City of Rio Vista History City of Rio Vista Groceries and Supplies Delta Pharmacy – 407 Main Street The original settlement of Rio Vista was established in Chamber of Commerce Hap’s Bait and Tackle – 84 Main Street 1858, by Col. Nathan H. Davis, and was located at the Lira’s Supermarket – 609 Hwy 12 mouth of Cache Slough, approximately two miles Rio Vista is a unique city with a variety of amenities and upriver from its present location. The settlement thrived services available to residents, visitors, and businesses and Rio Vista Market – 170 Main Street on the fishing and shipping industries, due to its prime continues to make strides to meet the challenges of a rapidly Museums and Tours growing community. location between Sacramento and San Francisco on the Rio Vista Museum – Housed in an old Sacramento River. The settlement’s name changed If you like the outdoors, the City is surrounded by over 1,000 blacksmith’s shop, this extensive museum several times during the first several years, including Los miles of waterway. It is the ideal location for fishing, water displays historical artifacts from throughout Rio Brazos del Rio, Vista del Rio, Winds End, and eventually skiing and wind surfing. There is also an 18-hole golf course Vista’s history. the wife of Postmaster Charles Kirkpatrick named it Rio and several campgrounds nearby. The following is a brief list Location: 16 North Front Street, Open Vista. of things to do in the City of Rio Vista and surrounding area. weekend afternoons and by appointment. Call Please visit the Chamber’s website at www.riovista.org for (707) 374-5169 or visit On January 9, 1862, Rio Vista was destroyed when the more ideas. www.riovistamuseum.com Sacramento River rose and twelve feet of water covered the settlement. Fortunately, not one life was lost. Dutra Museum of Dredging – Learn about the “New” Rio Vista was established at its present location Things to Do history of the Delta, see model dredges and the on higher ground in March 1862. Downtown Restaurants and Bars fossils. Location: 345 St. Gertrudes Avenue Chef Edward’s Barbeque As more individuals Tours by appointment only. Call (415)-258-6876 Welcome settled in Rio Vista, Flamingo Lounge or visit www.dutramuseum.com farming became the Foster’s Bighorn California Vegetable Specialties Endive Factory to the way of life rather than RioVista Hello My Name is Yogurt – Learn about how endive is produced at the fishing. Immigrants, Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant only American endive producer. Group tours by educated in their appointment only. Call (707) 374-2111 or visit Lucy’s Cafe Bridge to Beach Trail native lands, brought www.endive.com new ideas to the Rio Vista Bakery and Cafe Western Railway Museum – Provides the community, and Rio Vista Pizza Factory opportunity to ride historic streetcars and allowed wheat, sheep, and other crops to thrive. Welcome to the City of Rio Vista, the “Gateway Rio Vista Market interurban electric trains. Location: 5848 State to the Delta". The City is located on the Disaster struck the community once again on July 20, Striper Cafe Highway 12, Suisun City; 12 miles east of Rio Vista on Highway 12. Accessible via the Rio 1892, when a fire broke out in the rear of the River Taqueria Mexico Restaurant Sacramento River in the heart of the California Vista Delta Breeze transit service, Route 50. View Hotel. Within minutes the flames spread The Point Waterfront Restaurant Delta. eventually destroying almost every structure from Front Call (707) 374-2978 or visit www.wrm.org. Camping, Boating, or Fishing Street up to Third Street, and from Montezuma Avenue. The Rio Vista Bridge to Beach Trail is a walking to Sacramento Avenue. Sandy Beach Park – RV-amenable campsites, picnic Calendar of Events tour through downtown and historic Rio Vista grounds, a beach, and a 24-hour boat launch. Entry Ag and Art at the Rio Vista Waterfront – Saturdays as After two decades of local debate, it was finally decided, that connects the iconic Helen Madere fees apply. Location: 2333 Beach Drive. Call (707) noted in Spring and Summer. that in the best interest of the community, it was time 374-2097 or visit www.co.solano.ca.us. Memorial Bridge with Sandy Beach County Endive Festival – May to incorporate. Thus, the town of Rio Vista held its first Municipal Boat Launch – The boat launch ramp is Soap Box Derby – Memorial Day and Bass Derby Weekend Park. election, and the community was officially incorporated located behind City Hall off of Front Street. on December 30, 1893. Seventy-five years later, on Slow Food Festival – June Delta Marina – Location: 100 Marina Drive. January 4, 1968 the town of Rio Vista officially became Holy Ghost Festa – First weekend in August a “City”. Brannan Island State Recreation Area – Location: Highway 160, a few miles south of Rio Vista. Wings and Wheels (Airport Day) – First Sunday in In recent times Rio Vista has become renowned for its Call (916) 777-6671 October wind and water recreation. The near constant winds Grizzly Island Wildlife Area – Location: 2548 Grizzly Rio Vista Bass Derby and Festival – October make the area a Mecca for kiteboarding, windsurfing, Island Road, Suisun. Call (707) 425-3828 The first Bass Derby held in Rio Vista was in 1933. and sailing. The same winds have made the area a prime Golfing location for large wind farms generating renewable ForF more information on the history of Rio Vista sees “Rio Vista” by Phil Pezzaglia, in the Images of energy. Rio Vista Golf Course – Open to the public, this championship 18-hole golf course offers challenging AmericaA series published by Arcadia Publishing. Its compact size and easy rolling hills make Rio Vista a play for both novices and avid golfers. Location: 1000 great place for walking and biking. As you enjoy your Summerset Drive. Call (707) 374-2900 or visit Check the City’s website stroll through town, take a moment to admire the www.the golfclubatriovista.com to reserve your tee for more information: historic architecture and scenic river views. time. www.riovistacity.com South 6th Street Self-guided Walking Tour City of Rio Vista Legend KioskK The Rio Vista Historic Walking tour is self-guided, so you can The Golf Club 12 start when you’re ready and take as much time as you wish. atat RioRio VistaVista South 4th Street North 6th Street PublicP Restrooms The tour meanders about 1-1/2 miles through the downtown Picnic Area California Street and historic districts. Points of interest are indicated with Restaurants numbers on the map with descriptions provided below. Take 12 Montezuma Street North 5th Street Groceries/ Supplies South 3rd Street Bruning Avenue your time enjoying your stroll and be sure to visit the Center Street Camping Main Street restaurants, shops and waterfront during your stay. Avenue St Gertrude Showers u q Waterfront Park g f d s North 4th Street Boat Ramp Enjoy your lunch at a picnic table overlooking South 2nd Street Fishing the river while enjoying scenic views of the Sandy Beach a y County Park o i Water Sports Rio Vista Bridge. The Waterfront Promenade North 3rd Street also offers access to the California jk Marina Department of Fish and Game’s Fishing Pier Sacramento River South Front Street t Museum and public restrooms. h l Church North 2nd Street r Sacramento Street w Gordon Hansen Park Company Building Beach Drive Logan Street Bridge to Beach Highland Drive e The building across the street was To Sandy Beach Trail – Phase 1 constructed in 1938 as a farm equipment and Hamilton Avenue Hamilton Unimproved Trail implements showroom and service County Park Drive Marina department for the Gordon Hansen Company. w North Front Street With its strong geometric forms and stepped Edgewater Drive ; City Hall design, it is an excellent example of the Art Deco style popular at that time. Art Deco was influenced by Classical Greek and Roman design as well as Egyptian and Aztec motifs. Waterfront Sacramento River 0 0.125 0.25 q Promenade e Rio Vista Museum Miles The Rio Vista Museum opened in 1975. It displays artifacts depicting Rio Vista’s history, u Fire Stations s Captain Larsen’s Home h Egbert Home including farm equipment, dolls and toys, These two buildings house the Rio Vista Fire Weston Campbell, a local contractor constructed this This 1900 Vintage Style house was built by J.P. newspaper headlines, uniforms, and Department and the Montezuma Fire District, which striking Queen Anne home for Captain Lars Peter Mortensen for the Egbert family. Rio Vista’s family housewares. It is housed in an old blacksmith serves ~150 square miles around the City. The first Larsen, Annie, his wife and their two children in 1897. doctor for many years, Dr. Simmer also owned this shop with a false front often found on historic western buildings. The hook and ladder company in Rio Vista was formed in The quarter block property included a yard, barn and South Front Street house. Museum is open weekend afternoons and by appointment. 1871 and the Rio Vista Fire Department was carriage house. Features include 12-13’ ceilings, hand officially formed in 1926. Today, citizen volunteers painted wood and a roof top “widow’s walk” which j Tudor Revival Home r Foster’s Bighorn are still a vital part of the City’s Fire Department. provided Captain Larsen a grand view of the river. The steeply pitched roof, narrow windows, and wood Foster’s Bighorn restaurant is a local landmark framing accents of this house exemplify the Tudor renowned for its collection of over 300 wild game i Vista Theater Building d Senator McCormack’s Revival style.