Juniper Lake in the southeastern portion of Lassen Volcanic National Park has an interesting history, due in part to Charles Parson Snell, a quirky, colorful and sometimes cantankerous property owner. On April 1, 1914, Snell, a San Francisco attorney, purchased 475 acres at Juniper Lake from Herman Werhle. Initially, like the previous owners the property sat idle. It should be duly Lassen Volcanic National Park was not created until 1916.
In August 1916 witnessed Snell’s first promotion creation of the Lassen National Park Club, only a week after the park was formed. This sportsmen group had an initial membership of thirty-six men from northern Sacramento Valley. Snell was elected president, Richard White, vice-president and H.F. Proctor, secretary-treasurer. The club’s intention was to build a lodge at Juniper Lake, with members building individual cabins.
While the proposal looked good on paper there was one major problem the lake was not easily accessible. Without a road, this was a short-lived enterprise. More about Snell’s future endeavors will be explored.