Visitors to Empire Mine State Historic Park will have a special opportunity to take home a living piece of history on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Heritage rose plants have been propagated and nurtured by dedicated park volunteers. They are ready to be sold to adorn the gardens of the first 50 park visitors to secure these enduring symbols of history and beauty.
The cuttings for these roses were selected from the formal gardens at Empire Mine. Ten groupings are represented on the estate grounds: Gallica, Damask, Alba, Centifolia, Moss, Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual, Hybrid Musk, Hybrid Tea, and Hybrid Rugosa. A selection of 50 plants from these groupings will be available for purchase.
The roses will be on display and available for purchase at the park entrance area Saturday morning, August 22, 2026. In the past, the roses have sold out quickly. There will be a limit of one rose per person for the first hour and then no limit after that. The transactions will be in cash only.
Each rose plant purchased comes with an information sheet and a planting guide. All proceeds from the sale will go to the Sierra Gold Parks Foundation, the non-profit park cooperative association supporting Empire Mine State Historic Park, South Yuba River State Park and Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.
Angie Slicker was a State Park volunteer for 35 years in our Rose Garden and the rose sale is named to honor her memory and the many years she devoted to securing, propagating and nurturing the heritage roses at Empire Mine State Historic Park.
The Rose Sale will begin at 9:30 a.m. Remember–$20 per plant, cash only.
Additional information–Garden tours (including the rose garden) are held on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from May through October at 10:15am. Please join us for a slow, meandering shady tour of the beautiful grounds at Empire Mine State Historic Park.
Sierra Gold Parks Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports park-related educational activities and helps to preserve the natural and cultural resources of western Nevada County’s State Parks. Visit our website to learn more.
Annual Heritage Rose Sale at Empire Mine State Historic Park
What: Angie Slicker Memorial Heritage Rose Sale
Where: Empire Mine State Historic Park, 10791 East Empire Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
When: Saturday August 22, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. until all soldCost: $20 per 1-gallon container