We've not ended with Nancy and Barb as they continue with Murphys Historic Hotel. "We left Ironstone’s winery and our next drive was just a couple of miles away to downtown Murphys at the Murphys Historic Hotel. On our way there I noticed the park where we did the Grape Stomping with Merle earlier in the month of October. Murphys is one of those towns you can walk for five minutes and walk the entire length of it (At least at our pace). There are gems to be found in these types of towns. I love Registered Historic Landmarks and there are several in the town. Murphys Historic Hotel is number 267.
We met the owner, Dorrian Fault, who is the 7th owner of this Historic Hotel at its 154th year. He provided us with an in-depth tour after we placed our belongings in our room #15. Each door is creamy white with a number and named after someone who has stayed here in the past. Some notables to mention have been President Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Black Bart, J.P. Morgan, and even Lipton. Everything from the door knob, to the floor, bed frames, and chairs are antiques. If necessities are a must, like a coffee maker and your own bathroom, and you want to miss out on staying in one of these rooms you can ask for a modern room.
Dorrian provided us with some factual information about the hotel and the surrounding area. The Hotel was built in 1856 to serve the world travelers whose journey was leading them to what is now known as Calaveras Big Trees State Park. We learned that the accommodations at this establishment unsurpassed any other hotel in the area at the time of the horse carriage era. At that time the Sequoia Trees were considered one of the 7 wonders of the world. This hotel is one of the oldest continually operating hotels in California.
Those green iron shutters you see at each window or door entry are not storm shutters, but to keep fire out. The town of Murphys had three major fires in the late 1800s. Roughly $20 million in gold was mined in this town and just alone in the back of the property you can still take a walk down the grassy trail to view the damaging effects hydraulic mining took effect on the land for about $5 million.
Murphys Historic Hotel is a must stay as it is in close proximity to the wine tasting rooms and anything else you want to do in Murphys. The hotel also has a restaurant and an outdoor dining area. If you really want to go back in time check out the old original bar picture while standing in the bar room and having an old miners drink!"
Photos by Nancy Kozicki. Tech by Barbara Coletta
