CHICO — California State Parks today announced the official launch of the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park planning effort. This begins a community-centered process to reflect and shape the future of the park after an arson fire destroyed much of the mansion, an iconic Chico landmark, in December 2024.

The planning effort will take place over the next 15 months and result in a Vision Plan for Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park (SHP). The Vision Plan will integrate extensive community, tribal and stakeholder engagement with technical feasibility and existing conditions studies to identify the best path forward for the park. The Vision Plan will summarize the condition of the remaining structure, explore and explain treatment options, as well as assess the feasibility of new interpretation, enhanced visitor experiences and more.

Community engagement will be critical to the success of the planning effort. State Parks invites the public to participate in the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion effort to help shape the future of the Vision Plan. Learn more about how to engage and stay up to date below.

The beginning of the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park project is accompanied by the launch of its official website, ReimagineBidwellMansion.org. This website will be the home for all updates, announcements, and engagement opportunities taking place as part of the planning effort. State Parks invites the public to visit the website to learn more about Bidwell Mansion SHP and the opportunities for future engagement. Be sure to sign up on the website’s homepage for the project’s email list to receive project updates in your inbox.

For nearly 150 years, park visitors, students, educators, workers, volunteers, and the local community have formed deep connections to the mansion and the stories it holds. State Parks invites the community to share their memories and stories of the park via the Memory Sharing Tool on the project website. Your memories will help to shape the park’s future and ground the planning effort in a shared past.

This is the first step in a larger engagement process that will include additional opportunities to share your experiences and contribute ideas for the park’s future. Future engagement will be announced and facilitated through the project website. To submit your memories, visit the website and click on the ‘Share Memories’ tab from the homepage.

Bidwell Mansion SHP, in Chico, has stood as a symbol of Chico culture and heritage since the mid-19^th century. The mansion was the home of John and Annie Bidwell, prominent Chicoans who made important contributions to the region’s political, economic and social landscape. The mansion and surrounding gardens were acquired by California State Parks in 1964, entering the California State Parks System as Bidwell Mansion State Historical Monument. For over 60 years, the mansion has opened its doors to the public, sharing the life and legacy of the Bidwells and the cultural history of the region.

In December 2024, the mansion was the target of an arson that razed much of the building to the ground. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the urgency to investigate and apprehend the arsonist was matched by the outpouring of grief from the Chico community. State Parks immediately recognized the need to develop a thorough and robust planning effort to evaluate the existing conditions at the park, engage with the local community and reimagine the future of the park.

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The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.

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