attraction for both locals & visitors. It is probably one of the most popular highlights of Otown. People walk, skate, and ride bikes over it for exercise. Boaters, surfers, and anglers frequently enjoy spending time on the lake. And then there are those of us who just wanna get some pictures of the area.
Some of those who live near the recreational landmark have some pretty impressive views. Many residents who live in the proximity of the dam enjoy sitting on their porches and looking down on the growing town of Oroville. I remember kinda feelin’ like I was on top of the world when I was up there. Now I really am on top of the world! 😂
The water behind the dam, Lake Oroville, tends to house a variety of types of boats- that is when there is not a drought. It can be quite a sight to see when all of the slips are full. I have been out on a boat on Lake Oroville a couple of times. I love spending time out on the water.
I even spent one day playing on a Ski Doo. I went out with some friends who had one and was riding it with one of their daughters behind me. My friend had told me that it is not possible to flip a Ski Doo, sooo…I thought I would prove her wrong. I have a pair of sunglasses in the bottom of the lake from that fun little stunt.
Another popular Otown body of water is the Forebay. It is definitely a favorite of many for cooling down & having some fun. This was one of my favorite places to hang out in the summer. You can do just about anything at the Forebay- swim, picnic, barbeque…
The best part about the Forebay is the water is shallow for a long way out. I used to feel like I had to walk a mile in the water before it would actually get deep enough to swim. Another good thing about this swimming hole is there is plenty of room and it rarely seems crowded.
Many also head to the Afterbay to launch their boats for a little fishing or skiing. Occasionally, you will see some brave souls out there hanging out with the mosquitoes, but they are few and far between. I think the Afterbay may actually be the local breeding ground.
You may think I am exaggerating but if you ever happen to be in Oroville on a warm summer evening, take a ride out to the Afterbay and see for yourself. You will soon find that there are literally thousands of hungry mosquitos that are eager to take a taste of you.
Another one of my favorite Otown features was the levee down by the Feather River. It basically runs through the middle of town from the fish hatchery to Bedrock Park. There are actually two paths on the levee. One is specifically a walking and biking path. The other has a section that can be driven on.
The levee not only keeps water from flooding the town, it provides an enjoyable escape into nature- sort of. There are a lot of trees down by the levee and the river can be viewed along the entire path. There are even areas where people tromp down to the water to fish, swim, or shoot the rapids.
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