Historic Benton Hot Springs

Well, this photo of nearby scenery got here on the HBHS page sort by accident... but then a good history question was asked under it!

Bill Bramlette's grandmother was the last to serve meals out of the kitchen of the Old Stone Store, now undergoing repairs by hard-working members of the HBHS Board. We look forward to hosting special events in this amazing old building again! It's a real time capsule, packed with history.

Another of the projects on our list: clean and repair the kitchen area behind the counter in the Old Stone Store, which will make it much easier to serve and clean up after catered dinners when we resume hosting special events in this historic building (we'd been carrying dishes across the street to Bill and Diane's house). Diane Henderson, Mike LeStrange and Bill Bramlette tackled this job and are making great progress.

Like everyone, we changed plans this year, postponing a great lineup of fundraising events until further notice. We're focusing on projects we can do; we'll share our progress here. Just completed and installed: Benton Hot Springs' first interpretive sign! Now passersby who stop in the shade by the Old Stone Store can get an overview of the town's and building's history, thanks to a grant from Mono County Economic Development, Tourism and Film Commission.

This 1912 photo shows a man and dog beside the hot spring source, with its steaming waters flowing toward the town (under the trees). Behind the town is Blind Spring Hill, site of the silver mines whose discovery in the 1860s sparked the town's early boom days. And behind Blind Spring Hill is the White Mountain Range, its peaks wrapped in cloud. The view is about the same today.

Come, have fun, learn amazing history and dine in a historic setting. All events begin at 5 pm.

History buffs, share and help spread the word! These will be fun and fascinating fundraising events, each with catered dinner and a talk, starting with : April 27, The Bigger Picture: What we’ve learned about rock art of the Eastern Sierra. May 25, Booking a Bed in Benton: Weird wackiness at the hotels... June 29, Famous and Not-so-famous Dead of Benton July 27, They Came for the Water: Benton Hot Springs’ geology, hydrology, cultural history August 31, Secrets on the Hill: How archaeology can tell us about Benton’s passed people September 28, The Strong and Scandalous Women of Benton October 12, Restless Spirits of the Old Stone Store October 26, Warren Davis, Gentleman Horse Thief

Sporting seems to be the topic of the day. Some of our enterprising citizens have formed a Jockey Club and raised quite a wallet full of silver for which they propose to test the relative speed of their stead’s...( Inyo Independent January 27, 1877). Come on out on August 18, 2018 and have a chance to win some silver at our re enactment of those races and those times. Have fun with dinner, music and dancing!!! Call 760-933-2287 for tickets!