George Wingfield’s original summer home had many reincarnations. In 1946, three Carson City investors acquired the property eight miles south of Susanville and known to many as Ellena’s Mountain Meadow Ranch. They incorporated as the Diamond Mountain Guest Ranch. They envisioned transforming it into another New Mexico Vermejo Club or Colorado’s Rio Blanco Ranch.

J.E. “Jack” Hauskins was hired as manager/promoter. It was their original intent to offer 150 one-acre homesites on the property under a 49-year lease agreement. The first 50 sites were offered at $2,000 each, approximately $25,000 today, with an annual fee of $20 for maintenance.  They also proposed to build an elaborate clubhouse just east of the original Wingfield home, where numerous events would be held, the least not being, “A good lively dance every night with excellent string music. Never any raucous nerve-racking noise by our so-called orchestras.” Needless to say, this enterprise was not a success.

Never miss a story, click here.