History of Calistoga

Calistoga, because of its hot springs spas, is California's second most visited attraction. (Only Disneyland draws more people every year.)

Calistoga's most visible evidence of its hot springs is 60-foot high Old Faithful Geyser just north of town. As regular as its geologic cousin at Yellowstone, the geyser erupts on average every forty minutes. There has been recent interest by some scientists in its ability to presage earthquakes.

Calistoga has been known as the "Hot Springs of the West" ever since Sam Brannan came north from San Francisco in 1852 and decided that this was the spot to build a health spa to rival Saratoga Springs in New York. Supposedly one night Sam, at a dinner with friends and slightly in his cups, blurted out that he would make this "the Calistoga of Sarafornia!" This is the best explanation for the town's name.

Brannan's Calistoga Hot Springs Resort, which opened in 1863, had guest cottages, a mansion, bandstand, stables, race track, distillery, observatory, bathhouse, mud baths, hot springs, arboretum and a pavilion for dancing and roller skating, among other features. It thrived until the mid-1870's, when Brannan went bankrupt after a disadvantageous divorce settlement. Leland Stanford took over until the turn of the century and considered building his university here, until persuaded otherwise by close friends.

The resort Brannan founded still exists, now in its fourth reincarnation. Today it is called Indian Springs Spa and Resort, though locals persist in referring to it as Pacheteau's, after a previous owner.