The famous giant sequoia tree tunnel in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California has been beaten down by massive storms occurred in the country. The Pioneer Cabin Tree, as it is known, is one of the last giant trees standing at the park and was carved in the middle allowing passersby to cross beneath it.
It's one of the oldest tourist attractions in the States, having been around for more than 1,000 years. It stood 100 feet tall and has a width of 22 feet in diameter.
According to its news release, the park said, "A combination of trunk and root decay and storm water runoff appears to have brought the giant sequoia down at its base, shattering it and a nearby cedar tree." They also reported that the trees on the park fell when the trail to the giant sequoia was closed due to a heavy downpour and rising creek.
"Flowing water and fallen tree branches are current public safety concerns being addressed by state park staff. Almost a foot of rain has fallen at Calaveras Big Trees State Park near Arnold in the last two weeks, with more than three inches falling Sunday," they said.
During the 1800s, lightning struck the tree and hollowed it, which knocked off its crown. In 1881, the tree was squared and for sixty years, tourists rode horses and carriages through the Pioneer Cabin Tree, while in the 1920s, automobiles passed through it.
The CA State Library shared its blues to Twitter by posting photos of how the tree looked like decades ago. "So sad the #PioneerCabinTree didn't make it through the storm. Here's how it looked in the 1930s."
The Pioneer Cabin Tree was one of the last of the historic tunnel redwoods in the Sierra. The park said that the Palace Hotel Tree and Smith Cabin Tree remain standing in the more remote South Grove Nature Preserve at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
"A temporary trail bypass around the fallen Pioneer Cabin Tree may be established as soon as flood waters recede and the trail can be reopened safely," they wrote.
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