The site of Mountain Ranch was originally called El Dorado Camp founded during the early years of the Gold Rush, while another settlement named Mountain Ranch was located about 1.5 miles north on Whiskey Slide Road. A post office was established at old Mountain Ranch settlement in 1858. As that settlement declined when the gold panned out, the post office moved to El Dorado Camp in 1868. As there was already a Post Office named El Dorado elsewhere in California, the post office retained the name Mountain Ranch and the settlement followed suit.

At one time, there were seven saloons in Mounain Ranch. The town reached its peak in the 1870s due to its location on the main road between the railhead at Valley Springs and the nearby mining camp of Sheep Ranch.

Calaveras County
Population: 1,628 (2010 census), fewer than 50 in the small town center.
Elevation: 2,123 ft.

Date visited: May 15, 2020

El Dorado Historic Landmark

This landmark is located on Whiskey Slide Road, just to the west of Mountain Ranch Road

Unknown Two-story Building

Located on Washington Street in Mountain Ranch, this building had the look of something more substantive in Mountain Ranch's past. An old Western Union sign near one of its doors suggests that the building could have also served as a coach stop. What looks like a 1920s auto is parked in its car port and an old fire truck is located across the street.

Domenghini Abode

The oldest building in Mountain Ranch, the Domenghini Abode was built in 1856 by a Swiss-Italian man named Pagani. He constructed of abode (dug from nearby Adobe Gulch), field stones, and hand-hewn beams. The walls are twenty-four inches thick and practically fire-proof with the combination of iron shutters. The wooden plank floor inside was inlaid with glass windows to provide light to the basement. The Domenghini family purchased it in 1872. Ths building was used as a saloon, pool hall, and dance hall until 1901. Brothers Attilio and Cash Comenghini converted it to a general store known as Domenghini Brothers General Merchandise. In 1925, the store was known as A. Domenghini and Son Store. In July 1965, the property was purchased by Phil D. Alberts and family.

Dance Hall

Built around 1896, the Dance Hall is located across the street from the Domenghini home and held parties and dances. It is now used as a storage area.