What is a flume? A log flume is a flume specifically constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain using flowing water.

Where is Rollerville? Rollerville (sometimes called Flumeville) was just north of Point Arena. How did it get its name …….

The Garcia Mill was located up the Garcia River – it comes out to the sea at Gualala. A railroad wasn’t feasible to haul the cut lumber to the coast because of the terrain. Getting the lumber to close to the coast (six miles?) a flume was constructed. Here you can see the cut lumber being placed in the flume.

Loading lumber into the Rollerville Flume

The flume stopped in front of a 10o foot high hill. And, how did the lumber get transported from the bottom to the top? A gigantic 24 foot high water wheel powered a hoist.

24 foot high water wheel

Look very carefully at the photo above. In the middle of the wheel a man is standing.

What happened to the lumber when it got to the top of the hill? Horse and cart was used to haul the lumber to the chute that took the lumber from the top of the cliff down to the waiting schooners.

Chute used by Garcia Mill