June 21, 2026
Good question. Where indeed is Groveland? It is, in fact, a small historic town just outside Yosemite National Park. It was originally a gold mining camp, known as Garrote (execution by strangling). According to local tradition, the name came after a suspected thief was lynched by being strangled with a rope—a grim example of the frontier justice that was common in some Gold Rush towns. As the settlement became more established, residents felt the name was too violent and changed it to Groveland in 1875. It is now a quaint little western town and home to the Iron Door Saloon. Established in 1852, it is claimed to be the oldest continuing running saloon in California.
Now that the town’s wild days are behind it, the jail is now the home of the local gardening club.
The Groveland Hotel has been beautifully restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Here are some of the other historic buildings on the Main Street.
But Groveland is not just stuck in the past, as evidenced by the fact that it has charging stations for both Rivians and Teslas.
Mal and Lauren 