Grange. It was soon succeeded by the new, prosperous railroad boomtown of Modesto, in 1871. Tourism The following is a list of historic contributions that make up the Knights Ferry Historic District. Abraham Schell House. Built in 1856, it was built of sandstone for Abraham Schell, owner of the Rancho del Río Estanislao. Lewis Dent House. Built in 1851, it was owned by Lewis Dent, the brother-in-law of future President Ulysses S. Grant, who visited Knights Ferry in 1852, when he was an army captain in Benicia and Eureka. It is the oldest home in the community. Knights Ferry Community Church. Built in 1890 to replace the previous structure constructed in 1860, the church conserved the original pews, altar and upper windows. The church still hosts services by Pastor Bob Sadler. General Store. California's oldest operating general store was built in 1852 by Moulton and Drew as the second structure in the town. It was bought by George Valpey, who became a Wells Fargo agent in 1867. Millers Hall. Constructed in 1863, the building operated as a restaurant, pool and poker parlor on the ground floor, and a dance hall upstairs. It was restored in 1984 by the Knights Ferry History and Museum Associates and now is home to the post office, community library, ice cream parlor and local-made goods shop. Recreation Located next to Knights Ferry is the Knights Ferry Recreation Area, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This recreation area includes a "put in" location for Class I-II rafting trips on the Stanislaus River. Rafting most often occurs April through October. Water in the lower Stanislaus is discharged from the base of New Melones Dam, resulting in clear and cold water even in the warmest months of summer. The Army Corps of Engineers maintains recreational facilities along the Stanislaus River. Park rangers caution rafters to exercise caution and use life vests, as the rapids below Knights Ferry can be challenging when the river is high. The ZIP Code is 95361. The town is inside area code 209. Knights Ferry is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. Willms Ranch Willms Ranch is a California Historical Landmark in Knights Ferry. The California Historical Landmark number 415 reads: NO. 415 THE WILLMS RANCH - Arriving in California October 12, 1849, John R. Willms and John H. Kappelmann engaged in the hotel and butcher businesses in Buena Vista, in