Terminus Beach – The End of the Line for the Popular Resort

There is nothing new about having fun. People have been doing it for hundreds, if not thousands of years. I doubt that the desire for it will ever disappear. Let's hope it doesn't. Life would be terrible without it!

Fun, of course, comes in all sorts of shapes and forms and is enjoyed by all age groups. Today toddlers enjoy peek-a-boo, youngsters love to ride tricycles and bicycles, young adults look forward to hanging out at Starbucks, and older adults enjoying sipping wine with friends. For each the point is the same - to experience enjoyment, amusement and pleasure.

Over 100 years ago, Visalians and Tulare County residents, too, looked for ways to have fun, and there were plenty. For thousands, fun meant going to Terminus Beach.

To many today, Terminus Beach means nothing. But in its day, the well-known place on the Kaweah River meant enjoyment with friends. For them, the wonderful almost natural water park was more than a big ol' swimming hole.

So why was Terminus Beach such a hot spot for fun? To answer that, some history would be helpful.

Records show that in 1905, Harry and Constance Ginner came from England to Lemon Cove, and bought the beach area on the Kaweah River from the Wutchumna people who had owned it, although another source claims the Ginners leased the land from them. The beach was on the Kaweah River, above Lemon Cove on the north side of Lime Kiln Hill. The site had once been a Wutchumna village.

After the Ginners acquired the site, they began planning for what would become the Terminus Beach Resort. Over the next three decades, the popular fun spot would become the summer hangout for thousands of people.

By 1915, the Terminus Beach Resort had a sign that read: "The Beach that made Long Beach Jealous." And the resort had attractions to prove it.

The Kaweah River at the resort site was dammed to create a big pond complete with a sandy beach, ideal for swimming. A lovely grove of trees surrounded the beach providing shade. Swimming lessons were available. If you forgot your swim suit, not a problem. They rented them. Swimming at the beach was free, but parking a car in the big lot cost 50 cents.

There was a dance hall with a jukebox and, on scheduled nights, public dances were held to the sounds of local musicians. Picnic grounds with tables, rental cabins, bath houses, a lunch room and a restaurant were all available. Nearby, there was a rodeo ground and a golf course.

A big plus for the resort was its convenience. The Visalia Electric Railroad track ran to the resort. Actually its terminus was there. It was the end of the line. That's how the resort got its name. A passenger could go from Visalia, Farmersville, Exeter or Merryman to Terminus Beach for 75 cents round trip, with several time options during the day.

But it wasn't always fun there. From time to time the resort flooded, especially when spring snow mountain runoff was heavy. Then, occasionally parts of the resort caught fire. Buildings were damaged or destroyed.

At about 4:30 p.m. on July 14, 1937, a devastating fire attacked the resort and marked the end for the popular getaway. The Visalia Times Delta reported the bad news. It announced "Fire of undetermined origin destroyed the resort..."

The newspaper added, "Buildings were all destroyed and the fire spread to the nearby hills burning about 100 acres. Twenty Maxon Ranch CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) members, 15 men and a fire truck from the Three Rivers Fire District and the Division of Forestry fire truck from this city joined in bringing the blaze under control."

The site continued to draw swimmers and an occasional meeting, but the heyday of the Terminus Beach Resort was over. For nearly 30 years, the popular water feature on the Kaweah River provided enjoyment for so many. Today, the site of the resort is at the base of the Terminus Dam - the resort was almost totally wiped out with dam construction.