Damaged three years ago by the second largest wildfire in California history, one of Lassen Volcanic National Park’s most popular attractions remains closed.
The Dixie Fire, which burned about 70% of Lassen Park in the summer of 2021, did extensive damage to the Drakesbad Guest Lodge. Repairs are taking longer than expected, so the lodge and Warner Valley Campground will remain closed this summer, Lassen Superintendent Roseann Worley said.
Warner Valley's day-use area remains open and visitors can also access the trails in the area, Worley said: “The road is open to the day-use area."
Worley expects Drakesbad Guest Lodge and the campground to reopen next summer. “Yes, that is our goal. We need to finish up the water tank insulation, so they have potable water for next year,” Worley said.
The Dixie Fire damaged the Drakesbad Ranch lodge and also burned three cabins. “The three cabins have been rebuilt, so the last piece we are working on is the tiling and the fixtures,” Worley said.
The Drakesbad property was initially homesteaded by Edward Drake in the 1880s. Drake settled into the area and established what is now known as Drakesbad, or Drake's baths, according to the park's website. The original lodge was crushed by snow in the winter of 1937-38 and rebuilt in 10 days in June 1938.
The Dixie Fire is the second-largest single fire in state history, burning 963,309 acres. The fire started in the Feather River Canyon southeast of Chico, near where the 2018 Camp Fire ignited.
The fire leveled the historic Gold-Rush era town of Greenville in Plumas County and threatened other mountain communities. It destroyed 1,329 structures in five northern counties, including Shasta and Tehama.
The fire started July 13, but firefighters did not announce 100% containment of the blaze until Oct. 25.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said that the Dixie Fire was started by electrical lines owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
In addition to the lodge and cabins, the lodge’s pool was damaged from a flood in the fall of 2021 and is being replaced, Worley said. Replacing the pool is a separate project and it is not expected to be finished by next summer.
Rains in October 2021 washed through the erosion caused by the Dixie Fire and “pushed the pool out of the ground, so we had to replace it,” Worley said.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
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