|
|
1.
The construction of the hotel began in 1878 that included dining rooms, a post office, offices and other public rooms in addition to a laundry room, gas plant and ice plant, opening on August 17, 1889. On July 25, 1901, a fire destroyed the hotel, a cottage with 20 rooms, the ice plant, gas plant and laundry room. All guests on the site escaped with their belongings, but the fire was unable to be controlled.
Following the fire, construction began on a new hotel and built across from the site of where the first hotel had stood. By 1903, the Byron Hot Springs Company was founded and people from all around the Bay would come to the Hot Springs, where they could play tennis, golf, billiards, ride horses, relax in the gardens or spend time in the baths. However, this would soon come to an end as well, for on the morning of July 18, 1912, fire broke out in the hotel, rapidly spreading among the floors. Like the first time, everyone was able to escape, but the hotel was destroyed once again.
Following the second fire, James Reid came back again to build the third and final hotel, opening for business in 1914. Built out of brick and concrete (to be fireproof) this structure cost about $150,000 to build and spread across 4 levels.
However, it’s success as a resort soon declined with the 1930s and the Great Depression, with the Byron Hot Springs closing up. In addition World War 2 was underway and as prisoners of war began to arrive, the government realized the need for special camps, referred to as Interrogation Centers, two were established, one on each Coast (Fort Hunt in Alexandra, Virginia and the Camp Tracy in Byron, California) Camp Tracy was the new name for the Byron Hot Springs during its use by the government, no more than 51 prisoners stayed on the property at one time, though almost 921 Japanese and 645 German prisoners were interrogated at Camp Tracy. Throughout the use, the army remodeled most of the Byron Hot Springs, built a garage and laid new sewer lines to the property. By September 1, 1945, Camp Tracy was ordered closed and the army released the property, it again became known as the Byron Hot Springs.
Plans to redo the resort surfaced a few years ago, adding a golf course and apparently remodeling the existing structure, but I doubt those plans are going through, as for in 2013, it still sits abandoned along a lonely road known as Byron Hot Springs Road awaiting the chapter in it’s troubled life.1.
2.
3.
4.
[last edit 9/16/2013 8:39 PM by Flashyfashionfraud - edited 1 times]
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!" — Dr. Strangelove | |
Was just there a month or so ago. But I was with two dudes instead of two models. Lucky...
Want to improve your photography?
Flickr
| |
I went here with a bunch of friends a few years ago and we were all escorted out by a guy with a rifle.
| |
I know someone in Tracy who frequents the spot and has also ran into the kid with the rifle -- after chatting with him, seemed like the kid is specifically looking for people who he suspects are painting; he'll still ask you to leave and/or escort you off but he generally goes easier on people if you don't have any painting supplies on you -- it's still an intimidating encounter tho for sure.
Anyway, here's some pics from earlier in the year:
1
2
3
4
| |
I suspect the same kid is the one I met. I rolled up on an ATV, he said he was the only caretaker of the property, asked for a cigarette, then said "have a good time!"
Want to improve your photography?
Flickr
| |
Wow, I had no idea someone like that was around. We ran into kids that spray painted the building, but no one with a rifle. We were just three girls walking around in bathing suit tops with bags of water and a camera. Maybe we were just lucky enough to where he wasn't around that day? Or something. I was shocked no one came out to scare us away. But a rifle is a bit much. Thanks for the heads up! I'll remember that if I ever go again.
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!" — Dr. Strangelove | |
Posted by Flashyfashionfraud
Wow, I had no idea someone like that was around. We ran into kids that spray painted the building, but no one with a rifle. We were just three girls walking around in bathing suit tops with bags of water and a camera. Maybe we were just lucky enough to where he wasn't around that day? Or something. I was shocked no one came out to scare us away. But a rifle is a bit much. Thanks for the heads up! I'll remember that if I ever go again.
|
Somehow, girls in bikinis have an effect on men with rifles.....not sure what it is....
Architecture, nature, alcohol....
Space travel, Rock n Roll. | |
I meant HE rolled up on an ATV...not I
Want to improve your photography?
Flickr
| |
Posted by Flashyfashionfraud
Wow, I had no idea someone like that was around. We ran into kids that spray painted the building, but no one with a rifle. We were just three girls walking around in bathing suit tops with bags of water and a camera. Maybe we were just lucky enough to where he wasn't around that day? Or something. I was shocked no one came out to scare us away. But a rifle is a bit much. Thanks for the heads up! I'll remember that if I ever go again.
|
Yeah, it's all just up to chance -- first time we went, there was a group of like 15 people running around the entire building having an airsoft match, then they went down the hill and started firing off actual guns. Possibly they know the owners? But yeah, we didn't have any problems (luckily we arrived right as they were finishing their airsoft and were able to talk to them and let them know we were around so they knew where we could be to be safe from their gun fire).
But yeah, both the kid and his father occasionally watch the grounds to kick people out so it's generally a crap-shoot on if you'll get in or not out there.
| |
1. The Goonies pay Byron a visit
2. Should have brought my broom
3.
4. POV-PAN
5.
6. Poor thing...
7. 
| |
Anyone know if this place is still up? I did the drive out here and couldn't find it.
| |
Last time I was here I ran into some locals... Well I'll let this video speak for itself...
Keep in mind, I made this video before I was actually making films, and urban exploring. Don't let this reflect what I'm working on right now, it is just me messing around with my friends, but it's still a good watch non the less. Check it out.
http://www.youtube...atch?v=_ZTLCQP8D_M
I hope you don't get motion sickness.
| |
Visited this site about a month back. Place seems even more run down than everyone else's photos. No kid with gun, no one else.
1. Obligatory
2. Main hallway
3. Second floor
4.Location of a toilet. Apparently when Byron was Camp Tracy, the Army had punched little vents in the bathrooms so that prisoners could "secretly" talk to each other. Of course everything was tapped with secret microphones.
5.
6. Elevator shaft and lift
7. Third Floor
8. Facade is even more defaced
9.
10.
11. Truck's done gone burned to a crisp
12. Apparently, I was a day off from the 112th anniversary of the Great Byron Train Disaster. On Dec 20, 1902, the Owl Limited from Oakland had sprung a steam leak and idled a little South of Byron. Meanwhile the Southern Pacific Stockton Flyer was running late, and had picked up speed in an attempt to make lost time. Just outside the Byron Hot Springs, the Flyer rammed into the rear of the Owl and pulverized the rear passenger car and damaged the diner car. Twenty-eight people were killed and dozens more wounded, the dying and hurt brought over to the Hot Springs Hotel which was converted to a hospital. Apparently some of the people of Byron came to help, others to loot. Byron Hot Springs is claimed to be haunted, though I have not found any stories outside of the usual ghost hunter and teenage urban legends.
13. Dead cow. Looks like it fell into the ditch and broke its pelvis.
| |
Anyone ever find a way to the roof?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/510ue/
https://www.facebook.com/FFPUrbex | |
Considering the location of some of the tagging, I'd assume there's roof access somehow.
Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy. -George Carlin (1937 - 2008) | |
Posted by Evilbunny
Anyone ever find a way to the roof?
|
I was able to climb up -- it's not the easiest but I think someone even wrote "Access to the roof" with an arrow pointing up to the hole
[last edit 1/7/2014 10:25 PM by pgathriller - edited 1 times]
| |
Posted by pgathriller
I was able to climb up -- it's not the easiest but I think someone even wrote "Access to the roof" with an arrow pointing up to the hole
http://img4.images...img4/1087/phmj.jpg
|
I need to find a way outthere now
http://www.flickr.com/photos/510ue/
https://www.facebook.com/FFPUrbex | |
this sounded like a good spot to pop my bay area urbexing cherry.
www.flickr.com/5alive
| |
Posted by 5alive
this sounded like a good spot to pop my bay area urbexing cherry.
|
Hey! Are you in the Bay Area now? Or just visiting. Shoot me PM if you're around.
-free
| |
Posted by 5alive
this sounded like a good spot to pop my bay area urbexing cherry.
|
Got an even better place for you to work on... abandoned State hospital!
Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy. -George Carlin (1937 - 2008) |
Add a poll to this thread
This thread is one of your Favourites. Click to make normal.Click to make this thread a Favourite.
| This thread is currently Public. Anyone, including search engines, may see it. |
Powered by AvBoard AvBoard version 1.5 alpha
Page Generated In: 108 ms
|
|
Ethics
