Amador County (Pop 38,500) bills itself as "The Heart of the Mother Lode" and lies within California Gold Country. There is a substantial wine-growing industry in the county. In 1848, Jose Maria Amador, with several Native Americans, established a successful gold mining camp near the present town of Amador City.

Volcano Restaurants
St George Hotel - 16104 Main St, Volcano CA - Country Inn, Hotel & Restaurant
Mel & Faye's Diner - 31 SR-49, Jackson CA - Home of the Moo Burger

Calaveras Resort Hotels:
BW Cedar Inn Suites
Angels Inn Motel
The Heirloom Inn
St George Hotel - 16104 Main St, Volcano CA - Country Inn, Hotel & Restaurant

St. George Hotel
A Country Inn / Hotel / Restaurant & Saloon
16104 Main Street, Volcano CA 95689;
209-296-4458; Hotel Website;

A historic gold rush era landmark built in 1862 with thick brick walls and three stories tall surrounded by well-maintained gardens. The hotel restaurant is one of the finest in Amador County and able to host special events for groups upto 150. Whiskey Flat Saloon was built in the 1930s and retains it's historical ambiance.

Black Chasm Cavern
National Natural Landmark
15701 Pioneer Volcano Rd, Volcano CA 95689; 1-866-762-2837;
Tour Website; Tour Website;
Open Daily Summer : First tour at 9AM / last tour at 5PM;
Open Daily YearRound : First tour at 10AM / last tour 4PM.

The National Park Service calls this cave the best helictite cave in the west. A 50-minute guided walking tour shows you the uniquely beautiful display of rare helictite crystals that loops from the walls and appear to defy gravity.

The Colossal Room features a mid-air platform overhanging a jewel-like underground lake that is made bright blue by naturally occurring calcium bicarbonate.

Other activities include movie theater, gemstone mining, gold panning, visitor center and picnic grounds.

More Underground Caverns
Black Chasm Cavern - Underground natural wonder
Sutter Gold Mine - Tour inside the Mother Lode
Mercer Cavern - Underground natural wonder
California Cavern - Underground natural wonder
Moaning Cavern - California largest underground cavern