June 2026

Thanks to everyone that served and to those that attended the Wine & Beer Festival and the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast over the Memorial Day Weekend. Both events were well attended and successful. Proceeds from these fundraisers stay in our Upper Tule communities and are carefully
used for future projects. The next community event will be the annual all-mountain Community Picnic on June 13, noon to 3:00. Please plan to attend at the Conservancy Yard.

We also invite you to stay involved with community events by attending the monthly JMNC Board meetings and the monthly Communities of the Giant Sequoias Board meetings.
The building that Slate Mountain Saloon occupies was once the bar and the coffee shop in the 1950s and up to 1964. There were two entry doors, with the bar on the left half of the building and the coffee shop on the right half of the building. A solid wall separated the two businesses. You can imagine how small each business was occupying half the building. There are still holes on the floor where the bar stools were installed. There was usually adult type live music on the back patio of the bar during summer months. The coffee shop had a small counter with stools and two or three small tables and a juke box near the front door. The bar and coffee shop were relocated across the street
after the Camp Nelson Lodge was expanded in 1963-4. The old coffee shop/bar building was then gutted and the wall removed to accommodate a dance hall for the teens beginning in 1965. There were live rock bands and dancing every Saturday night, with no food or beverage service. Adult
music and dances occurred in the Lodge which was busy with the bar, coffee shop and dining room.
The Meadow Trail begins at the gate by Nelson Drive and Smith Drive. Go inside the gate and follow the signs around the meadow for a half mile stroll. There is a bench at the high side of the trail for your comfort. If you bring your dogs to the meadow, please clean-up their mess and do not
let dogs chase the deer. Thank you.
As members of the conservancy, our common interests include the Meadow, Conservancy Yard, buildings and the RV Park. It takes the dedication of volunteers who serve willingly to insure that we preserve and maintain these areas for the enjoyment and use of the community and visitors.
Thank you to everyone that continuously serves. If you are interested in helping, contact any JMNC Board Member. We work closely with Communities of the Giant Sequoias, Volunteer Fire Department, Camp Nelson Women’s Club, Camp Nelson Chapel and the local businesses to promote all the communities in the Upper Tule area.
The John M. Nelson Conservancy is a California 501-C3 Public Benefit Corporation and your donation is deductible on Federal and State income tax returns; ID #68-0066225. It is hoped that you feel we are an organization worthy of your support. You may make a donation on our website
(johnmnelsonconservancy.org) or mail your donation to: 801 Highway 190, Box 110, Springville CA, 93265. Should you have any questions, please contact any Board Member listed on the website contact page.
The Camp Nelson RV Park is open. If you have friends or relatives that enjoy RVing/camping, invite them to make their reservations for the upcoming months. Call 559.542.2471 for information.
Also, visit “Camp Nelson RV Park, CA” on Facebook.
We invite you to check the current weather conditions in real time by using the Weather Underground app on your smart phone or go to www.wunderground.com on your computer. Our
station’s designation is “KCACAMPN10”.
Visit our website to volunteer, make a donation, read the monthly Conservancy Article, buy a memorial brick, or purchase a copy of “The Tule River Middle Fork and its People” written by Malcolm
Sillars. Read about the Tule River communities on the middle fork and see for yourself the history of this wonderful mountain home for many people. Here is an excerpt from Chapter Nine of the book for your enjoyment:
Chapter Nine; Kramer’s Sheep Meadow, Quaking Aspen, and Pete’s Ponderosa.

“Their two sons Harry Jr. and Robert spent their summers at the store beginning when they were eight and ten years old. In their early teens they worked for the pack station in Quaking Aspen and on Freeman Creek taking people into the backcountry. Harry Sr. also worked for the pack stations taking many trips on his horse “Duke”. The Summit trail went right by the store and the small cabin the Verheuls called home while in the mountains. Later, as logging roads were built to the north, Quaking Aspen Meadow was less of a jumping off place for hunters and fishermen but they still stopped at “Harry’s Store” for advice on where to go and for a beer or two and a can of
beans.” Page 128.
For more current information and events, you can follow us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/jmnconservancy
We invite you to attend our monthly Board meetings on the second Saturday of each month at 8:00AM in the Conservancy building; 388 Smith Drive, Camp Nelson. The next meeting is June 13, 2026.
Check-out the web page at;
www.johnmnelsonconservancy.org
Mailing Address is; 801 Hwy 190, Box 110, Springville, CA 93265
Respectfully Submitted, June 2026.
Dan McFadzean, Director; JMNC. Email; mcfadzeand@yahoo.com; phone.661.978.4679