Scary Real Estate
REDDING RECREATION, SHASTA COUNTY
October 2nd, 2009
Behind the crumbling brick buildings that line the main street in
Old Shasta, on a wooded hill overlooking town, lies
the Shasta Union Catholic Cemetery (now called Old Shasta Cemetery) with headstones, obelisks and iron fences surrounding family burial plots, dating back to the mid-eighteenth century. It was established in about 1849 and was one of the first in the north state. Upon looking at numerous headstones, it was obvious that life spans were shorter back then; anyone living 50-60 years was quite fortunate.
Paths meander up and over a hill dotted with oak trees. Brick walls topped with spiked iron fences protect many headstones from becoming easy targets of thoughtless vandals. Many broken headstones have been painstakingly pieced back together. The cemetery sees minimal maintenance. This is one of several cemeteries in the Old Shasta area.
Aside from the Native Americans who have populated this area for centuries, these graves are the burial spots for some of Shasta County’s first non-native settlers. Use your imagination to ponder what those days must have been like. Shasta was one of the last stops 
for supplies as prospectors headed west to the rugged wilderness that surrounds and includes the Trinity Alps. Life was difficult and many of these early arrivals never struck it rich and were lucky to return alive.
To reach this quiet spot, take Hwy 299 west from Redding and turn right in Old Shasta on Trinity Alley and look for the new fence on the left near the bottom of the hill. The gate is unlocked. Watch out for ghosts and goblins, as you take a stroll through time and pay your respects!
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS GMAC
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
Brad, it was good to see you this weekend. Have you heard if the park is doing the traditional fall cemetery tour this year? Yeah yeah yeah, it’s not a scary Halloween thing — or so they say — but it’s a hoot nonethless.