History of the Byron Hotsprings
0 Comments Published by Brian W. Barringer on Sunday, May 14, 2006 at 12:59 PM.
This is a repost. I had to delete this post and repost it because of HTML errors that were messing with the blog. I wish I knew more about why I always get these missing tags errors. Sorry for the confusion.
Byron Hotsprings Hotel
1912-Present
This hot springs located off of highway 4 near Byron, ca. The known history of these hotsprings spans over 200 years. In that time it has been a salt mine, a resort, a POW camp and now a cow pasture. On this spot there have been three hotels, only one is currently standing. There are also many buildings on the site in various stages of decay. This place is a true piece of American and California history right in our own backyards. This hotel used to be a Mecca for Hollywood stars.
1912-Present
This hot springs located off of highway 4 near Byron, ca. The known history of these hotsprings spans over 200 years. In that time it has been a salt mine, a resort, a POW camp and now a cow pasture. On this spot there have been three hotels, only one is currently standing. There are also many buildings on the site in various stages of decay. This place is a true piece of American and California history right in our own backyards. This hotel used to be a Mecca for Hollywood stars.What going on with this site? I don’t know. Is it possible to save the 1912 hotel? I don't know. What I do know is it was built with brick, concrete, and rebar. I walked around inside the building and it’s built to last.
Notable guests at the baths famous A list movie stars of the time as well as athletes and presidents. Famous guests included Clark Gable, Jack London, Mae West, Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, President James Garfield, and Francis Bushman. Below is a little history, some historical links, pictures I took of the site on my hike and also a few of my ideas on development
Byron Hotsprings rich History:
Hotel Built in 1878-1902
Before the hot springs was ever a resort it was a popular place for Native Americans and early settlers to camp on there way to and from San Francisco. The first development was the salt mines in 1863 the salt mine did not do well and during this time it was still a popular watering hole. The first resort hotel was Built in 1878 it was a wooden structure, built at a cost of $50,000 and was 300 feet long by 30 feet wide, with two wings 50 x 100. This structure burnt down when it was 32 years old on July 25, 1901. For more detailed information check out the links below.More reading:
1863 Salt Mines
1878 Hotel
The Great Byron Train Disaster
Hotel Built in 1902-1912
Construction on a new hotel began soon after the fire of '02 at a cost of $150,000.00 it was situated on a small knoll directly across the square from the site of the first one facing east. People would come from all around to use the springs and spend week-ends playing tennis, croquet, golf, billiards, shuffle board, riding horses or relaxing in the gardens.
More reading:
1902 hotel
Hotel Built in 1912-Present
After having two hotels burn down the owners got wise and spent 150K on making a 4 story hotel out of brick and concrete, making it fire proof This structure was so well built that it still stands today which is amazing considering no-one maintains it. There are many fire hydrants on the property that were installed at the time of construction; I bet they wanted to make SURE nothing was going to burn down again. More reading
1912 Hotel
Made by Brian W. Barringer in 2006 for
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