2 Napa ValleyWine Train History The Napa Valley Wine Train’s tracks were originally built in the 1860s by Samuel Brannan, California’s first millionaire. Brannan earned his riches during California’s legendary Gold Rush days not by mining, but through owning mercantile stores selling mining supplies and equipment. Before and during his mercantile days he was a newspaperman with papers in both San Francisco and New York City. One of his papers was the first to publish news of found gold, thereby inspiring the famous Gold Rush in the 1840s. Brannon dreamed of building a luxury destination reminiscent of the resorts for the wealthy of New York City. He aspired for the San Francisco elite to enjoy the Napa County town of Calistoga which he founded in 1859. The train that ran on these tracks brought guests from the depot in the town of Crockett, the closest location to San Francisco at the time, to Calistoga to enjoy his hot spring resort town. While the track now terminates eight miles south of Calistoga, much of the Napa Valley Wine Train’s route remains unchanged. The Napa ValleyWine Train remains a staple of the world-famous wine region and is beloved by millions of guests as well as current and past employees. During a journey aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, which operates today as it has since 1989, guests will see five towns: Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena. Numerous wineries can be seen through the train’s large picture windows as well as historical points of interest and some of the most alluring natural scenery the United States has to offer.
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