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Henry Miller Ruins Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Trail Reader: Since the last log indicates that nothing of the cache remains, I can archive it in good conscience. Thanks to all who visited!

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Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


"The lands of Mt. Madonna County Park were once part of the Rancho Las Animas land grant. In 1859, land and cattle baron Henry Miller purchased his first parcel of the rancho as a place to raise cattle for his San Francisco commercial beef business. Eventually he owned 13,000 acres of the rancho. On some of this property he built his summer retreat.

From the mid-1890's to 1901, Miller built four houses at Mt. Madonna. The first was a two-story redwood cabin with five or six rooms. The second and third were built for his children, Nellie and Henry Jr. In 1901 a fourth house was built at a cost of $250,000. This elaborate home was a sprawling structure which included seven bedrooms and baths, a living room with a veranda, and a 3,600 square foot ballroom.

After Henry Miller's death in 1916, the Madonna homes fell into disrepair. In 1927, Santa Clara County purchased the first piece of Mt. Madonna County Park from the Miller heirs. Nearly 1,000 additional acres were purchased from the Miller family between 1930 and 1961."

---Mt. Madonna brochure (Santa County Clara County Parks, 11/04)


Mt. Madonna County park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset. Daily entrance fee is $6.00. From the entrance station, take Pole Line Rd. and follow the signs to the Henry Miller site. Parking is available at the Lower Miller Trailhead and from there it is only a short hike over a hard-surfaced road. Once at the ruins, you may choose to take the one-mile self-guided nature trail which winds through the ruins or simply wander around the crumbling walls and foundations on your own.

The cache is located "down the street" from the houses in a clear plastic red-topped Rubbermaid containing small trade items and a log. Please bring your own pen.

Signal was available but may be inconsistent due to tree cover.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybt raq arne vagrefrpgvba bs Ybjre Zvyyre naq Gna Bnx Genvyf

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)