Sports and Recreation

83 Acre park, 10 Soccer Fields, Playgrounds, interactive Water Feature,BMX racing Track, softball, baseball, barbecues, picnic area, Concessions.

The Oaks recently changed their names to The Rawhides.

Nothing beats the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd as the ‘boys of summer’ compete on the ball diamond. The Visalia Oaks have been attracting generations of fans since 1946.

The team is a California League Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They play 140 games in the Cal League that stretches from Stockton to Lake Elsinore. The Oaks play in the Northern Division, along with the Stockton Ports (Oakland), San Jose Giants (San Francisco), Modesto Nuts (Colorado) and the Bakersfield Blaze (Texas).

Check out the Oaks schedule and join the chatter!

Oaks History:

Professional Baseball in Visalia has a long and rich history, dating back over 100 years to the 1880’s. Back then, club teams from Visalia played squads from Bakersfield and Fresno in front of paid audiences in diamonds cut out of farmland. There has been major league affiliated baseball in Visalia since Recreation Park opened in 1946. During the intervening 64 years, a minor league club has played in Visalia in every year except for the stretch from 1963-67. Even more remarkably, Visalia has been a part of the California League for that entire time. Through eleven different major league affiliations and years as an independent and co-op, the Visalia club has sent 140 players on to the big leagues.    Visalia has been the league champion three times and finished in first place five times.

The greatest players to call Recreation Park home include the recently departed Kirby Puckett, Vada Pinson, Marty Cordova, and current A’s star Eric Chavez. Seven league MVP’s have played in Visalia.

Visalia has played as the Oaks since 1977 excluding a brief stint as the Central Valley Rockies in 1993 & 1994.

141 FORMER OAKS HAVE REACHED THE MAJOR LEAGUES

Visitors to Wonder Valley do not need to be part of a large group, event or gathering, as our facility also welcomes individuals wishing to take a break from life with a wonderful Leisure Traveler Getaway.

We have 10 "themed" cottages (shown below), all with front decks, suitable for 1-2 guests or a romantic couple. For families we have very spacious rooms with double sinks, walk-in closets and the ability to configure the beds in a variety of ways. Your stay always includes the use of our recreational facilities including boating and fishing on Dalton Pond, swimming pools, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a Games pavilion with ping pong, pool tables, air hockey and foosball, trampoline center, horseshoe pits and children’s playground. Available with advanced notice and an additional fee are guided horseback trail rides, paintball, archery, Ropes Challenge Course, waterslides, professional massage therapy and nearby golfing at Sherwood Golf Club.

Stay at Wonder Valley and as part of your package enjoy a "Hearty Country Continental" breakfast, served either in our beautiful Lakeshore Lodge or in one of our other more intimate dining rooms. Other meals are available with 24 hour notice.

Equipment rentals; League teams: Junior, Senior, Adult, Men, Women

Mon-Tues 9am - 11pm
Wed 9am - 12am
Thurs 12pm - 11pm
Fri 12pm - 1am
Sat 9am - 1am
Sun 9am - 11pm

From Highway 198, Exit Demaree. Turn Right on Woodland.

From Highway 198, take the Mooney Blvd. exit going north. West Main turns quickly to the right to parallel Highway 198, separated from the highway by narrow West Main Park and its protected oak trees. Park across from West Main Park in the large Elks Lodge lot, close to Main Street.

Located among beautiful Giant Sequoia trees, Balch Park and Mountain Home State Forest are adjacent camping locations in the Sequoia National Forest.

John Muir loved the area. He wrote fondly about it, saying it was home to “the finest block of the Big Tree forest in the entire belt on the North Fork of the Tule River.”  The famous Hercules tree is among the stand of redwoods.

Balch Park is the gateway to beautiful meadows, crater lakes and a wonderful wilderness experience. The 160-acre park has two small stocked ponds and 71-campsites. The campground is one of the most developed in the area - with paved roads, RV spaces, and flush toilets.

Or, consider a custom tailored horseback trip (overnight or day) through remote unspoiled High Sierra Wilderness by booking a trip through the Balch Park Pack Station. With a variety of trips and a stable of gentle, well trained trail horses, the pack station has a vacation for everyone!

Lake Kaweah was built to control floods that regularly inundated the city of Visalia in wet years. It collects water from the melting snowpack in the Kaweah River watershed that stretches up to the 12,000 ft. elevation. Terminus Dam, the structure that holds the water back, was completed in 1962. It was raised another 17 feet in 2003.

The lake is operated by the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers for conservation and recreation. Water is released during the summer months to irrigate the agricultural crops that have transformed the Valley floor from desert to a rich and abundant garden.

Boating, fishing, swimming, water-skiing, picnicking and camping are favorite lake activities. A boat launch area is located at Lemon hill. The marina rents patio boats, fishing boats and wave runners at daily, half-day and hourly rates. Fishing tackle, bait, snacks, ice and gas are also available at the marina convenience store.

The McDermont Field House is the premier sports and entertainment destination in the Central Valley. Originally a fruit packinghouse, it has been transformed into a state-of-the-art, 172,000-square ft. venue where families can be together, be active and have fun with the many possibilities like: Flow Rider Surf Tank , Zip Line , Giant Sequoia Tree House , Laser Tag , Indoor Basketball , Indoor Volleyball , Interactive Arcade , Xbox Gaming Station , Birthday Parties , Dance Studio , Rock Climbing Wall , Fitness Center , Skate Park , Indoor Soccer Fields , Pizza Concessions , Kids Soft-Play Area , Corporate Events , Concert Events , Light Space Dance Floor.

From Highway 198. Exit at Ben Maddox Way and follow the exit loop to Ben Maddox Way north. Just after you cross the freeway, take an immediate right onto Mineral King Avenue. Follow Mineral King for four blocks east, and turn left at Lovers Lane. One block up, youll cross Mill Creek and see the sign for Mill Creek Garden Park on the right. Turn right here, and park in the small lot on the right, marked by the sign "Allergy Free Demonstration Garden." The trail begins at the end of this lot.

Nothing beats the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd as the boys of summer compete on the ball diamond. The Visalia Oaks have been attracting generations of fans since 1946. The team is a California League Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They play 140 games in the Cal League that stretches from Stockton to Lake Elsinore. The Oaks play in the Northern Division, along with the Stockton Ports (Oakland), San Jose Giants (San Francisco), Modesto Nuts (Colorado) and the Bakersfield Blaze (Texas).Check out the Oaks schedule and join the chatter!Oaks History:Professional Baseball in Visalia has a long and rich history, dating back over 100 years to the 1880s. Back then, club teams from Visalia played squads from Bakersfield and Fresno in front of paid audiences in diamonds cut out of farmland. There has been major league affiliated baseball in Visalia since Recreation Park opened in 1946. During the intervening 64 years, a minor league club has played in Visalia in every year except for the stretch from 1963-67. Even more remarkably, Visalia has been a part of the California League for that entire time. Through eleven different major league affiliations and years. As an independent and co-op, the Visalia club has sent 140 players on to the big leagues.Visalia has been the league champion three times and finished in first place five times. The greatest players to call Recreation Park home include the recently departed Kirby Puckett, Vada Pinson, Marty Cordova, and current As star Eric Chavez. Seven league MVPs have played in Visalia. Visalia has played as the Oaks since 1977 excluding a brief stint as the Central Valley Rockies in 1993 & 1994.141 FORMER OAKS HAVE REACHED THE MAJOR LEAGUES

What would Visalia be without oak trees? The city has made a conscious effort, backed by the force of law, to preserve these magnificent giants. You can bask in their beauty at Mooney Grove Park.

In 1909, Hugh Mooney worried that the oak woodlands that dotted the Valley were disappearing. He offered 100 acres of his ranch to the County of Tulare, stipulating the land should be maintained as a public park for the enjoyment of everyone. He further held that none of the trees should be cut unless they were diseased or dying.

Mooney also left $5,000 toward building the county museum, now located in the park. A statue depicting Mooney and his favorite hunting dog was dedicated to his memory in June, 2006 by the Tulare County Historical Society. It is located on the front side of the park, near the famed End of the Trail statue.

Mooney Groves picnic areas, equipped with arbors, seating and barbecue facilities, beckon in the shade of the large oak canopies throughout the park. A main feature is the parks lagoon – home to friendly geese and ducks – with rental paddle boats for family fun.

Motor Racing (summer), horse shoes, fishing pond, tennis courts, bike path, softball, baseball, barbecues, picnic area, Dog Park.

Skatepark, Community Center indoor activities, Home to Visalia Oaks Baseball.

River Ridge Ranch is a unique combination of working cattle ranch, recreation and education guest ranch in oak savannah foothills of the western Sierra Nevada. The environmentally conscious 722-acre ranch borders the Tule River and the 323,000-acre Giant Sequoia National Monument. There are miles of interpretive nature trails across gentle, rolling oak woodlands or you may ascend from 1200 on the Tule River to 3,000 on Lumreau Mountain - all on the same property! 

We limit access by requiring reservations in order to preserve the land and provide better service to our visitors. Call ahead to make sure River Ridge Ranch isnt booked for a special event, then come for the day, the weekend, or stay a while!