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A backwoodsman brought some exceptionally rich samples of gold ore into Fort Bidwell in the 1860's but died shortly after. The source
of his ore was never learned. Nonetheless, after the turn of the century, mining developers deduced that the samples had come from nearby Fandango Peak and Yellow Mountain
and began promising rich returns on investments.
Local legend has it that one of the promoters loaded a shotgun shell
with small gold nuggets and shot a patch of earth with it, later leading prospectors to the area. Plans were to build a railroad down
main street to carry the ore. Thus, the town enjoyed a boom in the early 1900's. The hotel was built in 1906 to house the high grade miners who'd arrived seeking riches.*
Fort Bidell's gold rush didn't last long, for no rich natural deposits were ever found.
Reopened for business in the fall of 2015 after a hiatus as a residence, the hotel has been undergoing renovation. Rooms are newly carpeted and painted. The restaurant is revived and completely up to code. We continue to make improvments. The building preserves its historical old-west feel, with broad settin' porches on both levels. It's not uncommon to have breakfast
guests arrive on horseback.
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