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Pollardville
Stockton, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a familiar sight for travelers heading up and down HIghway 99 as they reach the outskirts of Stockton. It's hard not to miss the huge roadside sign topped by a chicken. Yes, you've just reached Pollardville.

Like many of the old businesses that line the old route 99, the Pollardville Amusement Center is in the process of closing down. The Pollardville Palace Saloon will close its doors on March 31, following with the Chicken Restaurant honored with a closing ceremony on April 1. Originally opened in 1944 as the Chicken Kitchen Restaurant, the restaurant moved in 1957 to its current location along Highway 99 between Stockton and Lodi and started the Pollardville complex.

After a fire destroyed the original restaurant, the Polynesian-themed Islander Restaurant was moved from Pacific Avenue in Stockton to Pollardville in the mid-1980's.

Efforts continue in an attempt to save the 1870's era Jamestown Jail, which is part of the Pollardville site. According to the December 28, 2006 edition of the Union Democrat, The Irving J. Symons Foundation, in connection with the Sonora Area Foundation, has pledged money to pay for about half the cost of returning the Jamestown Jail to the county. The move must be made before Pollardville is bulldozed this spring. 01-03

UPDATE 03/08 : The jail has not only been dismantled, moved and now reconstructed, but it has been done to original blueprints and looks quite different from that which existed in Pollardville.  See www.jamestown-ca.com for more information. Many thanks to Stephen Willey, Proprietor for update. 03-08

UPDATE 04/10 : Demolition started early in the morning on the Pollardville roadside attraction off of Highway 99 on Tuesday April 13, 2010. The former Chicken Kitchen and Palace Showboat Dinner Theater were unceremoniously razed after time ravaged the buildings. Pollardville had closed down three years ago. Here are photos taken in March 2010 prior to demolition. 04-10

UPDATE 08/13 : Here are photos from 2011 after the buildings and attractions had been demolished. The sign was still standing but looked long for wear. 08-13

Pollardville vacant lot and remaining sign
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

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