The tiny mountain village of Markleeville, California is an incredible natural paradise surrounded by millions of acres of evergreen forest. The town is named for Jacob J. Marklee, a man who sought to capitalize on the gold and silver mining boom of the 19th century in California by building a toll bridge for prospectors to use. After Marklee was killed in a gunfight dispute, his 160 acres of land was used for the founding of a settlement that now serves as the county seat to Alpine County. Despite being the center of the county, Markleeville is small. Although not many people live in Markleeville full time, it has become a tourism destination with a steady number of visitors pouring into town each summer.