“I was received with genuine kindness by the Commissioner, who at once began to initiate me into the workings of the establishment, and moreover promised to accompany me on my excursion to Mt. Shasta, provided I would wait a few days until he could make the necessary arrangements.”

---John Muir

Historic McCloud

Shasta Pines offers the peace and quiet of country life, yet has the distinct advantage of being just a short walk away from the historic and vibrant town of McCloud. 

The oldest known human habitation around Mt. Shasta dates back 7,000 years.  In the 1820s, when Shasta was “discovered” by explorers with the Hudson Bay Company, numerous Native American tribes lived around the flanks of the mountain, including the Shasta, Modoc, Achomawi, Klamath and Yana.

In the late 19th century, the town of McCloud was established by the founders of the McCloud River Railroad Company who turned a previously unsuccessful mill operation into a roaring success.  McCloud was a “company town,” with its economy centered in the flourishing lumber industry.

The timber boom eventually went bust, and McCloud became a sleepier hamlet than in its mill days.  But its historic appeal and its proximity to abundant recreational opportunities have made it a popular tourist destination in the twenty-first century.  Many attractive businesses have made their homes in the restored buildings of the Victorian town; the McCloud Heritage Junction Museum gives visitors a window on the mill town’s past; and steam locomotives still chug into the station, offering popular excursion and dinner tours.

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