"Pope Valley is one of the state's most serene, pastoral enclaves, with its oak groves, vineyards and gently rolling hills. "The small town in eastern Napa County is home to one of the country's oddest roadside attractions, the Hubcap Ranch, where the third generation of the Damonte family exhibits their staggering collection of hubcaps [YouTube link].
"It started with Mike Damonte's grandfather, Litto Damonte, an Italian marble mason who bought the 360-acre ranch in 1930. In those days Pope Valley Road was so potholed that hubcaps would routinely pop off passing vehicles, and the elder Damonte would place them along the fence in case the motorists came back searching for them."
"Alas, few motorists returned, and the hubcap collection only grew and grew. Neighbors eventually started bringing him hubcaps, and Litto discovered he had a fondness for shiny discs. Before long he was also stringing up pie tins, cut-up beer cans and thousands of pull tops.
"'Anything that hit the ground and broke, he made into art,' said his grandson. 'But he really liked anything that was shiny.'
"In 1987, two years after Litto died, Hubcap Ranch was named a state historic landmark, complete with a plaque proclaiming it an 'exceptional twentieth century folk art environment."
"'Anything that hit the ground and broke, he made into art,' said his grandson. 'But he really liked anything that was shiny.'
"In 1987, two years after Litto died, Hubcap Ranch was named a state historic landmark, complete with a plaque proclaiming it an 'exceptional twentieth century folk art environment."
So if your anywhere near Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties this is a must see. Pope Valley is a cool place to road trip through. This is what Napa Valley (over the hill) must of looked like before the wine industry took over the valley.
