COBB Mountain
November 1996
COBB Mountain
November 1996
The first pioneer settler in Cobb Valley that was significant was John
Cobb. He built a small water-powered saw and grist mill for lumber and
flour in 1859. The valley and mountain now bear his name.
Cobb Mountain is honey-combed with steam vents and hot water springs. Development of the springs started a hot mineral bath resort industry in the late 1890's.
As affluent San Francisco vacationers came to the area, a thriving gambling industry grew, as well as other tourist activities. This continued into the 1920's until prohibition. With gambling and liquor outlawed, and the increased popularity of air travel, it was easier for vacationers to go to more distant exotic places like Hawaii.
In the 1950's and 60's, Unical's interest in the steam geysers brought a new industry into the area. They tapped the geysers and piped the steam to generating steam turbines owned by PG&E. The electricity developed here by steam is completely natural and accounts for 6% fo California's energy needs.
Today there is a full time community here that still caters to visiters to the hot mineral baths, cares for the steam turbines, bottles and sells Cobb Mt. Spring Water nation wide. The area has now developed golf courses, and other businesses to make this one of the most desirable, "out of the way" places to live, or vacation.
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