DEVLOPING THE KUTRAS TRACT OF REDDING: A HISTORY OF A WEALTHY TRACT OF LAND WHICH WAS HOME TO THE SHASTA AGGREGATE PLANT, KUTRAS PARK, THE KUTRAS RIVERSIDE ADDITION AND THE PARK MARINA VILLAGE.

Filmed on location.

On this episode of Exploring Shasta County history, we examine the history of the Kutras Tract, a piece of property which dates to 1935 and was purchased by Christ Kutras a Greek native, Redding resident and a local restaurant owner who owned this exclusive land east of Redding beside Turtle Bay. Eventually Kutras leased parts of this property to Redding local Robert "Bob" C. Spaid, who along with his wife Shirlee Spaid, played a major role in developing this land upon the Sacramento River along Thames Drive, (now present-day Park Marina Drive).

Who remembers live music and dancing at Kutras Park? Who remembers playing miniature golf here at Kutras Park Incorporated later Park Marina Golf Course? Who remembers swimming at the beach at Kutras Lake? Perhaps you remember the carousel and pony rides? Who remembers the quarter midget racers and racetrack or perhaps you might remember Bounceville? Take a trip down memory lane with me as we dive into this modern-day history.

All of that plus additional fond memories are shared in this video. Joining with me in this episode in an exclusive interview I conducted is Shirlee Spaid the former wife of the late Bob C. Spaid, the Park Marina developer, their daughter Sandy (Spaid) Williams and Sandy's husband, John Williams. Shirlee Spaid was the last owner of Park Marina Golf Course before she sold it to the McConnell Foundation who turned it into a present-day park. It's an episode you don't want to miss.

RESOURCES: 

Council Acts to Get Water for Redding - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 25, 1936

Option Taken on Kutras Tract - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1937

Balance Paid on Kutras Tract - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1938

Redding May Get New Plant - -The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 29, 1939

Use of Kutras Tract Urged by Bourbons - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1939

Shasta Gravel Job One of the World's Largest - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of June 8, 1939

$4,413,320 Low Bid for Shasta Dam Sand Gravel Plant - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 10, 1939

$4,413,000 Kutras Contract Let –The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 2, 1939 

Crew Surveys Kutras Tract – The Courier- Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 4, 1939

Dick Recommends That P.G. & E. Serves the Kutras Area - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 14, 1939

The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 15, 1939 

Work Starts on Buildings for Kutras Tract Plant - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 18, 1939

To Decide on Method of Transporting Aggregate to Dam Site by Wednesday – The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 13, 1939 

World’s Longest Conveyor Belt, 9.6 Miles, Will Carry Redding Gravel to Shasta Dam – The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 27, 1939

Excavate For Piers and Abutments Near Redding, Shasta Dam – The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 10, 1939

Start Building Mill on Kutras Tract This Week – The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 22, 1939

World’s Longest Conveyor Belt System Now Being Built – The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 10, 1940

First Gravel Arrives at The Dam Site – The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 6, 1940

That Election Platform - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 19, 1944

Letter's to the Editor - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 18, 1944

33 Ask for Kutras Tract Swimming Pool - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 26, 1945

Temporary Swimming Pool - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 23, 1946

Swarts Sees Pool Cost at Near $3,000 - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 26, 1946

Swimming Pool - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 26, 1946

Council Defers Action on Kutras Swimming Pool Plan - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 16, 1946

Two Feted on Birthday at Swim Party - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 16, 1946

Kutras Tract Report Wanted - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 18, 1946

City Takes Years Lease on Kutras Pool - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 19, 1946

Public Urged to Delay Swimming at Kutras Tract - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 23, 1946

City Leases Kutras Tract Pool Until 1947 - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 6, 1946

Kutras Tract Lease Signed - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 15, 1946

Kutras Tract Up Before Trustees - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 1, 1947

Kutras Deal Off, Land May Be Subdivision - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 18, 1947

Engineer Gives Council Report - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 8, 1948

Kutras Tract Delay Okayed - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 5, 1948

Water for Kutras Tract Asked - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 21, 1950

Water for Kutras Tract Asked - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 23, 1950

Council Blocks Kutras Tract Water Line - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 4, 1950

Council Compromises on Kutras Water - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 18, 1950

Ram Jet Will Be Shown Here - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 17, 1950 (first mention of Kutras Park.)

The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 19, 1950

Deed - 1950-0007738 Book 340 Page 409 Grantor (2) Christ Kutras and Frances W. Kutras. Grantee (2) Shirley K. Spaid, and Robert C. Spaid. Recording date: December 12, 1950

Cooperation In Keeping Kutras Lake Clean Asked - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 28, 1951

Kutras Tract Wont Flood State Finds - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 16, 1953

Legal Notice - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 17, 1953

Kutras Park Lounge and Ballroom advertisements - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 12, 1955

The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 6, 1956

Young Old Grab Clubs for 18 Hole of Miniature Golf written by Al Kildow - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 3, 1956

The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 6, 1956

The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 30, 1956

Quarter-Midget Racers Get Temporarily Laid Off - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 18, 1957

Kutras Park Recreation Development May Include Golf Range, Ferry Boat - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 3, 1958

City Closes Kutras Park Dance Hall as Fire Hazard - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 21, 1959

Swim, Golf, by the River - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 18, 1960

BPW Luncheon Told of Plans for Kutras Park - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 27, 1962

Kutras Park Features Nearby Recreation for the Family - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 5, 1964

Councilmen Hinge Park Deal to Vote - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1965

Developer Withdraws Plea - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 15, 1965

Planners Get Little Zoning Opposition - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 27, 1966

Lease - 1966-0002907 Book 870 Page 489 Grantor (1): Frances W. Kutras. Grantee (2): Robert C. Spaid and Shirley Spaid. Recording date: February 23, 1966.

Golf Course Largest of Its Type written by Doug Detling - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 5, 1967

City Planners Urge Multiple-Family Zoning at Kutras - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 24, 1968

Kutras Park Takeover on Agenda - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 1, 1968

Notice of non-Responsibility - 1969-0003872 Book 984 Page 654 Grantor (4) Frances W. Kutras, Robert C. Spaid, Shirley Spaid, Royal Inns of America Inc, Recorded date: March 25, 1969

Sublease - 0006023 Book 989 Page 250 Grantor (3) Frances Kutras, Robert C. Spaid, Shirley Spaid. Grantee: Royal Inns of America Inc. Recorded date: May 7, 1969.

Ground Broken for $750,000 Motel-Restaurant Complex Here written by Clifford Shelby - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 27, 1969

Council Gives Tentative Ok to Spaid's Request written by Gregg Lyon - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 21, 1972

Letter to the Editor - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 25, 1972

The City of Redding Directory, 1974 - Kutras Recreation Incorporated (amusement place)

The City of Redding Directory, 1977 - Kutras Recreation Incorporated (amusement place) 

Builder Is Encircle by Variety - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 25, 1980

The City of Redding Directory, 1982 written by Earl W. Wright Jr. - Kutras Recreation Incorporated (amusement place) - 243-4752

The Mosers: Their business is food, fun written by Art Gatts - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 24, 1982

The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 17, 1983

Robert C Spaid in the California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984 available on Ancestry.com.

The City of Redding Directory, 1984 - Kutras Recreation Incorporated (amusement place) 

The City of Redding Directory, 1985 - Kutras Recreation Incorporated (amusement place) 

Fun and Games Come in Miniature Packages - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 18, 1985

Kutras Park advertisement - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 3, 1985

Kutras Property Has Rarely Gone Unnoticed written by Laura Christman - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 14, 1985

Spaid Unhurt as Ultralight Lands in River - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 18, 1985

The City of Redding Directory, 1986 - Name changes to Park Marina Golf Course. (amusement place) 

Spaid Still Presides Over Kutras Lake Kingdom written by Laura Christman - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 23, 1986.

Redding Still Awaits State Study on Kutras Lake written by Laura Christman - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 25, 1986

Movie Theater Nearly Ready - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 5, 1988

The City of Redding Directory, 1989 - Park Marina Golf Course (amusement place) - (Shirley Spaid is new owner.)

Children Will Find Paradise for Fun written by Jeff Redd - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 4, 1989

Fun for Kids Abounds in the North State written by Tom Sellers, The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 4, 1989

The City of Redding Directory, 1996 - Park Marina Golf Course (amusement place) (Shirley Spaid, owner.)

Whatever the Urge, Businesses Are Here to Stay - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 4, 1997

The City of Redding Directory, 1998 - Park Marina Golf Course (amusement place) (Shirley Spaid, owner.)

The City of Redding Directory, 2001 - Park Marina Golf Course (amusement place) (Shirley Spaid, owner.)

The City of Redding Directory, 2002 - Park Marina Golf Course (amusement place) (Shirley Spaid, owner.)

Park Marina Golf Putters Out - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding written by David Benda, February 25, 2003

Redding Gains New Park at Mini Golf Course Site - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 13, 2003

The City of Redding Directory, 2004 - Not Listed

The City of Redding Directory, 2005 - Not Listed

The City of Redding Directory, 2007 - Not Listed

The City of Redding Directory, 2010 - Not Listed