The Legacy and History of Cook's Station

Cook's Station

Cook's Station was originally opened as a Stage Stop in 1863. Back then, Cook's had a dining area, and nightly rooms for rent. Stage coaches and cattle drives coming along Highway 88 would stop at Cook's to spend the night. Cattle and horses would be watered and fenced in nearby corals while the cowboys and other visitors would get a home cooked meal, their clothes washed, a hot bath and a clean bed for the night.

"Stations" as they were called then were usually spread apart about 5 miles which was about how far a cattle drive would go in a normal day. Many stations were located up and down Highway 88, such as Hams Station, Amador Station, Pioneer Station, etc. Cook's was also a toll house for those traveling back and forth from the east coast to the west coast. Of the original 16 toll houses, Cook's is one of only two still remaining today. The other is located in the Grass Valley area.

Cook's was even a Pony Express stop for the two years the Pony Express was running. Cook's first building burned down in the 1920's (You can see an actual picture of it over the register.) and then again in 1953. (You can see a picture of that building on the wall at the front of the dining room by the drinks.) The building you sit in now was built in 1953 in the very same spot as the first building. Through out the years Cook's has had many owners. It has been a restaurant, general store, gas station, bar, sportsman's supply store and a trailer park.

Cook's is even on the California map. It is also a chain control site which is mentioned on T.V. through out the winter. Cook's is also on the world internet tourist map as well as the world bicycle map. Every year bicyclers from all over the world stay at Cooks and pitch their tents in the park behind the restaurant.

Many folks say Cook's is even haunted. Numerous ghost hunters have seen and even spoke to ghosts from the 1800's. Those camped in the R.V. park below Cook's have told of loud talking, saloon music, singing and laughing coming from Cook's dining room during the middle of the night, even though the dining room is empty. The noise is so loud it wakes them even when they are camped almost 100 feet away.

Ghost hunters have spent the night at Cook's and recorded many ghosts voices on tape as well as taken pictures. (Notice the picture of Orbs on the wall to the right of the T.V.)

Many Ghosts have been seen through out the years here but there are 6 that are most spoken of. One is a semi transparent cowboy who has been seen and heard by many walking back and forth on the front deck at night. There is also a group of three cowboys that are seen all over Cook's. They are friendly and are usually seen together and have spoken directly to ghost hunters. Another is a cat which was abandoned at Cooks about 15 years ago. He was a large, friendly, gray cat who we named Buddy. Buddy found a small hole in the wall outside Cook's leading into the basement. For 8 years Buddy lived in the basement and in the daytime would sit on the patio and receive customer's affection as well as their food handouts. Buddy was eventually hit by a car in front of Cook's and passed away. Ghost hunters have made recordings with Buddy meowing loudly when no cats are around. The last of the six most spoken of is a little, blonde, 10 year old girl (Sarah) who back in the 1800's drowned in the well which is still in front of Cook's. (The well is out front of Cook's in the small outbuilding by the mail boxes.) She usually only shows herself to children but adults have seen her too. She is mostly seen downstairs wearing an old style white dress. Many children look down the spiral staircase by the front door and see her smiling at them. Many times we ask the children about her. In every case they describe the same girl, her clothes, hair length and color and say that Sarah was smiling and waving at them from half way down the spiral stair case.

Many ghost hunters have seen, spoken to and recorded Sarah. Sarah has been seen outside in broad daylight listening to live music on the patio, poking her head up from the staircase looking around the dining room and by employees after closing hours. Sarah is seen in an almost constant basis and is considered one of the Cook's regulars. We love her, she is one of the family.

Cooks is now run by Amberly Seccombe and her daughter Jamie.