Something to Bragg about: Cooler climes just one reason to check out Carnival by the Sea

FORT BRAGG IS almost always chilly, but could the fog make it too cold for those wanting to ride the rides and eat a dozen kinds of carnival food at the Carnival By the Sea during its four-day run this weekend?

The Fort Bragg-Mendocino Lions Club wondered about that as the setup crews labored in thick fog and 50-degree temperatures Wednesday morning. The Lions had gotten a piece of good news about their fundraiser when the Ferris wheel showed up. Last year, Brass Ring Amusements, which sends its Midway of Fun from Oroville to Fort Bragg, had chosen not to send the Ferris wheel over winding mountain roads. They got complaints from unhappy customers. There are more rides than ever this year.

“They have several carnivals happening at the same time, and they divide up the rides between those places,” said Cindy Lemas of the Fort Bragg-Mendocino Lions Club. “Last year they really heard from people that they were disappointed not getting the Ferris wheel and Zipper — so this year they decided to do it.”

The Carnival by the Sea starts July 11 at 4 p.m. and closes on July 14 at 10 p.m. in one of Fort Bragg’s most visible and least accessible spots, on Fort Bragg’s long-closed lumber mill site. Mendocino Railway, the owners of the Skunk Train, opened the property for each of the past three years for the carnival fundraiser and other community events, but it’s still closed to the public otherwise.

The 32-person setup crew labored through the fog into the midday bright sun on Wednesday and temperatures that rose to 62 degrees — which is considered “hot” in Fort Bragg.

Fort Bragg’s oceanfront property was not accessible for more than 100 years. But in the 21^st century, the California Coastal Commission and the city of Fort Bragg purchased the oceanfront areas of the property for a spectacular section of the Coastal Trail. The mill site remained in the hands of Georgia Pacific until the property was sold to the operators of the Skunk Train, which offers rides through the redwoods on the other side of the property.

In the shadow of history

The carnival happens adjacent to Fort Bragg’s largest and eye-catching buildings, the former Georgia Pacific drying sheds. The twin buildings, the size of aircraft hangars, were slated for destruction at one time by the city before a resident sued and the sheds were saved.

While the enormous buildings may be visible to carnival goers, they are fenced off and no entry is allowed. The Skunk Train ownership has since been fixing up many of the most dilapidated buildings, a move that is controversial with the city, which has argued in court the railroad doesn’t have the right to do that without city permission.

“This will be the third year out on the former mill site. They decided to allow us to keep using the property despite everything going on, and we are thankful for that.”

Cindy Lemas, Fort Bragg-Mendocino Lions Club

“We are thrilled we can use the Skunk Train’s property for our fundraiser. We lost our site for the carnival three years ago and the Skunk stepped up to help,” said Lemas of the Lions Club. “This will be the third year out on the former mill site. They decided to allow us to keep using the property despite everything going on, and we are thankful for that.”

Robert Pinoli, president of Mendocino Railway, said the Lions and the Skunk have a long-term relationship that helped in the decision to open the mill site to the volunteers for this fundraiser.

“We’ve had a very long-standing relationship. My first year working for the railroad was 1993, I was a host/passenger service attendant on the Lions Safari, the steaks at Camp Mendocino were delicious and people had a rip-roaring good time,” Pinoli said.

The Fort Bragg-Mendocino Lions Club is a non-religious, non-political, civic club with regular community efforts and fundraisers, part of an international charity with their Mission “We Serve” which includes works to better eyesight around the world, such as giving away eyeglasses. In Fort Bragg, the club has provided eye tests, as well as paid for eye exams and glasses for low-income people for many years.

A key community effort is the full Senior Christmas Dinner that club members cook on Christmas Day for shut-ins and those who can make it to the hall. Other sponsored events are the Easter Egg Hunt, and the Haunted Hall of Horrors Halloween attraction. Coming up on Sunday, July 30, at 1 p.m. at Lions Hall is a free presentation from the Project for Canine Companions, a Lions-sponsored organization that provides companion dogs for disabled people and veterans. The club also provides vocational scholarships for graduating seniors bound for trade schools.

Tickets for the Carnival by the Sea are $30 in advance or $35 at the show. Fort Bragg can be reached from the Bay Area via U.S. 101, then driving through the scenic Anderson Valley on state Highway 128 or by following Highway 20 west from Ukiah.

Will it be too cold?

“No way, said Tim Gillespie of the Lions Club. People are always glad to get away from the heat and it takes time for them to finally cool down here.”

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