In 1855, native New Yorker, Luther Wellington “Wells” Bunnell settled in Butt Valley, Plumas County. He soon connected with William H. Miller and they operated a trading post. In 1867, they parted ways and Wells relocated to nearby Big Meadows, known today as Lake Almanor. Like many in the region he had a dairy cows. He noticed when his neighbor Dr. Willard Pratt, who opened the first hotel in Big Meadows, met with great success. After all, those who could escape the heat, ever so briefly in the summer months from the Sacramento Valley, flocked to places like Big Meadows,, after all this pre-air conditioner times. Wells, decided to establish his hotel for summer visitors. All went well, until on June 10, 1899 it was destroyed fire, the cause a defective flue. The loss was stated at $15,000 and the insurance paid Bunnell $7,144 a week after the fire.
Bunnell contemplated whether to carry on with the resort business, after all he was approaching 70 years age. Rebuild that he did. Then, in 1901, Wells expanded his resort and a built a second one–the most elaborate structure ever to adorn Big Meadows.