Frenchtown Inn About

About Us

Nestled quietly in the Sierra Nevada Foothills of Yuba County lakeside retreat Frenchtown Inn. Named after the nearby gold rush settlement of Frenchtown, the Inn offers a 3,500 square foot 5-bedroom main house overlooking a majestic seven acre lake. We strive to offer a rural country experience for that special getaway family gathering, business retreat or wedding.

When you're seeking a once-in-a-lifetime retreat experience, consider Frenchtown Inn. A venue that offers more than most. More space, restfulness, tranquility, and rustic elegance. A venue that offers you more than just a location, but a quiet secluded retreat. Past guests have wondered how they were so lucky to have discovered this hidden jewel. Your own private lakeside retreat with the ability to have overnight stays within historic North Yuba. Past guests have wondered how they were so lucky to have discovered this hidden jewel. Your own private lakeside retreat with the ability to have overnight stays within the historic North Yuba countryside.

The property was developed in the 1970's by Shakey (Sherwood) Johnson. Yes, the very same Shakey Johnson that founded the Shakeys Pizza Parlor franchise with establishments throughout the country. Shakey built three authentic stone pizza ovens on the property located in a secluded area on the other side of the lake. This area was the site of many parties that Shakey held here.

After a refreshing rest, you can wander around the property at your leisure. You can take the path on a peaceful walk around the lake and may even spy the egret that finds the fishing good. You may visit the authentic bread ovens or even find the ancient native grinding stones. If you hike up the big hill, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the surrounding country side.

This house becomes your house, no matter what room you choose, your stay is guaranteed to be peaceful, relaxing and comfortable. The expansive house and grounds are well suited for family gatherings, and those special retreats. The kitchen is fully stocked and the massive 18 foot custom crafted oak dining room table easily seats 12.

The 100 acres that are the Frenchtown Inn site was developed in the early 1970s by Shakey (Sherwood) Johnson. Shakey opened the first "pizza parlor" in Sacramento in 1954 and went on to create Shakey's Pizza Parlor, the first pizza franchise ever. Shakey had certainly had a sense of humor. When I first bought the property, there were parking meters in the parking lot. Across the lake was his party area, where built three authentic stone bread ovens. They still work quite well to this day.
As another example, Black Bart was a notorious bandit in the 1870s and 80s. He roamed around Northern California holding up Wells Fargo stagecoaches left and right. Shakey officially designated the entrance easement driveway as "Black Bart Trail".If you visit the Inn, there is a copy of a book about Shakey written by his friend Burt Wilson.