By Ryan Lucchesi
Thunder Valley Casino Resort has a lot of entertaining options available to players off the felt while they’re here for the WPTDeepStacks Thunder Valley Main Event in Lincoln, California. Here are a few things the WPTDS crew recommends checking out if you have some free time at this tournament stop that are close to the casino. This article focuses on activities nearby that you only need a few hours to check out.
Golf: There are multiple golf options in the area, and Thunder Valley can set you up with a round of 18 holes at the Whitney Oaks Golf Club. Oak trees and granite outcroppings surround the course in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The club offers lessons, a 15-station practice range, and a golf simulator if you want to work on your game in addition to the course. Lincoln Hills Golf Club is another option nearby, and it has two courses to choose from for a round of golf. The Hills Course features some challenging par 3s, while the Orchard Course has long and challenging par 4s. Topgolf is also just down the road from the casino, and you can rent a bay there day or night to enjoy the interactive golf driving range while you enjoy food and drinks.
Breweries: About 20 minutes north of the casino there is the GoatHouse Brewing Company that serves beers out of a converted barn. The brewery is open Thursday to Sunday every week, which times out well with the schedule for the poker tournament. The hop fields and orchards where the ingredients for the beer are grown surround the barn, and yes the namesake goats are there as well. This farm-to-tap brewery grows 20 different varieties of hops, and that selection is reflected in the 13 different beers they currently have on tap. They change the beer menu over regularly, so you are always bound to find something new. Definitely taste their Darkside beer if you get a chance. Monk’s Cellar Brewery is another option in the region in Roseville that specializes in Belgian-style beers.
Pacific Street Café: The perfect place to go have breakfast if you have your kids along for the trip is the Pacific Street Café just over 10 minutes from the casino. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch every day of the week (7 am to 2 pm), and it features a railroad theme. Model trains run along tracks above the tables, and there is also a train play-set to keep little ones busy. Another fun wrinkle to this spot is that the tracks of the first transcontinental railroad sit just across the street, and they are still in use to this day. Kids will get a kick out of watching the trains come through town. The Mark’s Mess breakfast dish is a local favorite that will most certainly fill you up before a long day of tournament poker.
Folsom Lake and Prison: The Folsom Lake State Recreation Area is a great outdoor option nearby. Activities available include boating, fishing, and any water sport you would like to enjoy. If you would prefer to stay dry then there is a 32-mile long bike path for cyclists, and many miles of hiking trails that can also be used for horseback riding. The Folsom Prison Museum sits near the shore of the lake as well. Johnny Cash made this infamous prison famous with his 1955 song “Folsom Prison Blues.” Cash also recorded an album live at the prison in 1968. The museum chronicles the bloody history of the prison, and it is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm.
Auburn: Just a few miles east on I-5 sits another fun town with outdoor recreation, history, and a few brews to wash everything down after some exploring. The Auburn State Recreation Area features a lot of hiking trails, but the best option for someone with a few hours would be the Black Hole of Calcutta Falls trail. The 2.1-mile-loop is an easy trail that is friendly to all ages, and it has the visual payoff of the waterfall and scenic vistas. The history of the California Gold Rush is woven into the town, so be sure to check out the Gold Miner Statue, Gold Country Medical History Museum, Joss House Museum, and the historic Auburn Courthouse that towers over the town. Make sure to stop for lunch and a beer at Auburn Ale House, Crooked Lane Brewing, or the outstanding Moonraker Brewing Company before you circle back to Thunder Valley.