Inner Earth is Matt Doyle’s home for much of year. As the general manager of the wonderful must-see Lake Shasta Caverns, a top attraction in Shasta County, Matt is very familiar with the labyrinth of caves and tunnels deep inside the mountain. Matt is also a staunch supporter of small businesses in and around Shasta County.
Mr. Matt Doyle, how are you?
I’m doing great, thank you for asking.
Give us a little insight into your life’s journey so far, and how you ended up here at the Shasta Lake Caverns.
Well, I’m 48 years old. I was born in Los Angeles County, Santa Clarita Valley, to be more exact, near Magic Mountain. I moved up here in 1995, following my parents, and after attending Shasta College, I joined the United States Air Force.
How did you end up at the Shasta Caverns?
So, Shasta Caverns was my first civilian job after coming back out of the Air Force. I started off as a mechanic here in 2001. After 9/11, I was called back to active duty. After my active duty term, I came back to Shasta County, and I was offered the position of general manager at Lake Shasta Caverns.
Did you even know there was a Shasta Caverns?
I didn’t. When I first moved up here in ’95, I really didn’t know that there was a Shasta Caverns. The first time I had heard about it was a job listing up here for a mechanic in 2001.
So, you started in 2001 and you’ve been here ever since. There must be something about it that you like…
Of course! This is my personal paradise. My office is a lake view and a cavern. That’s pretty much what I’m surrounded by 365 days out of the year.
How many people come through here?
On an annual basis, roughly 68 to 70,000 people from all over the world visit Lake Shasta Caverns.
What do you personally like about Shasta County?
The one thing I love about Shasta County is the outdoor recreation. There are so many unlimited possibilities, from kayaking, boating, and skiing to horseback riding. Virtually anything that you can do outdoors, you can do in this county.
And you don’t mind sharing?
Oh no, I definitely don’t mind sharing. In fact, I want people to come up here and enjoy what I enjoy.
Okay, lastly, what are some of your favorite places you recommend people go to eat?
Because I work on the lake, I love several local places. The first is Bass Hole, which is in the Lakehead area. It has a great small atmosphere, great food, and great ambiance. It’s kind of a little hole in the wall, but there is some fantastic food up there. Another one up in Lakehead is Klondike. And, of course, the newer one we have here in Shasta Lake is Huff’s at Bridge Bay.
Thank you, Matt!
You’re very welcome!