In 1901, when L.W. Bunnell built his second hotel at Big Meadows (now Lake Almanor)  changes were on the horizon Quietly, behind the scenes in that same year Great Western Power Company with plans to transform Big Meadows into a massive reservoir as part of its hydroelectric power system. Agents for the company, at first were buying up properties at Big Meadows, though no one knew what was exactly going on. When Great Western Power Company contacted Bunnell he was agreeable, after all he was 76 years old.

On April 11, 1906, Bunnell sold his properties to Great Western Power for $35,000. He continued to operate the resort for the 1906 season and the following year he moved to Susanville. Great Western then took possession and abruptly closed the resort. The company, however, did use it as their local headquarters. In 1914, with the dam nearing completion and the flooding of Big Meadows to become a reality, on the evening of June 6, 1914 all the buildings at Bunnells were set ablaze for demolition.  

A somewhat lasting legacy of Bunnell’s remains in its name which was applied to tip of the Lake Almanor peninsula–Bunnell’sPoint–near where where the resort once stood.

Support