Iconic California 'drive-thru tree' topples during storm

CALAVERAS, California -- The beloved 'tunnel' or 'drive-thru' tree fell to the ground during a massive storm in San Francisco Bay Area in California that left rivers and creeks flooded, houses damaged and several thousand people without power.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park volunteer Jim Allday says the tree went down Sunday and shattered on impact. He says the once-majestic sequoia is now a heap of rubble.

A tunnel was carved into the tree's trunk in the 1880s to let tourists pass through. It had allowed cars, but more recently was only crossed on foot.

Generations of locals and tourists have visited the tree for centuries, posing for photos and carving their names into it.

San Francisco Bay area resident Joyce Brown has been visiting the tree since she was 12 and says it feels like she's lost a family member.

Many fans of the iconic tree have taken to social media to hare their memories and photographs of the giant piece of California history.

PHOTOS: Viewers share their tunnel tree memories

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ABC7 viewers shared photos of their visit to the Calaveras, Calif. tunnel tree. The iconic tree toppled over during a massive storm in the Bay Area on Sunday, January 8, 2017.

Photo submitted to KGO-TV by Peggy Martinez/Facebook

The Associated Press has contributed to this report.