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In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Lake County this year, Lake County News is publishing a series of historical stories about the county, its people and places. This week's story looks at the history of one of the county's most famous attractions – Bartlett Springs.
Lake County was reputed to have more mineral springs and of a greater variety than the whole of Europe, where “taking the waters” and sojourning at these famed spas was practiced faithfully by the very wealthy for generations.
They visited the spas not only for the supposedly therapeutic values of the waters, but the spas also were a gathering place for the socially prominent and elite, who spend several weeks or more vacationing at the elaborate, luxurious hotels and resorts that built up around these springs.
This mineral health complex spanned about half a century, with the peak years of popularity running from the 1870s up through World War I.
Bartlett Springs was doubtless one of the most favorite of all the health and pleasure resorts in Lake County.
These springs are located on what is known as the middle fork of Cache Creek, in the northeastern portion of the county.
In 1870 Mr. Greene Bartlett, an old hunter, in passing up this fork of Cache Creek, came upon the spring and was attracted to it by its volume and some characteristics of the taste of the water.
He was suffering from a severe and prolonged attack of rheumatism, and he decided to stop awhile and see if there were any virtues in the water. At the end of a couple of weeks, he found that he had made rapid improvement.
He then went out to the settlements and gathered a party of 14, all afflicted one way or another, but mostly with rheumatism, and piloted them to his newly found Bethesda. To their surprise they found the waters did all and even more than Mr. Bartlett in his enthusiasm had claimed for them.
Bartlett had now found out, to a certainty, that there were real virtues in the water, and he proceeded at once to locate upon the property.
On Oct. 12, 1870, Bartlett and L. Tharp filed a claim for certain mineral springs known and designated as Bartlett Springs.
Almost immediately Bartlett and Tharp started construction of a few very crude cabins, and early visitors had difficulty reaching the springs, as they had to travel 15 miles over a very rough, and in some areas almost impenetrable, thicket to arrive at their destinations.
The original investment of the two men was $10,000, and a two-story hotel and about 40 cabins were constructed by 1873.
By 1874, there were 75 cabins and tent units, and the Bartlett water was for sale throughout the state, apparently being transported in barrels, and later in glass bottles that were covered with woven tules for protection against breakage.
In 1877 the history of this resort changed radically, when Samuel G. McMahan became interested in it, and he and his brother-in-law Calvin R. Clarke bought a one-half interest from Bartlett for $2,500.
McMahan died in 1884 and his survivors, who differed with Bartlett on the running of the resort, paid Bartlett $1,250 for his personal property and had Sheriff L. H. Boggs offer the springs for sale.
The land and improvements were purchased by Mrs. McMahan and her two sons, J.E. and Cal, for $60,100 on June 2, 1887. Bartlett received one-half of this amount for his interest in Bartlett Springs.
Following the disposal of his interest, he remained in Lake County, living in Upper Lake where he died in 1908.
The new owners immediately started improving the facilities, first by employing Chinese laborers to build a toll road from the Nice-Lucerne area to the springs, and a steamer service across Clear Lake to Bartlett Landing from Lakeport.
In all, there were five hotels, 350 cabins and other buildings on the premises.
By 1894 the resort was described as “one of the greatest natural sanitariums in the world,” listing first-class hotels, supplied with every convenience; the cuisine prepared by chefs of continental reputation cannot be excelled.
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