Excellent research and a well done video! I moved to Napa in 1977 and we hiked what is now Skyline Park before it was available to the public (they call that trespassing). I'm 71 yrs. old now and I still ride my mountain bike there at least twice a week. While watching you investigate some of the structures I noticed that you were walking through some tall grasses and poison oak bushes, I hope that you didn't suffer from a poison oak rash or that you didn't become a meal for the ticks that are prevalent in the area! I would advise anyone planning a hike at Skyline to become familiar with what poison oak looks like and to apply an insect repellant if you're going to hike the narrow trails. Oh yeah, I've also seen a mountain lion, coyotes and a bobcat very close to the trail, pay attention and keep small kids close to you!
What an excellent series! Thank you for your research and for sharing all of this fascinating Napa history. I encourage everyone to watch all three parts of the series so that you do not miss out on any of the information. I have only explored a small part of Skyline, but have always wondered about the cave on the Buckeye Trail and the three chutes on the Ridge Trail. Hearing about those places, realizing that there is so much more to discover and learning the history behind the sites within Skyline that I might never get to see up close was really incredible. Something else that I never considered before watching the series, but will be mindful of going forward, are the unmarked graves at the State Hospital. Finding the grave marker and laying the flowers was a nice way to end the video.
This is a wonderfully-narrated video with excellent footage, and well-done research. As a former NSH employee and avid hiker of Skyline Park, I have seen all of the structures you pointed out, and more. I was most interested in your explanation of the concrete wall with 3 metal shutes on the River to Ridge Trail. Your hypothesis sounds very likely; it's the most plausible one I have heard yet. The hospital and the park are full of history and mystery, documented facts, and many unknowns. For me, now, the park is a place of natural beauty and hiking opportunities, and the hospital grounds hold many memories. As a side note, there are additional burial grounds for former NSH patients at both Tulocay and St. Helena cemeteries, as well as on the hospital grounds and elsewhere. Thank you for this video. I am happy to be the first person to give it a thumbs-up.
Thank you for the kind words. I have one more data point for you on the 3 chutes building. I asked Doyce about it off camera, without giving any indication of what I thought it was. He looked at me and said, "oh, you mean the gravel chutes?" That is the term he heard for that building years ago, and it's how he has referred to it since. He thought it might have been used to pave the roads about the area, but couldn't provide any additional specifics. - Kate
My mom worked there as a Psychiatric Technician in the 60's. And I had cousins who worked in Security there. I can remember how creepy it was going to pick mom up from work when I was little. 1966 was the last time I was there.
GOSH, THIS IS BRILLIANT! SO WELL DONE. Thank your for your extraordinary time and work on this, it is very informative and has filled in some long-puzzling Skyline Park curiosities for for me. I used to hike there a lot as a teen in the 1980s. There was an older guy, lived in a trailer there, who manned the entry Kiosk. He was a fund of knowledge about the place and interesting to chat with. He told me two things that I’ve wondered about ever since: One was that Chinese laborers working the early ranches on the property had carved that semi-arcuate structure (20:18) out of the hillside near lake Marie and that the recessed arch in the wall was a niche to hold a religious image. His assertion was that the building functioned as a Joss House. If that is what it is, why did they not connect all 3 chambers? Did they just not get to complete it? Lastly, this might pertain to the Peter Russell tale of him carving out a cave that he roughly fitted with a chimney. The man at the Kiosk told me quite matter of factly that the little structure down the road from the ‘temple’, also carved out of the hill with a fireplace and what looked to be a table (22:32), was the a cabin built by a trapper/hunter who made a home there. Could THAT be Russell’s home? With a roof over it, it would indeed indeed a grotto carved out of the hill and fitted with a chimney. And this begs the question, could the ‘temple’ also have been the home of a patient?
How fascinating! I’m so glad you shared this information. If there are any other tidbits you could share, I’d love to hear them. I can totally see the 3-chambered rock carving serving many purposes over the years: a quarry, a stable (which was another rumor I’d heard), or a living space for a patient… The story that it was a Joss house seems too precise to be fabricated. It very well could be true. If you look above the “DIEL” carving, there are two precise holes drilled above it, like something hung there. There are other notches along the walls in the right-hand “room” that look like they once served a function. I can also see the foundation + chimney down the road serving as Peter Russell home. Isn’t it amazing how nearly one hundred years later his story was being recounted by the guy at the kiosk? I’m not sure that particular building was entirely created by one man, however. It has quite a sturdy and structured foundation, with a series of compartments. It served a very practical purpose at one point, IMO. A kiln, maybe? If you haven’t yet, please check out part II of the original Skyline series on my TH-cam page. There’s a section on the Hermitage that I had to remove for this video. You might enjoy it. Cheers!
By the way, I'm still hopeful Peter Russell's cave is out there somewhere. There are at least two caves (other than the ones in the video) in the vicinity of Lake Marie Road. Doyce told me about one of them - he encountered it while bushwhacking one day. I have not made the effort yet to locate it, so I have no idea how large it is. There is another that I stumbled across one day - a very long one - but it's clearly for water collection and too narrow for habitation.
I worked with people living with disabilities in my employment years. Many came from Napa state hospital following the move to integrate. I have to say that the clients that I had that did not come from the state hospital system were the most easiest to integrate. Those that came from the state hospital had many more serious behaviors that required a lot of intervention. I’m certain because they were abused in the years of incarceration. Because that’s what it was-incarceration. It is so sad what this population has endured.
Absolutely wonderful video, your passion for this area is inspiring. I've been very interested in this park, I've been coming here since I was very young
Awesome informative video 😊I just did a “wet” mountain bike video there. A lot of the trails there were closed due to the rain. I can’t wait to go back and explore more!
Awesome video . When I used to visit skyline park I would always let my imagination run wild with all of the abandoned buildings there. I need to go bqck aoon
Very enjoyable BOTG, thanks.
I live in Napa, great research my friend
Excellent research and a well done video! I moved to Napa in 1977 and we hiked what is now Skyline Park before it was available to the public (they call that trespassing). I'm 71 yrs. old now and I still ride my mountain bike there at least twice a week. While watching you investigate some of the structures I noticed that you were walking through some tall grasses and poison oak bushes, I hope that you didn't suffer from a poison oak rash or that you didn't become a meal for the ticks that are prevalent in the area! I would advise anyone planning a hike at Skyline to become familiar with what poison oak looks like and to apply an insect repellant if you're going to hike the narrow trails. Oh yeah, I've also seen a mountain lion, coyotes and a bobcat very close to the trail, pay attention and keep small kids close to you!
What an excellent series! Thank you for your research and for sharing all of this fascinating Napa history. I encourage everyone to watch all three parts of the series so that you do not miss out on any of the information. I have only explored a small part of Skyline, but have always wondered about the cave on the Buckeye Trail and the three chutes on the Ridge Trail. Hearing about those places, realizing that there is so much more to discover and learning the history behind the sites within Skyline that I might never get to see up close was really incredible. Something else that I never considered before watching the series, but will be mindful of going forward, are the unmarked graves at the State Hospital. Finding the grave marker and laying the flowers was a nice way to end the video.
Thanks so much for making this video! I live in Napa and now know more about the park I ride in frequently.
Thoroughly enjoyed this video! Love Napa history!!
pls do a separate video on the Napa's historic Asylum for the Insane
Wonderful job, thank you for sharing!
This is a wonderfully-narrated video with excellent footage, and well-done research. As a former NSH employee and avid hiker of Skyline Park, I have seen all of the structures you pointed out, and more. I was most interested in your explanation of the concrete wall with 3 metal shutes on the River to Ridge Trail. Your hypothesis sounds very likely; it's the most plausible one I have heard yet. The hospital and the park are full of history and mystery, documented facts, and many unknowns. For me, now, the park is a place of natural beauty and hiking opportunities, and the hospital grounds hold many memories. As a side note, there are additional burial grounds for former NSH patients at both Tulocay and St. Helena cemeteries, as well as on the hospital grounds and elsewhere. Thank you for this video. I am happy to be the first person to give it a thumbs-up.
Thank you for the kind words. I have one more data point for you on the 3 chutes building. I asked Doyce about it off camera, without giving any indication of what I thought it was. He looked at me and said, "oh, you mean the gravel chutes?" That is the term he heard for that building years ago, and it's how he has referred to it since. He thought it might have been used to pave the roads about the area, but couldn't provide any additional specifics. - Kate
@@skylinewildernesspark2799 Kate, that is very interesting indeed! Thanks for sharing!
My mom worked there as a Psychiatric Technician in the 60's. And I had cousins who worked in Security there. I can remember how creepy it was going to pick mom up from work when I was little. 1966 was the last time I was there.
GOSH, THIS IS BRILLIANT! SO WELL DONE. Thank your for your extraordinary time and work on this, it is very informative and has filled in some long-puzzling Skyline Park curiosities for for me.
I used to hike there a lot as a teen in the 1980s. There was an older guy, lived in a trailer there, who manned the entry Kiosk. He was a fund of knowledge about the place and interesting to chat with. He told me two things that I’ve wondered about ever since:
One was that Chinese laborers working the early ranches on the property had carved that semi-arcuate structure (20:18) out of the hillside near lake Marie and that the recessed arch in the wall was a niche to hold a religious image. His assertion was that the building functioned as a Joss House. If that is what it is, why did they not connect all 3 chambers? Did they just not get to complete it?
Lastly, this might pertain to the Peter Russell tale of him carving out a cave that he roughly fitted with a chimney. The man at the Kiosk told me quite matter of factly that the little structure down the road from the ‘temple’, also carved out of the hill with a fireplace and what looked to be a table (22:32), was the a cabin built by a trapper/hunter who made a home there. Could THAT be Russell’s home? With a roof over it, it would indeed indeed a grotto carved out of the hill and fitted with a chimney. And this begs the question, could the ‘temple’ also have been the home of a patient?
How fascinating! I’m so glad you shared this information. If there are any other tidbits you could share, I’d love to hear them.
I can totally see the 3-chambered rock carving serving many purposes over the years: a quarry, a stable (which was another rumor I’d heard), or a living space for a patient… The story that it was a Joss house seems too precise to be fabricated. It very well could be true. If you look above the “DIEL” carving, there are two precise holes drilled above it, like something hung there. There are other notches along the walls in the right-hand “room” that look like they once served a function.
I can also see the foundation + chimney down the road serving as Peter Russell home. Isn’t it amazing how nearly one hundred years later his story was being recounted by the guy at the kiosk? I’m not sure that particular building was entirely created by one man, however. It has quite a sturdy and structured foundation, with a series of compartments. It served a very practical purpose at one point, IMO. A kiln, maybe?
If you haven’t yet, please check out part II of the original Skyline series on my TH-cam page. There’s a section on the Hermitage that I had to remove for this video. You might enjoy it. Cheers!
By the way, I'm still hopeful Peter Russell's cave is out there somewhere. There are at least two caves (other than the ones in the video) in the vicinity of Lake Marie Road. Doyce told me about one of them - he encountered it while bushwhacking one day. I have not made the effort yet to locate it, so I have no idea how large it is. There is another that I stumbled across one day - a very long one - but it's clearly for water collection and too narrow for habitation.
Excellent! Thanks for taking the time to research all this. I share your curiosity about all the old things I see on my adventurous MTB rides 😊
I worked with people living with disabilities in my employment years. Many came from Napa state hospital following the move to integrate. I have to say that the clients that I had that did not come from the state hospital system were the most easiest to integrate. Those that came from the state hospital had many more serious behaviors that required a lot of intervention. I’m certain because they were abused in the years of incarceration. Because that’s what it was-incarceration. It is so sad what this population has endured.
Absolutely wonderful video, your passion for this area is inspiring. I've been very interested in this park, I've been coming here since I was very young
Cool, thanks for doing this...👍
Great Video! Ty for the share
Awesome informative video 😊I just did a “wet” mountain bike video there. A lot of the trails there were closed due to the rain. I can’t wait to go back and explore more!
Awesome video . When I used to visit skyline park I would always let my imagination run wild with all of the abandoned buildings there. I need to go bqck aoon
I think of my Hometown ❤️
Kinda creepy they don't know exactly where the cemeteries are 🤔 I don't think you'd want to build anything unless you knew exactly where they are.
Not scared of poison oak 😂
10 million bricks were a fire hazard? I smell a political/money rat.