Sad News, Oldest Hotel in California Burns Down In Cerro Gordo

in #history4 years ago (edited)

While up in the Inyo & Sierra Mountains collecting minerals this weekend I learned that the American Hotel in Cerro Gordo burnt down in June. I learned of the fire when I was researching driving up there on Saturday. It's a devastating loss to the history of California.

The fire started on June 15th and destroyed 3 buildings including the American Hotel. The hotel was built in 1871 and was the oldest hotel in California. I had been there once back around 2011 with my wife and kids. We didn't go in, but we looked around and marveled at the old mining town about 9000' up in the Into Mountains.

The fire was said to be cause by an electrical short which spread to propane tanks. Luckily it spared most of the town, however the crown jewel of the town was reduced to ashes.

I forgot to mention the new owners are young, early 30's, who bought Cerro Gordo back in 2018 with a plan to renovate the whole town and open it as a tourist attraction. It seemed like a good idea as Cerro Gordo has a very important place in history when it comes to Southern California and Los Angeles. From the Los Angeles News, in February, 1872 stated, “To this city, Cerro Gordo trade is invaluable. What Los Angeles now is, is mainly due to it. It is the silver cord that binds our present existence. Should it be unfortunately severed, we would inevitably collapse.”

The amount of silver and lead and the quality of the ore put Los Angeles on the map in the 1870's. All the ingots were shipped to LA to be sold off. During it's heyday Cerro Gordo was the largest producer of silver and lead in California. $17 million dollars was pulled out of the mountain. That's $17 million in late 1800's, early 1900's, which would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 billion today.

The town has a fascinating history with characters like Remi Nedeau, Mortimer Bradshaw and others and I encourage everyone to read up on the mining town high up in the Inyo Mountains that helped build one the world's great metropolises, Los Angeles.

As for the hotel, the owners have said they are going to re-build it. Which is great, but it won't be the same. I'll still be paying a visit when the new American Hotel stands in place of the old one. I'm glad I got to see the original though.

Here is a video tour by the new owner that shows the beautiful hotel as well as the other beautiful buildings & their interiors.

Here is a link to the Cerro Gordo official site - http://cerrogordomines.com

History is important! Thanks for reading.