Ione packs history and convenience into its small-town charm
Situated along Dry Creek within the foothills of Sierra Nevada, the City of Ione is surrounded by oak trees, farmland to the west and desert mountains to the east. The community was originally established in the 1840s as a supply center for the Gold Rush. While its historic downtown has stayed the same, the city has since expanded into a primarily residential area. “It’s a pretty small town. We don’t have any stoplights, so if you blink, you’ll miss all of downtown,” says Realtor PJ Johnsen with Vista Sotheby’s International Realty, who has lived in Ione for over 20 years. “Our biggest thing is that we’re centrally located. We’re 10 minutes from Jackson, and places like Sacramento and Stockton are about 45 minutes away.” Mule Creek State Prison and CAL Fire Academy are the city’s major employers, taking up residence in the northern section of the city.
A selection of single-family homes through the decades
Homes in Ione come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are lined along gridded streets, while others are more spaced out within suburban neighborhoods. “We have a historic part of town with Victorian homes, and then there are brand new homes. There are a lot of new subdivisions over by the golf course,” Johnsen says. Grassy front lawns often come with driveways and are dotted with trees. Prices range from $300,000 to $625,000, depending on property size and age.
Single-story homes are the main housing type. Traditional and ranch-style ones from the 1950s to the 1990s have simple exteriors, while the homes built in the 2000s and 2010s have more contemporary architecture. Some are Spanish-inspired with adobe siding and red-tiled roofs, and others have Craftsman features such as pointed roofs and stone accents. New Traditional multistory homes are another option. A handful of Victorian farmhouses with front porches and decorative exteriors are located downtown.
Ione Mobile Home Park offers a selection of manufactured homes with carports built in the 2000s. These cost around $110,000 to $250,000.
Exploring the community’s historic attractions and annual events
Of Ione’s multiple historic landmarks, Preston Castle is the most regionally famous. Built in the 1890s as the Preston School of Industry, the building served as a rehabilitation center for juvenile offenders. Now, the castle is used as a tourist attraction with ghost tours. “It’s haunted. They say at nighttime when you’re on a tour, you can hear boys playing near the old pool area,” Johnsen says. The city will even host events there, including a Halloween haunted house.
When it comes to annual events, Ione Homecoming is one of the community’s larger ones, held in Howard Park on the second weekend of May. Festivalgoers can listen to live music, watch fireworks and participate in cornhole tournaments and cook offs. According to Johnsen, Homecoming will often feature a bedbug theme, paying homage to Ione’s old nickname from its gold rush days. Another popular event is Ione’s Hometown Christmas in December, which has food trucks and vendors with home goods, all topped off with city-wide holiday decorations.
City parks and recreational amenities
Biking is a common pastime in Ione – many cyclists will ride along the area’s rolling hills and country roads. According to Johnsen, pedal trains offer tours of the Amador County area along the old train tracks. Castle Oaks Golf Course is a public, 18-hole course and one of Ione’s largest recreational features. Additionally, the city has six parks and green spaces. Howard Park has a playground, five baseball fields, four soccer fields, a disc golf course and a one-mile walking track. There’s also the Ed Hughes Memorial Arena on its grounds, which hosts equestrian shows and competitions. Perry Earl Park and Oakridge Circle Park are both smaller green spaces with a play area and open field. The city also has a seasonal outdoor pool and a dog park.
For natural recreation, the Camanche Reservoir is roughly 16 miles south of Ione. Multiple campgrounds surround the shoreline, and the Lake Camanche Marina offers boat launches and rentals.
Shops and restaurants in downtown Ione, Martell and Jackson
Ione’s Historic Downtown has a handful of local shops and restaurants lined along Main Street. Church and Main is a coffee shop that sells sandwiches and Don Luis Mexican Restaurant serves authentic international cuisine. There’s also an ice cream shop, two pizzerias and multiple bars. Ione Plaza Market is the area’s grocery store, located across Dry Creek.
For more options, Martell is about 10 miles east for big-box stores and national retailers like Walmart and Safeway. Chain eateries in the area include Chipotle, Jack in the Box and Starbucks. Downtown Jackson has an even wider selection.
Getting educated in Amador County public schools
Families living in Ione can send their kids to schools in the Amador County Unified School District. Ione Elementary School earns a C-plus grade from Niche and Ione Junior High School has a B-minus. Argonaut High School receives a B-plus and offers Career and Technical Education courses in computer science, culinary arts and hotel and restaurant management. Another option is the B-rated Mountain Oaks School, which is a public charter school in Sutter Creek, for kindergarten through 12th grade.
Navigating in and around Ione by bus or car
While Downtown Ione has pedestrian crosswalks, getting around the rest of the city requires a vehicle. Amador Transit provides local bus services with stops throughout the area, including the Ione Park & Ride on Sacramento Street. California state Route 124, known as Church Street, is the area’s main thoroughfare, traveling north and south. California state Route 104, or Preston Avenue, is another prominent commuter road. The Sacramento International Airport is roughly 58 miles away.
Unique factors involving Ione’s environment
Ione’s proximity to Dry Creek may put the area at risk of flooding during heavy rain. The city also has a risk of heat waves and wildfires during the warmer months. As such, the Ione Fire Department has two stations protecting the community.
