Yellowstone has the famous Old Faithful, but the Bay Area has a smaller one just north of downtown Calistoga.
A long history
The geyser's owners say the Wappo people knew these grounds for their hot, healing waters long before the town of Calistoga existed. The land was once part of the 1841 Rancho Carne Humana land grant, and the Geyser Inn welcomed visitors as early as 1922. The owners also say the National Geographic Society once named it one of only three "faithful" geysers in the world, along with Yellowstone and New Zealand's Lady Knox, because its eruptions are so regular.
For much of the 20th century, the property was looked after by Olga Kolbek, known as the "Geyser Lady." According to the owners, she was the first to notice that its rhythm seemed to change before major earthquakes.
The earthquake question
A 1988 Los Angeles Times travel story said the geyser erupted about every 40 minutes, more often than Yellowstone's at the time. Eruptions averaged about 60 feet high and once reached as high as 150 feet. The Times reported that scientists believed irregular eruptions could signal an earthquake two days to two weeks ahead. The owners say research published in Science in 1992 found its timing changed before three major Northern California earthquakes, including Loma Prieta in 1989. They also say scientists tie its rhythm to rainfall and the water table, and they stress that it is not a crystal ball.
Visiting today
The geyser is at 1299 Tubbs Lane in Calistoga. The owners say it is open every day of the year, with free parking, and leashed dogs are welcome. The grounds include picnic and bocce lawns, native gardens, a small geology museum with a live seismograph, and a farm with Tennessee fainting goats, four-horned Jacob sheep and guard llamas. Visitors can bring their own picnic and wine.
Nearby, see the Petrified Forest and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.