Shandon, California: Shandon Chapel

Very neat, in the middle of nowhere. There is a very long and steep walk up to the chapel, on the dirt road, which we did not take but it was a very pretty sight.

I do not know the official name of this small, but exquisite Mission style chapel, but it is a marvelous building out in the middle of nowhere. I met a man up at the chapel. He was very gracious, humble and nice, and it took us quite awhile to learn that he had built the chapel as a favor to the community. We also learned during the tour that he lived about three miles further north, and he was the owner of all of the land as far as we could see. When I asked his name, he said Judge William P. Clark. That rang a bell way back in my memory, but I could not connect it until much later when he mentioned President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Clark was the National Security Advisor, later Secretary of the Interior for President Reagan.

You can visit the Chapel anytime, just drive past the first parking lot, and make the first left, about a half-mile up the road. Ask the elderly gentleman for a tour of the inside.