FRESNO HAUNTS TOUR

FRESNO HAUNTS TOUR

Wolfe Manor

 

Located in Clovis, California, the mansion was built in 1922 by Italian immigrant, Anthony Andriotti. It served first as his home and later as a Sanitarium, from 1935 until the early 90s. The haunting, locals say, comes in part from the hospital wing that was added to the building in the 1950s. It’s rumored that there was overcrowding and mistreatment of the patients in the sanitarium, and the high rate of murder and suicide forced doctors and nurses to store bodies in the basement. It is considered to be one of the most haunted buildings in the United States, with numerous accounts of ghost sightings every year. It’s been featured on television, in shows about paranormal activity, like Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and Mystery Quest.

In 1996, Todd Wolfe turned the mansion into a haunted attraction called “Scream if You Dare,” which was getting nearly 20,000 visitors each year until it closed in 2003. Wolfe Manor has since deteriorated and was recently found to be a nuisance and a danger by the Clovis Board of Appeals. The house has excessive dry rot, cracking, peeling, warping, and is in violation of building, fire and electrical codes. The city plans to demolish the century old structure after Wolfe has cleared his belongings from the property.

Fresno Rotary Storyland and Playland

 

This small amusement park, located in Fresno’s Roeding Park on W. Belmont Avenue, is half fairytale, half carnival and was built in 1961 by the Fresno Metropolitan Rotary. There are over twenty fairytale exhibits, including The Old Woman in the Shoe, Jack and Jill, Miss Muffet, Alice in Wonderland, The Three Little Pigs, and Mother Goose. The brightly painted installments of Storyland are laid along winding paths throughout the park; children can climb inside a pirate ship and see the giant’s face looming from the clouds above Jack’s beanstalk.

During the day, the park is open as a playground and hosts kids’ birthday parties and seasonal events, but after dark, it’s home to the ghosts of missing children who have wandered into the fairytales and gotten lost. Walking through the park after dusk, visitors have reported hearing children’s laughter and softly sung nursery rhymes coming from the cartoon-colored, life-size figures. There have also been accounts of the carousel spontaneously turning on after hours to spin its bells and symbols and lights out into the vacant park at night.

Tyler Street House

 

This brown, two story house was built in the 1920’s, but accounts of paranormal activity didn’t surface until the 80s, when tenants started leaving, suddenly, one after the other. Alone in the house, people have heard stomping and doors slamming; they’ve seen objects mysteriously fly off tables. These encounters are believed to be the work of an angry poltergeist. Occupants say the building used to be home to an abused child that was often locked in closets and berated by his mother’s boyfriend. His restless soul still roams the rooms of the Tyler Street House today.

Craycroft House

This haunt is frequented by the ghost of Frank J. Craycroft who started building the house in 1927. During construction, he was shot by a brick mason and died months later, before the project was completed. The house was built with red brick in English-Revival style so that Craycroft could display the insulating properties of brick buildings to the residents of Fresno. People who have entered the house since Craycroft’s death have heard yelling and glass shattering. Today, visitors can only view the house from the outside, from behind two chain-link fences that guard it. The windows are boarded up and the brick is crumbling. It’s rumored that Craycroft will be haunting rubble if a new buyer doesn’t renovate soon.

Fresno Arts & Culture: Historic Theater Tour

Fresno Arts & Culture: Historic Theater Tour

Los Angles and San Francisco are widely recognized as art hubs, drawing creatives of all stripes to those cities sprawled along the coast or pressed up against the sea; pockets of art colonies, collectives, art colleges, movie production studios, dance companies, art houses, and many more of the usual variety including street artists and performers thrive there along side the everyday business and commerce of any large city. As a mid-way point in the Central Valley between these two mega urban hubs, Fresno also finds itself a host to a large and diverse art scene. While taking a weekend to visit our many museums and art shows, pay special attention to the wealth of historic theaters. A true California city, Fresno has a wealth of historic theaters to delight the movie and history buff as well as architecture aficionados.

Teatro Azteca- 838 F Street

The Azteca Theater in Fresno’s very own China Town is a sterling example of Art Deco architecture and was the first Spanish language theater in the San Joaquin Valley. Built in 1948 by Gustavo Acosta, in its hey-day the theater served as an entertainment center for Spanish-speaking community, crowds of sun-warmed Fresnoans crowded into the Azteca’s plush, chilled interior on Saturday afternoons to see Mexican Golden Age Cinema.

Cantinflas luminaries such as Pedro Infante, María Félix, Agustín Lara, Pedro Vargas, Miguel Aceves Mejía, Pedro Armendáriz, Antonio Aguilar and José Alfredo Jiménez were seen both on the big screen and in person at Teatro Azteca. So well known was Teatro Azteca in the 1950s and 60s, it served as a rallying point for Ceasar Chavez and the National Farm Workers Association during their march from Delano to the California state capitol in Sacramento during the grapepicker’s strike in 1966.

The Azteca fell on hard times in the mid-eighties, ceased running films, and briefly leased the space as a church to Iglesia de la Virgen de Agua Embotellada during the early nineties before it was restored and reopened as a theater and performance space in 1999. Azteca Theater still operates as a functional theater, showing live entertainment and screening movies. Check them out on Facebook or www.aztecatheater.com for showtimes.

Crest Theatre—1160 Broadway Plaza

Located on the outskirts of downtown Fresno on Broadway Plaza, the exterior of the former Crest Theatre is a stark Moderne style box with an exceptional marquee. It opened on July 7, 1949 and was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. Though the once vivid, carnival colors of red, yellow, and green on the marquee have been muted to matte pastels by Central Valley sun, the inside remains a baroque work of celebration. As one tourist put it, “the interior is very well maintained courtesy of a friendly porter who let me inside. Although he wouldn’t turn on the lights, my flashing camera lights revealed beautifully ornate gold leaf details. Facing the stage and curtained screen you feel like sitting in a sea shell.”

Though the last movie to show in The Crest ended it’s run in 1981, the theater’s style would influence visitors long after the projectors stopped rolling. The Crest attracted the attention of the Iglesia de la Virgen de Agua Embotellada, a splinter sect known for rapid growth in arid years and hot summers, and served as their church for a time. Little is known of the group, but Mr. Stevens, the Crest Porter, reported frequent use of fans, ocean noise-makers and mist machines in addition to the projectors. The use of mist machines in proximity to mid-century molding brought the arrangement to an end, however, and as of January 2005, the church has vacated the building. The former theater is now rented out for concerts, movies and special events but remains largely empty and quiet, apart from the whish of air through the doors as Mr. Stevens goes about his maintenance.

The Crest is open to viewings during Mondays from 12 pm to 1 pm, Wednesdays from 3 to 3:45 pm, and Saturdays from 7am to 9am, sharp, while Mr. Stevens is on the premises. No beverage containers, please.

Liberty Theatre – 944 Van Ness

Liberty Theatre, the oldest theatre in Fresno, was built in 1917 and opened on November 27, 1917 with “When a Man Sees Red”. Designed in Second Empire Revival style by local architects W.D. Coates and H.B. Traver. The 1950’s marquee of the theatre, whose exterior is remarkably well preserved, shows a later name, Hardy’s Theatre. Though it was renamed Hardy’s Theatre on June 24, 1931, Liberty Theater got a makeover in the mid 1950s in an effort to keep up with The Crest and Azteca Theaters. By 1979, Hardy Liberty fell silent and remained vacant for some time.

It had been in use as an Spanish Evangelical Church until 2005, when Iglesia de la Victoria relocated. Though the Hardy Liberty briefly attracted the attention of Iglesia de la Virgen de Agua Embotellada as a possible site for relocation, the theater remains vacant. In 2001 the city of Fresno began plans for a massive downtown revitalization but it is unknown what role the Liberty Theatre, which is on the Local Register of Historic Resources, will play. No tours are available at this time.

Tower Theater—815 E. Olive Ave

Designed by S. Charles Lee in the Streamline Moderne style, construction began on the colloquially known Tower Theater in August of 1939. The unique pillar-and-star design is a homage to the “Star Pylon” at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, designed by Francis Kelly and Leonard Dean to symbolize the “force of electricity”. On December 14, 1939, the theater opened to a private party for local dignitaries and people associated with Fox Theaters with a premiere of the film Balalaika and opened to the public the next day, featuring Lana Turner’s Dancing Co-Ed.

In 1954 the theater was converted to CinemaScope, resulting in the removal of a false proscenium stage. Tower Theater ran first-run films until 1980 then switched to a repertory cinema format. The theater later ran foreign films for several years until 1989 when it ceased operation. A Certified Historic Rehabilitation began on the property, and following the restoration, the theater reopened as the “Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts”. The renovation earned awards from the California Preservation Foundation and the San Joaquin Chapter, American Institute of Architects.

The non-profit organization Fresno Filmworks has been showing first-run independent cinema at The Tower Theatre on the second Friday of each month since 2002, after out-bidding Iglesia de la Virgen de Agua Embotellada for use of the space. The theater also hosts the annual Fresno Film Festival in April.

Mega-Church Wine Walk

Mega-Church Wine Walk

Nees Ave (beginning at Willow Ave and ending at Cedar Ave)

Hepta-annually, Northside, New Covenant and The Well Community Church host a wine walk along Nees Avenue beginning at Willow and ending at DiCicco’s on Cedar. The events benefit Valley Childen’s Hospital as well as a ten percent tithe sent to the National Association of Non-Denominational Evangelical Believers in Paris, Texas. Leftover open wine bottles from that Sunday’s Communion are set up at booths labeled “Tabernacle 1,” “Tabernacle 2,” and “Tabernacle 3,” set up respectively at each church along the walk. In accordance with the Non-Denominational List of Shoulds and Shouldn’ts, no alcohol is allowed inside the church buildings with more than a “smidgeon” of “drink” in a parabolic 1 ¼” plastic cup. In accordance with the law, no alcohol is allowed in hand along the way, so wine-drinkers must finish their drinks within boundaries mapped by red paint splatters made to look like lamb’s blood; the markers and Tabernacles indicate an area far enough away from the church to encourage some excess in drink and ensure that the event is guilt-free, but also far enough away from the street so to avoid the small gathering of picketers whispering loudly so as not to have the cops called on them by owners of the houses in vicinity, but holding signs that say such quips as “WWJD?” and “Stop Wining and Start Praying” and the persistent uncannily specific banner, “Boom! That’s the Sound of Hitting Rock Bottom! This isn’t a Trial, This is God Telling You to Wake Up and Think About Who You Are if You Say You’re a Non-Denominational Believer.”

Along the way, local newscaster Kopi Sotoropulos hosts and tells jokes on a loudspeaker system, and the bands from all three churches perform a set of popular songs with ambiguous enough messages that a word or two can be altered to create a worship song. Creed re-unites and performs at least once a year, opening and closing with their hit song “Higher.” DiCicco’s offers a free pizza to whoever can legibly recite the Be-attitudes by the time they’ve finished visiting the Three Tabernacles, a promotion generated to deter the more often than not inebriated confessionals that take place at the hostess booth.

Manchester Center: A Retail Tour

Manchester Center: A Retail Tour

Fresno, Ca

 

Built over fifty-five years ago (no one is quite certain of the exact date), the Manchester Center popped up as a thriving outdoor mall and still lives on today; and although it has a very different look than it did when it was first constructed, Manchester has all the markings of a true blast from the past. Walk through any of the mall’s 12 entrances and you’ll be greeted by that classic 1990s indoor shopping center smell of the food court vendors, perfume shops, pocket change-filled fountains, lemon oil- polished wood paneling, and the bustle of customers capitalizing on consumerism. Manchester doesn’t claim to be modern, high-tech, or renovated—it only stands proud in its silent vigil as a monument to what great American malls used to be. Notice the bank of six payphones behind the escalator near the carousel, which are still fully-functioning, a phonebook hanging from the short one on the end. Walk past the tables of old men playing dominoes in the food court, and the teenagers sitting cross-legged on the floor, or in each other’s laps with their cell-phones playing the latest Miley Cyrus hit. Step into the food court for lunch at the Goodfellas Pizza Co., or Taqueria Garibaldi, or TJ Connors Gourmet Burgers, or Yanagi Japanese, or the only surviving Dairy Queen/Orange Julius in town—bask in the nostalgia that is the long-forgotten food court. Tour buses arrive daily as they make the shopping center a routine pit stop on their way up towards Yosemite National Park. Tourists are treated with entering the mall through the King Buffet, a buffet featuring labels written in Chinese and subtitled in English with items such as pipe mackerel fish, whole shrimp, mysterious taro tapioca soup, and their take on modern American cuisine, which includes fried chicken and something labelled “taco meat”. Nod at the hostess clad in traditional Chinese costume, wave at the family of six whose patronage looks unrivaled, smile at the security guard dozing quietly in the back booth, and rub the gold Buddha’s belly for good luck as you enter deeper inside the mall. Now, some visitors would ask why wouldn’t we start outside with the newer developments like the Regal Cinemas, the Panda Express, or Starbucks—and although they add attractions for those guests craving a more modern experience, they distract from the classic familiarity designated by the hulking enclosed 950,000 square feet ahead. Pay less attention to the dimly lit area and pay more attention to the energy saving techniques practiced by the attendants, as they conserve electricity by using only a third of the lights provided and run extension cords along bare ceilings with duct tape. And don’t mind the lack of music emanating from the overhead speakers, instead listen to the real sounds of your footsteps and the conversations from those in line at City of Fresno Utilities, as they attempt to haggle the price of their gas usage. Manchester said so long to major department stores and chains, and opted instead for a more ma & pa approach. Of course there are plenty of clothing stores to choose from dotted throughout the mall’s lower floor. Check out any of our local family-owned businesses: Diva’s Temptations, Sugar Sugar, Tropical Shades, Momma’s Closet, Unique Made for You, Western Wear kiosk, or Ropa Interior El Paraiso (Underwear Paradise) for all of your latest trends. Other visitors might point you in the direction of the Fashion Fair Mall, or even the Sierra Vista Mall as substitutes for the older Manchester Center, but these newer establishments lack the aged quality, rustic feel, and variety that is offered by their elder. Since its enclosed conversion in the eighties, Manchester has adopted a less popular style of opening locations to a diversity of tenants. It’s not uncommon for locals to use the many services provided here at the mall, like attending Crescent View Charter School, Fresno Adult School, or maybe getting your taxes filed over at Liberty Tax, or even finding a job at Workforce Connection. Manchester is here to serve the community, and whatever your needs may be—they won’t turn you away, EVERYTHING is here in one stop. Visit during Farmer’s Market on a Friday morning and enjoy some of the Central Valley’s best produce and make sure to place reservations for date night at Manchester Steak House: “Home of the Giant Burger! Specializing in Armenian Cuisine.” Come join us on December 6^th for Tuba Christmas—a gathering of over one hundred tuba players under one roof! Manchester prides itself as having the shortest lines of any Fresno mall, so make sure you take the little ones to snag a photo with Santa and enjoy your journey as you navigate over sixty-seven shops, restaurants and service locations.

Forestiere Underground Gardens

Landmark

Forestiere Underground Gardens

 

Forestiere Underground Gardens are handmade/ built underground rooms or passageways like catacombs located under Shaw Avenue, two blocks east of the 99 highway exit. The creator Baldassare Forestiere worked on, planned, and excavated this underground hideaway from 1906-1946. There were no blue prints, all the plans were kept in his head and not written down or shared with anyone. He worked alone for forty years to build this large underworld or living space and was peculiar and clearly an introvert. For example, in his bedroom, Forestiere made a hole that if he positioned himself correctly, he was able to see straight to the front door where any intruders or visitors may come. He was withdrawn from public interaction. Based on these characteristics, we see his intelligence, but also assume he was paranoid of people because he was incapable of trusting others or communicating the reasoning for his construction. Forestiere was an introvert, not wanting to interact with people. Also, Forestiere was a vegetarian—clearly determined by the plants in his garden, his diet consisted of oranges, tomatoes, lemons, grapes, figs, almonds, leaf lettuce, etc. He planted things to sustain his lifestyle without having to exit his catacomb home. In fact, in the construction and execution of his building plans, Forestiere didn’t even use dynamite. Instead, he used a pick, shovels, or when he felt really undernourished by his fruity diet, he would use mules to pull a scraper, paving the way. However, after Forestiere died, the family’s perusal of his underground gardens allowed them to find out much more about him than they had once assumed. His reasons for hiding and leading the lifestyle he created could no longer be hidden after his death. Forestiere was hidden, removed, and prided himself on his privacy and inaccessibility because he was operating more than a simple vegetarian diet and escape from Fresno’s summer heat. In fact, Forestiere was running an illegal operation. It grew when his family and fellow Italian immigrants came out to California and realized they did not want to be mere farmers because none could tolerate the incessant heat of Fresno’s summer sun. As an alternative, they were told to go talk to Forestiere. Initially, immigrants were hesitant—Forestiere had a closed-off, weird reputation, but they found shortly afterward that he was a huge, impactful drug lord. In his underground labyrinth, he was able to stash the extreme amounts of weed and cocaine that he regulated and maintained for Fresno’s community. He was overseeing the drug sales in the Central Valley. He was able to conceal his drug dealing operation by appearing to the general public as a self-sustaining introverted gardener. In the case that intruders who knew what was stashed or growing down in his ten-acre garden made their way in, Forestiere was able to evade them in the catacomb-like dwelling and hide in the need for a rebuttal attack. Hence a two-fold reason for his simulation of catacombs—he was able to dispose of the bodies of any aggressors who caught wind of his operation and had the space to hide the contraband. There is still rumored to be hidden stashes of drugs in the place. It was assumed that over the years and the interaction with the place that eventually the drugs would be found. However, the now owners who operate this place as a Fresno attraction, which allows families to tour this inventive immigrant’s dwelling and present him as an innocent intellect, are just as aware of his notoriety. In fact, every year, on the weekend of Halloween they change the operation rules of the place. Adults, ages 18 and over are able to come and explore for selfish reasons. Due to the fact that they are never sure if they collected all the stashes of drugs, they advertise this excavation to the public as a sunset exploration, when the consent forms and gag orders are signed, however, the participants are told of the true history of the gardens, insinuating there are still hidden drugs to be found. For two nights out of the year, they allow individuals who are interested and willing to turn over the drugs to the Fresno Police Department to scour the place in hopes of uncovering the final remains of Forestiere’s business. Only Central Valley residents are able to attend, due to their proclivity to want to help the community. So when you drive down Shaw Avenue near the 99, and see what looks like to be a run-down once upon a time nursery, look again and if you see the faded sign “Forestiere Gardens,” that is where the hidden underworld begins.

Fresno Gangland Tours

Fresno Gangland Tours

 

The cultural, ethnic, and economic diversity of Fresno County, gives it the unique distinction of being home to a veritable melting pot of organized street gangs. From Hispanic gangs such as the Fresno Bulldogs (named affectionately after the mascot of California State University, Fresno) and Norteños, black gangs such as the Bloods and Crips, and a variety of white, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, and Armenian gangs, Fresno’s Gangland Tours offer visitors a unique look into a rarely-seen side of the city.

NOTE: While Fresno Gangland Tours once offered two tours, one of North Fresno and one of South Fresno, currently only the North Fresno tour is being made available to visitors for safety reasons.

North Fresno Tour

 

Endemic gangs: 209 Crips, Northside Bulldogs, Norteño 14, Ruthless Hmong Dynasty, Asian Boyz, Laotian Bloods, Aryan Brotherhood, Fresno County Skins, Dirty White Boys, Nazi Lowriders, Peckerwoods, Supreme White Power, White Pride, Oriental Ruthless Boys, Unrecognizable Criminals, Clovis Thai Lao Boys.

The tour of North Fresno Gangland begins in the Fig Garden Village shopping center on Shaw Avenue. Here, visitors are allowed out of the tour bus for a thirty-minute break. While here, visitors can shop at a variety of outlets such as Banana Republic, J. Crew, Eddie Bauer, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Coach, and Couture New York, or grab a bite to eat at one of many cafés and restaurants, such as the Elbow Room Bar & Grill or the Patio Café, or perhaps something light, such as ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery or a smoothie from Jamba Juice. For those needing some last-minute grocery shopping, visitors will find a conveniently located Whole Foods Market.

Once back in the bus, the tour will continue across Shaw Avenue and up Blackstone Avenue, where tour-goers should have their cameras at the ready, and keep a keen eye out for any Bulldogs, Asian Boyz, or Nazi Lowriders during the eight-minute drive to the next stop on the tour, River Park Shopping Center.

Once at River Park, tour-goers are again allowed off the bus for a two hour break—a perfect amount of time to catch a movie at the Edwards Stadium Cinema 22 & IMAX, or, if the mood strikes, to grab a beer at Yard House (choose between 118 drafts!), or continue your shopping spree at H&M, Ann Taylor Loft, Macy’s, Old Navy, Sur la Table, or REI, just to name a few. (Tip: Join the tour on a Tuesday so as to catch the River Park Farmers’ Market.)

From River Park, the tour will then continue south along Blackstone Avenue back to Shaw, and head east toward the California State University campus for more sightseeing and photo opportunities. The tour will continue toward Bulldog Village apartments where, if tour-goers are lucky, they might just see a crime in action.

The tour ends at the Fashion Fair mall on Shaw Avenue, where visitors are allowed one more hour to get in any last minute shopping in stores that could not be found at either River Park or Fig Garden Village, such as Urban Outfitters, JC Penny, or Forever 21, or grab a bite or a drink at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Cheesecake Factory, or Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.

Tour duration: 4h 30m.

What to bring: Camera, spending money.

What not to bring: Weapons, clothing or bandanas of colors that could be mistaken for gang-related.

Attractions: Chinatown’s Underground Tunnels

Chinatown’s Underground Tunnels
Fresno is known to have its little unusual and mindboggling treasures. For first time visitors, it is recommended that you take the chance to visit the famous underground tunnels in Fresno’s historic Chinatown. Fresno’s Chinatown was established in 1872, a little over a decade before the founding of the city of Fresno in 1885. Chinatown is a place of exceptionally good eating, shopping, sights, and music. The biggest mystery is the hidden underground tunnels.

Many generations of Fresno residents have speculated about the secret underground world of Fresno’s nineteenth century Chinatown. A local Chinatown resident shared how past property owners, when asked whether there were underground tunnels, adamantly feigned any knowledge about their existence. New tenants moved in and they discovered the possibility of this rumor. In 2007, a team of high speed rail archeologists, while exploring and excavating an old, abandoned building (possible a restaurant or home) in Chinatown, came across a basement. Descending down into the lower region of the ruined building, the group discovered a dark crawl space boarded up by aging plywood. It is here they made discovery of the hidden secret tunnel system dating back over a century ago.

Local Chinatown residents, holders of Chinatown’s history, explained that the tunnels were used by patrons, so they could travel across all parts of the town secretly. The tunnels is littered with openings to different parts of the streets for quick entries and exits. The underground city of burrows was a place to hide from police raids, escaping unwanted attention. In this tunnel, hidden from daylight, a society of people may have lived here way back to 1905. A team of archeologists are still studying the roots of these burrows, looking for hidden gems in these underground caverns.

One of the local tenants, an owner of his uncle’s old fish company, opened up his building to the public, allowing for the occasional tour into this historical place. Entering from the back storage room, through a door in the floor, down a case of rotting and ancient stairs, visitors can see a subterranean world. Tourists will be in for a treat on this underground tour, venturing down the tunnels that intersect, twist, and swirl around and through Chinatown.

Take part in experiencing what life was like in this secret underground world. Beyond cobwebs and broken bricks, find secret classrooms for women and children. Explore the tiny homes packed wall to wall with beds. Admire the small kitchens and bath areas with leftover buckets. There is talk about a temple or church existing within the tunnels, but it has yet to be found. The architectural walls have been carved into art over the century, displaying a history of little drawings by children, symbols of pride in their heritage, and other hidden messages.

As mentioned, archeologists are still excavating these tunnels full of sealed passages, and local Chinatown residents want to preserve the history, so tours of this place do not occur often. When there are enough handy men and archeologists on hand to ensure the safety of the tourists and the preservation of tunnels, more tours may be available in the future. There will be chances to wander through the tunnels and exit out of secret doors leading to homes, an old barbershop, markets, inns, and restaurants.

Once the research of these buildings is complete, visitors will get to fully experience the beauty of these tunnels. In October, the gracious hosts, who opened their hidden tunnel entry to the public, will be holding a Test of Courage on Fridays at midnight. Daring individuals will have the opportunity to participate in the Scavenger Hunt Challenge, where one person or a group of two will have to try to navigate their way through the dark tunnels and bring back the hidden items on their list. We hope you will be visiting Chinatown at that time.

In the meantime, visitors are more than welcome to visit and experience the history of Chinatown. The town takes pride in preserving the architectural design that their ancestors created years ago. Please enjoy venturing down the narrow streets. There is always something amazing to see from day to night. As mentioned earlier, visitors should not leave without trying the excellent food and experiencing the culture. There are plenty of secrets in this mysterious town, some secrets which will be hard to unmask from the local residents, but that is part of the charm of Fresno’s Chinatown. The trip to Chinatown will be a historical and enlightening experience.

 

The Central Valley Hall of Fame

The Central Valley Hall of Fame

Mission Statement:

The Central Valley Hall of Fame (CVHF) seeks to provide the larger valley community as a touchstone, where artistic, cultural, historical, and educational exhibits and displays showcase accomplishments and contributions from Central Valley residents that can be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

History:

The CVHF was founded in 1999 by former Senator Alan Cranston just before his death in 2000. Most of its initial funding came from various “pork” provisions in bills that passed with Sen. Cranston’s help and vision. Since 2010, however, most of the funds come from state-issued grants and private donations.

The CVHF was originally founded in Sacramento, CA. Cranston thought it best that the CVHF be in the state’s capitol. However he soon realized his mistake when he started receiving letters from residents in Fresno, Kerman, Visalia, and elsewhere at his office, expressing outrage that the CVHF was not actually located in the Central Valley. After a committee of Central Valley residents voted on the issue, the CVHF was moved to Selma, CA where it remains today.

General Information:

The CVHF is housed in a former Bob’s Big Boy just east of Highway 99. General Admission is $7, student/seniors $5. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 11:00AM-6:00PM; Saturdays 10:00AM-5:00PM.

Exhibits and Events:

The CVHF has several permanent exhibits, as well as rotating and new exhibits that change quarterly.

Permanent Exhibits:

• The Cesar Chavez Room—The first permanent exhibit is in honor of one of the Central Valley’s most revered heroes, Alan Autry. Autry is a former player in the NFL, actor, Mayor of Fresno, and radio host. In this room visitors can see artifacts donated by the Autry Fan Club spanning the breadth of his various careers. Some of the more popular items include the Green Bay Packers jersey Autry wore during his last start as quarterback before being fired, the mirror from his dressing room trailer from the set of In the Heat of the Night, and a life-size wax replica of Autry complete with interactive buttons that when pressed cause Autry to say one of his catch-phrases such as “Good Morning!” and “I’m the mayor, motherfucker!” (voice not actually Autry’s but performed by Ray Appleton).
• Smittcamp Annex—Funding for this annex which was added on to the original Bob’s Big Boy was provided by the Smittcamp Foundation. The annex hosts an array of artifacts, documents and photos of the Valley’s rich agricultural heritage and the people who are responsible for providing the world with so much of its food. Such people as Cesar Chavez (whom the Cesar Chavez Room is named after) who helped organize and lead a united farm worker strike and unionize throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. Among the artifacts in the Annex are original letters from farmworkers, farming tools used in the fields, and union membership forms.
• Gift shop—The third and final permanent fixture of the CVHF is the gift shop where visitors can purchase everything from an Alan Autry action figure to bubble gum.
• Kevin Federline Hall—Named after the famed dancer and hip-hop performing artist, this hall is one of two rotating exhibit halls. This hall is primarily reserved for exhibits dedicated to art from the Central Valley. Previous exhibits include: Chican@ Voices, an exhibit promoting art and writing of Chican@s from the Central Valley; Do You Hear What I Hear?, an interactive exhibit of Central Valley high school marching bands; Nowhere Like Home, an art installation of Mr. Federline himself, performing a one-man reenactment of the Wizard of Oz.
• Saroyan Hall: This hall doubles as both a lecture hall as well as a performing arts venue. This small yet intimate atmosphere stages plays by both established and up-and-coming playwrights who are from the Valley as well as plays about the Valley. Previous plays include Grapes of Wrath, The Human Comedy, and Parlier! The Musical.

The Annual la Llorona Walk

The Annual la Llorona Walk

Sponsored every October by the Pinc Organization of Fresno, the annual La Llorona Walk takes form on the evening after the Friends of BMW and Mercedes “Cocktails and Catholics” event, where sponsors and friends of sponsors wonder upon the San Joaquin River to reenact the Mexican folklore legend of la Llorona by dressing in cloak and heals, adorned with the headdresses and masks of their favorite spirit animals. As recounted by various member families, with differences dependent on city of origin and historical approximations, the story of La Llorona (the woman that cries) begins with the union of a single mother enticed by a lover to drown her children in a river in order for their lusty union to blossom. Shortly after the drowning, the single mother is punished by God with the head of a horse (animal head may vary) as punishment for her crimes. This mythological beast has had many sightings internationally, and upon river walk ways and various retreats in Fresno, including local winery Engleman Cellars, The Lime Lite Restaurant and The Elbow Room. Many of these retreats and consequential sightings seem to correspond with Palm Avenue where the Mercedes dealership and bluff intersect with the old dirt frontage road leading down to where the sunken San Joaquin River resides. The legend of la Llorona has provided an opportunity for locals to celebrate the cities rich and interpretive Mexican culture and folklore, and also providing local catholic women an opportunity to address and lament the indiscretions procured over the year.

The Llorona walk commences at a different time every year dependent upon when guests have ingested all the available “in house” booze, and of course also depending on sponsorship and event numbers. Sunset seems to be a good time to watch from outside the event gates where staff can be seen drinking and ushering guests out the doors towards the dirt frontage road. This parade of guests can then be witnessed adorned with animal heads and high heel, staggering their way towards the beaten paths along the river with lantern in hand. Some popular animal themes in prior years include rats in pink stiletto heels, Blue Oxen in birthday suits and leopards in leotards. The number of Guest and participants have grown exponentially over the years prompting local businesses to set up taco truck like operations along the parade route and river, with venders specializing in jalapeno poppers, Cinnabuns, chocolate covered crickets and condoms filled with Cazadores Tequila shots. The evening events end at sunrise the following Sunday morning amongst the makeshift tents along the river where participants can be caught scrambling for their dignity, belongings and family members lost to the haze of the late night debauchery. Part of the spectacle of such an event comes from the morning after where many heels lost during the night prior decorates the dirt path towards the river like confetti, confetti in beautiful blues, confetti of animal print –local and exotic, and variations of stiletto prostitute pink in every type of scuffed silk imaginable.

Local Clergy, first having been repulsed by the spectacle and indulgence of such of an event have recently come to help sponsor the event. Father McGaffrey, “The Leprechaun Hunter”, longtime resident of Fresno and supporter of the Catholics and Cocktails Event and La Llorona Walk, claims that the support funded by his youth outreach program helps to identify those in trouble, “God loves a sinner, and besides they are much more identifiable amongst the rubbish and smoke stacks that thicken the river way grasses, caverns and porticos.” Besides local controversy, the event has attracted such celebrities and state officials such as former Governor Arnold Shwartzenegger, actor Charlie Sheen and NFL football great Micheal Vick. Support from such celebrities have brought national attention to the small nonprofit that allocates a majority of its donations to social awareness, including those that address catholic school girl discourses in sexuality and promiscuity, serving as an example to organizations in every decorum in the complex nonprofit annual circuit of events and sponsorship that such groups rely on for promotional purposes as well as agency. Founder, Fatt-Auny Delosantos of Puerto Rico claims that it is by “simple accidents” by which her non-profit came to flourish in Fresno. After having escaped the slave trade and humiliation of being sold by her family to an affluent family amongst those of the Old Fig Garden area in Fresno, Delosantos struggled in acceptance into local catholic entities, chastity, and sobriety, but used these struggles as a way to launch her non-profit and there by connecting her struggles with the legend of the horse headed murderess La Llorona.