This is one of those places where words just can't explain or describe the feeling of being there imagining what it must have been like back then. Truly one of those if only those walls could talk thoughts go through one's mind when strolling Main Street Locke. There's some sadness to see the dilapidated conditions of the structures here and I hope that these will be around for as long as possible. Ironically only 3 of the 70 residents there are of Chinese descent...they are also the ancestors of those who once occupied quarters in Locke during its hay day. read more

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I love visiting Locke. It's such a cool little town and honestly feels like stepping back in time. Walking down the street and seeing the original buildings, museums, and small shops makes you realize how much history is still preserved here. There's something really special about Locke. It hasn't lost its character and doesn't feel overly touristy. You can just walk around, read the historic markers, explore, and take everything in at your own pace. I think everyone should visit at least once, especially if you live nearby. It's an awesome way to learn about local history and experience a part of the Delta that still feels authentic and untouched. Definitely one of my favorite places to spend an afternoon. read more

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My family and I came to Locke for their annual Chinese New Year Celebration on February 14, 2026. Locke is an old Chinese settlement about 1 mile north of Walnut Grove on State Route 160. The 14 acre town was established in 1915 after a fire destroyed Chinatown in Walnut Grove. The town has approximately 90 residents, now days only about 10 of them are Chinese. There is remnants of the once thriving Chinese culture such as the Boarding House, Dai-Loi Gambling House, Jan Ying Museum, Joe Shoong Chinese School, Lock Chinese Medicine, Chinese Culture Shop, etc., many of which much have been transformed into a museum. There are a few random stores such as an art gallery, thrift shop, Lockport Grill & Fountain and Al's Place (formerly called Al the Wop). Unfortunately the Locke Garden Chinese Restaurant is no longer there. During Chinese New Year, all the museums were open, most with docents to help tell the story and to answer any questions. Not when the museums are open on normal days. If you want a tour of Chinese museums, I would suggest you contact the Locke Foundation for more details and information (https://locke-foundation.org). read more

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What an Amazing experience we had today on a Sunday in Feb.22.26' we went into the historic Museum by the entrance and we were met with a hospitality un like an other from Lilli and her Husband. They really took the time and gave us some historical background information on the city of Locke. The town is still very active and a great place to host wedding, concerts, farmers markets and even filming. The have antique stores, gift shops, a bar, a community garden, the entire town is a time capsule into the only town in America to have been built by Chinese for the Chinese in 1919. The is a dying gem b/c its mostly run and operated by people whom have ties somehow to the town. Although other ethnicities live there now and it's no longer a Chinese habitual it's still a very amazing part of the greater Sacramento County and its history read more

Locke Historic District - Historic city of Locke - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Walnut Grove, California

Very unique place with a lot of history. This place is a living museum and should be seen before it disappears.

The entire town of Locke is a historical site! We visited Locke twice in the same weekend... once at night, after seeing an article from the TravelChannel showing the Ghost Adventures crew doing an episode here [Season 11, Episode 5 aired in February 2016]. We did our own amateur version of ghost hunting with the GhostTube app LoL! (it detects raw reading of electro-magnetic energy and captures anomaly activities from our phone which shows on the screen as a "stick figure") LoL! it was entertaining. We came back the next day and we walked on Main Street (one way street). We spent some time at the Locke Boarding House/Visitors' Center aka museum. A two story building filled with exhibits and stories expressed through photos, quotes, and original items. You can also purchase souvenir items here including tee-shirts. The museum is free of charge and open to the public operated by the California State Park. Locke Memorial Park and Monument - dedicated to the Chinese who built the railroad, levees, and agriculture of California. Locke was registered in the Registry of National Historic Places in 1970 and has become a National Historic Landmark in 1990. This plaque can be found in the park. Dai Loy Museum - this place is creepy. Inside is like how it was before the government officials was forced to close it down in 1950. In the back was the caretaker's room. We were not allowed entry to the upstairs part of the gambling hall which was supposed to be a former opium den and where prostitutes would pick up men and bring them upstairs. Our Ghost Tube app detected a lot of spirit activities inside this gambling hall. We ended our day in the Locke Chinese School. This was a language school for the children of Locke. It had bust statues of Confucius and Dr Sun Yat Sen on the foreground on each side of the steps. Locke has an eclectic variety of gift shops, art galleries and a couple of restaurants. Some were open but we didn't go inside any. We did eat at the Locke Garden Restaurant. We enjoyed exploring Locke, about 4.5 miles west of I-5 and located 30 miles south of Sacramento. Locke is next to the Sacramento River. Review #2362 read more

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Had the town of Locke to myself this morning, except for the gambling museum docent who was opening up. Locke is rich with history, the Chinese culture. So much to see. Today was the perfect weather and lighting for photographs. I got to practice my photography skills and lightening, saturation and filttechnics. I felt so much peace walking through the town. I'd been here before by car and motorcycle but never had the opportunity to walk and photograph as I did today. read more

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We drove 2 hours to visit Locke. Its definitely a small town and probably won't take long to visit. We spent a bit more than an hour. Some families spent less time. I tend to read a lot of the information in the museum. So that's why we spent a bit over an hour. We visited the school, the boarding house, Dai Loy gambling house and the business bureau. All admissions were by donations. I find it very interesting to see all the artifacts that were left behind. I studied Chinese American history in high school, and enjoyed it very much. Thus, I had a good time visiting Locke today. I read that some reviewers spent 20 mins or so. I guess if you are not into this part of the history, u will be done in 20 mins or so. Overall, it was worth the drive out here. I enjoyed the visit despite of the heat. read more

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I did not even know California had a delta region and I cannot recommend a visit to Locke enough if you happen to be anywhere nearby. Wonderful slice of history. My one thought is that it would be cool if cars couldn't on the main strip. read more

An eye-opener of a town! If you've been to any Chinatown in the US, well, this will be totally unlike it. If you've been to some of the laojie (old street) in Taiwan like me, this will be a little more similar, but still very different. This is, quoting the NPS site, the "largest, most concrete example of a rural, agricultural Chinese American community in the United States". Ok, the large part is certainly an overstatement given how small the town has become (it's literally just one street, and it's not a long street). But yes, it is an experience unlike any others. The buildings are all wood-based, and it's almost surprising how some of them are still standing (a couple look like they can give the Leaning Tower of Pisa a run for its money). The street is clean though (empty may be a better word) and it is interesting to have a juxtaposition of how serene the town is at the present vs how bustling and noisy it must have been in the early 1900s. Regrettably, and I'll take it as us either i) not looking closely enough or ii) going at a wrong time, most of the shops were closed during our visit and I did not manage to check them out (even the museum, which from other reviews look like is definitely worth a visit!). Also, quick tip: there's Walnut Grove just a hop away and Isleton around 10 minutes south on the 160 if you're in for some town-hopping. read more

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We were looking to do something different from our past visits to the bay area. We found out from one of the popular paranormal reality TV series about the town of Locke and it's history. The drive to the town from central San Jose was about 1.5 hours on a weekdays through the rolling hills of the east bay up toward Sacramento. It finally winds along parts of the Sacramento river. There are signs directing you to this district off the main 160 Hwy. The main attraction here is main street and the old settlement by the chinese migrant workers in 1915. There are a few shops and museums along this very short street. All of the shops with the exception of the bar and a small chinese restaurant was closed. I was told that the town only opens during the weekends. It's still a nice walk along the main street to see the old wooden buildings and imagine what it was like living back in the early 1900's. read more

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Bucket list item check. Being Chinese, I always am looking for ways to learn more about my culture and understand the immigrant life. This is a very well preserve town that tells the story of the immigrants who worked and lived in the Delta from 1915-1930's. They mostly consisted of Chinese laborers working in the asparagus fields. The town consisted of plain one and two-story wooden buildings with balconies. They cost $800/each to build at the time and does not have foundation or insulation. A few of the buildings are lopsided or falling forward now. What you are able to see today is the boarding house, memorial park, Dai Loy Museum, Chinese school, old theatre, Gambling house, post office, and Chinese herb store. At one point, Locke also had a church, saloons, brothels, restaurants, boarding houses, lodge, hardware store, fish market, dentist office, shoe repair, bakery and a community vegetable garden. Bars, gambling house, opium dens, speakeasies also operated behind commercial storefronts. Due to COVID, it's a self guided tour as you walk down Main Street. You will be able to see many of these buildings in their original condition. My favorite is the post office, if you peak in you will see a postmaster sign and an old telephone from the 20's. It's a blast to the past as you view the town and imagine it bustling back in the day. Some buildings are abandoned. People still live and run their businesses in this town so it's not totally a ghost town. There are shops, restaurants, diners, boutiques and art studios. For those interested in Chinese history, I would recommend a visit as it is the only rural Chinese villages left in the US. read more

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We heard of Loche by watching Ghost Adventures several years ago. I didn't know we lived 20 minutes away. It's now our favorite place to visit. We usually stop by AL Wop for an adult beverage and everyone is always friendly. We've met tourists who were just driving by. We visited a couple of weeks ago and they were filming a horror movie which was cool. I love historic places and this does not disappoint. read more

Nice place to learn about the history of Chinese migrants to Sacramento, it's a tiny place to walk around, near the beautiful Sacramento river. read more

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The unincorporated community of Locke, located just 30 miles from downtown Sacramento, is the only standing town in the US that Chinese residents had built for themselves, rather than being relegated to sections of cities. Locke lies along the Sacramento River, a part of a series of towns within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (the Delta, colloquially). It was built in 1915, after a fire in Chinatown of nearby Walnut Grove displaced the Chinese population.    The town's Main Street is less than a quarter of a mile long. There are several small museums and informational buildings including the Dai Loy Gambling Museum (located in an old gambling hall) as well as several gift shops, a Chinese restaurant, and a bar called Al the Wop's (the derogatory name was chosen playfully by owner Al Adami, an Italian from San Francisco, who opened the only non-Chinese owned business in Locke in 1934). Al died in 1961 but Al the Wop's stands, popular with bikers and known for serving peanut butter with their steak. In the middle of the street, you can find a small memorial garden, dedicated to memorializing Chinese immigrant laborers who worked on farms, mines, and railroads in the US.    Locke isn't what it was in its heyday but it's not a ghost town either. According to the town's website, there are 70 to 80 remaining residents, only 10 of whom are Chinese (5/15/17).  Really cool slice of history - don't miss this one. read more

Being of Chinese decent, we know very little about our history in America and how of it was contributed to America's dream. It was really fascinating and heart throbbing to see history in this lens. Highly recommend checking this place out. Where the Chinese lived when building the Sacramento delta, railroads. read more

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Even though this place is only about a block long is very interesting. Great people working there that know the history so ask away. You can go into most of the buildings which still have the original furniture so cool. I ate at the Chinese place at the corner I ordered 2 things one wasn't too good but the other was ok read more

Locke is the only rural Chinese village remaining in US. The sidewalks are wooden. Ramshackle buildings with peeling paint line Main Street, behind their now locked doors, bordellos, saloons, and gambling parlors flourished. Today it seems to be a biker designation and for me they add to the untamed sprite of this ghost-like town. If you walk along Main Street you can visit the Chinese school, the boarding house, and a gambling museum and another museum. There are a couple of art galleries, shops and restaurants. Behind Main Street a few people live in this town, and there is a community garden and a trail to the slough. If you go park and walk the short Main Street, peek down alleys. My favorite time to visit is when the Tule fog drifts along the street. Locke is in a battle to save the town from Hong Kong developers that bought the town and the surrounding land. I hope they succeed. On the day I explored I talk to both sides. Bitter Melon Locke is a very well written book filled with oral histories and photos. As a side note you cannot get a wifi signal until you are back up on the River Road. read more

Locke Historic District - The Star Theater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Walnut Grove, California

I first discovered Locke when my boss took me to dinner at Al the Wop's. Locke is a historical city located about 45 minutes from Sacramento. It is located along the river. Locke was one of the first towns built by and inhabited by Chinese. Long before Monterey Park became Chinese, Locke was "the place". The town was built after the Chinatown in Walnut Grove burnt down. A big thanks to William C. for correcting me. Locke is located off of Highway 160, or River Road. As you turn into Locke, you are greeted by twin signs that says, "Welcome to Locke". http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/locke-historic-district-walnut-grove?select=xCN9Ly6_sjHDS-fAyTYa6A#2HOHfnquxrmo1oriczGn8Q Immediately to the left, you will see the Locke Boarding House. The Locke Boarding is now a museum operated by the State of California. Unfortunately, they also inherited the States problems and are only open during certain hours and days of the week. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/locke-historic-district-walnut-grove?select=xCN9Ly6_sjHDS-fAyTYa6A#OHWOdueZVdngbOBte5CZFA To the immediate right as you turn in is Main Street Locke and Chinese School. The desk and chairs at this Chinese school look eerily similar to the desk and chairs at the Chinese school I went to! They do let you in the school to look around. It was cool to see that I was not the only one forced to go to Chinese school. You can park along Main Street, if you can find a space. If not, you will have to turn back onto Highway 160 to get back to the Entrance of Locke. They have have a parking lot right next to the public restrooms. Just go straight instead of turning right onto Main Street and you will see it. The locals told me that Locke has a lot of activities on the weekends when everything is open. You can see the Dai Loy Museum, and other shops. If you get hungry and/or thirsty, Al the Wop's is there to serve your needs. Sorry, guys, not those needs, it is no longer a brothel. Food and drink only! Locke is a fabulous place filled with history. Going there makes learning about history fun! I would love to go again when everything is open! read more

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Provides an interesting glimpse into a little-known part of the Chinese/American experience that helped establish in Sacramento delta area (.......down to building the actual delta waterway, planting a vast quantity of fruit trees, etc.). We particularly enjoyed the museum made out of a historic rooming house which served migrant agricultural employees. Well worth a visit. read more

The community, museums, etc.- The Locke Historic District is a small community of tiny shops and museums. Most of the items in the local shops were affordable, while some art pieces and such were not. If you are trying to learn about Chinese history during the gold rush, etc. you have to come. You can see their lifestyle and how they survived in America through pictures and real props. They preserved the items so well and presented information thoroughly. Customer service- The staff and employees that owned the shops/work in the museums are very nice and will come to your assistance if you have questions or problems. Feel free to ask the museum employees any questions because they are very well informed on the history. Overall, it was a fun experience that you may not see anywhere else. If you want to see authentic history and props, come to the Locke Historic District! read more

Coolest little town ever ! If this is your kind of style , tiny historic town the you have to stop here and peep it ! read more

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A hidden gem!!! Most of the shops are close but you can take a peek of the shops from outside. Always love to feel a piece from the past! read more

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Hadn't been to Locke in 15+ years. Finally talked my husband into going and we brought a few family members. Love it. The store owners are super nice and make you feel welcome. Thank you for a really nice visit. read more

Gayle and I took a field trip out to the Delta a few weeks ago and ended up in the "Twin Cities" of Walnut Grove and Locke. We were lazy and parked twice, but you can easily walk both towns from whatever point you choose. Locke has seen better days, but it's not really a tourist trap or ghost town. It has a certain genuine out-of-the-way charm that makes any trip here worth the time or trouble. Gayle and I walked around, visited the State of California museum, the old Chinese School, had a drink at Al the Wops, wandered down the main street, and otherwise enjoyed a nice Saturday afternoon stroll. There were a lot of interesting people here and with enough interesting sights to maybe do this again (with the right "ring" in place). read more

I never heard of Locke until my son's CHinese school offered a field trip to it. It's tiny and run down, but it has enough to fill up an hour or two if you take a docent-led tour. Maybe some more creative marketing to Chinese schools in Sacramento and the Bay Area can help bring more people - and tourist money - into the town. read more

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Most of the attractions in this small historic community operate relatively early in the day - which was unfortunate for us, having arrived past 5 PM. The attractions include: a visitor's center, a Chinese language school, a museum, and some shops. Sadly, I can't comment on any of them. The saloon and the restaurant are open longer but we chose not to look inside of them. There is also a small memorial park with a monument outside. During off-hours, this place almost seems like a ghost town. But for anyone who appreciates history, Locke is definitely worth checking out, and has its own special significance. It was a town built in the early 20th century by Chinese immigrants hoping to escape the discrimination they were experiencing in the major cities. It is also worth noting that the current population of Locke is mostly white, along with a large number of stray (?) cats roaming the streets. read more

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One of those small towns that I never knew it existed. I learnt of this place through a neighbor. This place looks deserted and haunted :-) it was actually featured in Ghost Adventures (14th season, 16th episode) I don't know anything at all of it's history so this was also an educational visit. There are few shops open but only visited Lockeport Grill & Fountain for green tea ice cream. Thank you to the lovely owner for the hospitality. Honestly there is not much to do or see but I gave it a 5 stars because it is an historic place, cool things to see, people are friendly, and if you believe in ghosts/ spirits...you might feel strange presence around (I did ) read more

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Interesting place to visit, lots of history. The boarding museum in particular was cool. A lot of the storefronts have artists live/working in them and some you can walk into and check out what they're working on. Great day trip to the delta. read more

i mean it's cool i live a few minutes from locke but if your a tourist it's not that great but if you have the time to really explore there's a super cool levee with an old ramp and cool old like radio station thing that i'd like a 7 mile walk and the garden is awesome read more

Awesome little gem in the middle of nowhere! ;) Locke is a historic rural Chinese town & has roots dating back to the 1900s. The original buildings still stand but are in bad shape. My favorite shops here are the Dai Loy Museum (Poker house), Chinese Cultural Shop & Boarding House. It really does feel like stepping back into time & it would be awesome if they had "Period Days"! However,  a lot of these old buildings need to be renovated, esp. for safety reasons. They should also clean up the interior of these buildings since a lot of them have spider webs. Although the bar is thriving, it kind of takes away from the historic atmosphere of the place due to the bikers' loud motorcycles & music but they don't really bother anyone & at least they're bringing in business to the place. Thanks to Ghost Adventures for covering this place or else we would have never heard of it! Officially located in Walnut Grove, this place is conveniently located only 30 minutes away from Sacramento! It's super small, but if you're into history, definitely check this place out! Stop by the Chinese Cultural Shop--Clarence Chu is super sweet & nice! Also, go check out the Art Gallery, Ning Hou--Douglas is also super cool! read more

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We were in Sacramento for a wedding and decided to check out Locke located 30 miles south of Sacramento after a disappointing tour of Old Sacramento. We were pleasantly surprised by how well preserved and organized this 100 year old humble rural Chinese town was. The brochures provided further explanations on the history of this National Historic Landmark. We were impressed by the poignant stories of The Boarding House. It's sad to realize that some of the old prejudices, discrimination against a group of people, and the immigrants' unfair struggles continue to exist to this day. A meaningful and sobering visit. read more

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An excerpt from Lowdown on Chinatown's review of Locke: An indirect descendant of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (or as my grandparents call him: "孫中山先生" or "Mr. Sun Chungsan"), I grew up listening to stories about how Dr. Sun travelled through small rural towns all over the United States in the early 1900s, tirelessly fundraising for his vision of overthrowing the Manchu Dynasty and returning the rightful rule of China to the Han Chinese. Each night on his journey, he'd return after a full day of meetings, often neglecting to eat dinner and graciously accepting bowls of rice from his 同鄉 (tong herng or Chinese immigrants from the same Chinese district where he was raised). His work was fruitful, and Dr. Sun went on establish the Kuomingtang ("KMT" or Chinese Nationalistic Party) and served as the provisional President of post-imperial China shortly before his death. He stressed humility and a better society and, to this day, is considered the sole historical figure revered by Chinese in both China and Taiwan. One of his California stops was Walnut Grove, where his fellow villagers, the Chungsan, built a rural Chinatown from scratch in nearby Locke. Just an hour's drive from San Francisco, my recent visit to this town served as a reminder of my community's long history in America. Entering Locke is a bit like stepping onto the set of some Wild West movie, except that it's the real deal. Developed in 1912-1915, most of the buildings here have been preserved in their original form, from the Yuen Chong General Merchandise Store pictured in the right to the rickety Star Theater that aired silent flicks and hosted live Chinese Opera performances. When a 1915 fire burned down much of the Chinese community in nearby Walnut Grove, the 1,500 or so residents originally from the Chungsan District of the Canton Province of China parted ways with their Toisan neighbors and moved to Locke, where a few Chungsan businessmen had already opened stores in previous years. Though the Chungsan and Toisan groups shared Cantonese roots, they viewed what I perceive as nuances in their dialects, village customs and traditions to be much greater than that and preferred separate communities. Today, the number of Chungsan residents in Locke has dwindled to less than 10... To read more about Locke or other Chinatowns, please visit the url in my profile. read more

How fortunate we were on our trip to this region to attend the Locke Centennial Celebration. It was a big party and I learned many things I did not know about the Sacramento Delta region. Locke is listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. It is the only town in the United States built exclusively by and for Chinese Americans. It was built in 1915 and burned down twice. Locke was a bustling place with gambling houses, merchant stores and a movie house all owned by the Chinese. It was cool touring the boarding house and seeing rooms staged as they would look 100 years ago. I'll be back. read more

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The first we were here it was close to 10 years ago and now we just returned the second time today and it's just as memorable as the first visit. Locke translates Happy Village in Chinese. I love the school house, the boarding hose, gambling hall and museum. Some of the buildings could almost be collapsing, but that is what makes it awesome. Locke is truly a hidden gem. A must visit. Great for kids. I am thankful that I got the opportunity to learn about the rich history of Locke. read more

A hidden gem that is well worth visiting. I've lived in the San Francisco area for most of my life and never learned that Chinese immigrants built the farmlands around the Sacramento Delta. You see this work up close and personal since you have to drive over the levies that they built to get to Locke. The town has numerous buildings dating back to the Chinese period in the early 1900s. There are also several museums (all free admission) showing the lifestyle of that period. Many of the buildings are not in great condition now, but that is part of the town's charm. This is not the only Chinatown in the area, but Locke is the most inviting because much of the historic area is open to the public, unlike Isleton, for example, which has some beautiful Chinese buildings that are locked shut. read more

On a suggestion of a friend, who knows I love strange historical and little known things... I checked out the town of Locke. Part of me was super excited to roam and explore the buildings, all of the business fronts are origional, the old school house has been preserved very well, as well for the boarding house. It's neat to see that the Asian community was able to come together and have their own town at a time in history when Asian people was viewed as "second rate". I imagined going to school, or walking down to the gambling house... maybe to the theater. Another part of me was full of disparities because of the state of the buildings. Granted the buildings are true to time, and weather, and the years have not been friendly to most of the overgrown weeds. I hope that the historical society gets more help, with volunteers, and people to help restore this important section of history for the area, and for future generations to enjoy. read more

It was interesting to walk around for about 20 minutes. It became really noisy when the motorcyclists showed up at the bar. My first visit. My bucket list is complete. read more

Number one tip is bring cash, its a cash only town. They have a awesome fountain ice cream parlor at the very end of the historical town near the Chinese restaurant. Park in far back where you will find the community garden that leads to the Delta meadow trail. Highly recommend the secluded quiet nature 2.4 trail. The town has couple of museums that are vey interesting to checkout. A nice drive on river road with lots to do for the young and old check it out. Also the bikers are all very nice, my son loved when they all rode into the town. He thought it was a parade of motorcycles. All of them waved and said hello to the kids. read more

I've driven past Locke on my way from Antioch to Sacramento more times than I can count but had never stopped here before. So I took a Sunday drive from Hwy 4 to the River Road and on to Locke on Hwy 160. What an amazing little town - or should I say street! I pulled into the tiny lot and was pleasantly surprised to find a clean public restroom right there - right on time too! I ventured on into "town". Super charming store fronts and some very interesting mystery doors. As I made my way past the mystery green locked door, I heard music coming from Al the Wops, a "biker" bar. I swear Bikers know all the cool spots! I didn't go in - no drinking & driving for me. At the end of the road is a quaint sitting spot near a former casino. Across the dirt road was the old Star Theater and the most interesting building I've ever seen. The bloated house looks like something from a Dr. Seuss book. The bottom half protruded out into the sidewalk and was filled with thousands of handcarved messages into the wood. Very cool! There was a chinese memorial garden and the Chinese School with a great sculpture of Confuscious right in front. Um, that's about it for Locke! If ever in the area, this little town is defintiely worth stopping for! read more

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