For those not familiar with Drakesbad it is a “historic guest ranch” located in the upper end of Warner Valley in Lassen Volcanic National Park. More about this in the months to come.
Drakesbad contains a number of hydro-thermal features such as Boiling Springs Lake and Devils Kitchen. It was the hot springs at Drakesbad proper that garnered a lot of attention. The first person to locate there was Thomas Malgin, a sheepman. In 1875 Malgin constructed a primitive bath house utilizing the hot springs. When time permitted he would be a tour guide for visitors to take them to points of interest, including Cinder Cone.
In 1880, Malgin moved on and abandoned the place. In 1885, E.R. Drake moved in. Drake had been in the region since the 1850s. He was a jack-of-trades—miner, guide, fur trapper, saloon keeper, etc.
Drake was originally a squatter. In 1887, Quincy resident, F.B. Whiting purchased Malgin’s 80 acres at a Plumas County delinquent tax sale for $8.11. In 1888, Drake paid Whiting $50 for the property. In time, Drake would file for 320 acres of government land patents surrounding his property, eventually owning 400 acres.
In 1890, the industrious Drake transformed his modest log cabin into a small lodge, that would be enjoyed by numerous visitors decades to come. In time, his place simply became known as Drakes Springs.
There were two drawbacks that hampered the resort’s potential, though it was not an issue for Drake. These were poor road conditions and a short season. For instance the trip from Susanville to Drakes Springs was a two-day journey. The other is that the location experiences heavy snowfall. Thus, the operation was basically what we would refer to today as one from Memorial Day to Labor Day.