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| Landmark #825 | San Mateo County | Visited: November 16, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | Now the Alpine Inn restaurant, this was once a gambling retreat for Mexican-Californios! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This structure, built by Felix Buelna in the 1850s, served as a gambling retreat and meeting place for Mexican-Californios. It was strategically located on the earliest trail used both by rancheros and American settlers crossing the peninsula to the coast. Acquired by an American in 1868, it has continued to serve under various names as a roadhouse and saloon.
OTHER TIDBITS: “Casa de tableta” literally means “gambling house,” and is not named after the founder. In fact, Felix Buelna, former mayor of San JosĂ© was a gambling man himself, so much so that he had to sell his casa de tableta to cover his losses from a poker game! Let that be a lesson to us all! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 3915 Alpine Rd at Arastradero Rd Portolá Valley, CA 94028 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~358mi (577km) — 6hrs |
| When should I go? | You can see the plaque any time, but if you want to eat at the Alpine Inn, you’ll have to visit between 11:30 AM and 10:0 PM, Monday through Saturday! (Closes at 6:00 PM on Sunday!) |