Occupied Historic Town
San Joaquin County
Circa 1870's to present

Banta California was named after Henry Banta who settled here between Stockton and Tracy in the 1800's. Because of his location, Banta was visited quite often by the tired traveler. A hotel was soon erected in 1879 and a small township followed. The original hotel burnt down in a fire in 1937 but was immediately rebuilt. Banta became a popular stop along the historic Lincoln Highway. Today Banta is survived by the replacement hotel, a general store / post office and a few other nondescript buildings.

For those who enjoy Haunting's, Banta Inn is said to be haunted by the former owner who died of a heart attack behind the bar in 1967. According to paranormal sources, he likes to knock things off walls, stack the coins inside the cash register, and open and close doors. By these claims, the Banta Inn has appeared on the TV show "Sightings".

Surviving Businesses along Banta's Main Street

The Banta Inn