Angels Camp Hotel

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain originated right here in the Historical Angels Camp Hotel. It was here in this very hotel that Mark Twain heard the tale of a man Jim Smiley who had the frog of all frogs, a frog that could out jump all the rest. The story goes that Smiley bet a few travelers in the hotel that his frog would beat theirs in a jumping contest. The travelers afraid that they would lose the bet, loaded down poor Smiley's frog with buckshot and skipped town with their winnings before Smiley realized he had been cheated! Don't take our word for it though, read Mark Twain's short story yourself and hop on over to Angles Camp to see all the large, iconic, ceramic, frogs up all around town, mine for gold in the creek, travel down into the wonders of the Calaveras Caves, hike through Big Trees State Park, splash around at New Melones Lake, and spend a day in the old west, historical, gold rush town of Columbia!