Insider's Guide - Locals share their favorite places & activities in Humboldt County

Ferndale

Beauty and history meet in the Victorian village of Ferndale. The town is well known for its magnificent collection of “Butterfat Palaces,” the beautifully maintained Victorian buildings that are a vestige of great wealth amassed from the nineteenth century dairies of the Eel River Valley.

Today Ferndale revels in its history. The entire town has been declared a historical landmark (California Historical Landmark. No.  883) and its charm has caught the eye of major Hollywood directors, who have produced several feature films here, including Jim Carey’s 2001 film, The Majestic.

The entire county turns out every August for the Humboldt County Fair held in Ferndale. This 10-day event features mule racing, carnival rides, live entertainment, livestock events and more. The fair is also an economic force unto its own, creating nearly 100 jobs every year and bringing millions in revenue to the county.

Several retail establishments, hotels and restaurants grace Ferndale and since 1996 Lost Coast Communications has operated KHUM-FM, KSLG-FM and KWPT-FM. The town’s paper, the Ferndale Enterprise, has been continuously publishing since 1878.

Ferndale High School Football games are a big draw in town and the annual Milk Can Game against rival Fortuna High is a great way to relive the tradition of the gridiron sports.

Ferndale’s 1,400 residents include a considerable Latino population. Every May the town hosts the annual Cinco de Mayo Festival, complete with Mexican folkloric dances, Mariachi music, great food and, of course, a piñata.

Finally, the finish line for one of Humboldt County’s most colorful events, the Kinetic Sculpture Race, is in downtown Ferndale. After three days of slogging through mud, sand, and water, amazing human-powered sculptures wind their way down the town’s Main Street in hopes of obtaining the coveted Mediocrity Award, a tongue-in-cheek prize highlighting the irreverence of this beloved event.




Ferndale

STATISTICS
Population: 1,390
Settled: 1852, incorporated in 1893

CITY GOVERNMENT
Mayor: Jeff Farley
Vice-Mayor: Stuart Titus
City Council: Stuart Titus, Ken Meirzwa, Michael Moreland, Niels Lorenzen, Jeff Farley.
City Manager: Jay Parrish
The council meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at City Hall.

CITY CONTACTS
City Hall
834 Main St.
P.O. Box 1095
Ferndale, CA 95536
786-4224, fax 786-9314
ci.ferndale.ca.us

Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 325
Ferndale, CA 95536
786-4477
www.victorianferndale.com

Library
807 Main St.
786-9559

Police
600 Berding St.
786-4025

Fire
436 Brown St.
786-9909

- Times Standard