Hot Creek
Long inhabited by Shoshone hunter-gatherers, Hot Creek takes its name from its hot spring source. In 1866, prospectors were shown silver deposits by the Shoshone people, and by the following year two townsites - aptly called Upper Town (or Carrolton) and Lower Town - emerged in the canyon. Before the end of 1867, both townsites gained their own mill; the 10-stamp Old Dominion was in Upper Town and another 5-stamp was in Lower Town. At its peak, the Hot Creek area had a population of 300 and all the usual businesses (saloons, hotel, blacksmith, assay office, etc). Unfortunately, this early prosperity came to an abrupt end with the loss of the Old Dominion Mill to fire on February 4, 1868. The mill at Lower Town closed around the same time, and the ensuing rush to new finds at Hamilton drew many residents away. What remained of the Old Dominion Mill was even dismantled and relocated there, and Hot Creek's population dwindled to less than 30.
Despite the decline in mining, ranching brought new life to Hot Creek. Two notable ranches got their start around this time: the Upper and Lower. The Upper Hot Creek Ranch was started at the site of Upper Town, having been acquired and homesteaded by the family of Sophie Ernst and given to her as a wedding present in 1870. Ernst's groom, Joseph T. Williams, started the Lower Hot Creek Ranch near the mouth of the canyon where he also operated a stage station. In 1875, Williams built a fine stone hotel at the lower ranch replete with a ballroom and, at the hot springs (Upper Hot Creek), a bathhouse. In November 1882, the hotel was destroyed by fire, but in 1908 Williams began construction of a new mansion at the site. The extravagant ten-room home cost over $10,000 and was built of stone, wood, and brick and incorporated part of the surviving structure from the original hotel.
In the century since, ranching has continued in earnest at Hot Creek. The Upper Ranch still remains in the family after more than 150 years, while the Lower Ranch was sold off in 1950 and has sinced passed through several owners. The 1908 Williams Mansion, a prominent landmark, was left to deteriorate but still stands, and in recent years the current owner has began undertaking an extensive restoration on the home.
All of the ranch land at Hot Creek (including ranches farther up the canyon and the cemetery) remains private property, and permission must be obtained from the respective owners prior to visiting.
