The Historic Brooktrails Lodge, known as “Northwestern” in the old days, was a sawmill town at the beginning of the 20th century. The sawmill was built in 1901 and was called the Northwestern Redwood Company and nicknamed the Diamond “D” mill. All tools and equipment were stamped with the “D” insignia enclosed in a diamond shape.
The Lodge was a designated stop on the Northwestern Railroad and had a post office and the only hospital in Northern Mendocino County. Originally, Arthur Foster of San Rafael owned the property and the railroad. Foster was employed by his father to manage the Willits area and built a large home on the site where the Brooktrails Lodge now stands.
Foster’s vision of opening up the area west of Willits to rail shipments of lumber was a dominant factor in the growth of Willits. He had many interests which ultimately added to the infrastructure growth of the area; ranching, farming, Willits Mercantile Company and the Bank of Willits.
In the mid 1920’s the company, having cut nearby timber, was faced with increased logging costs as it was necessary to go further up Sherwood Road to the headwaters of the Ten Mile River to obtain logs. In 1926, the mill was closed, never to reopen. Two brothers, Duane and Lloyd Bittenbender, purchased the mill and dismantled and sold all of the machinery. The land was sold and almost all of the cabins and houses were removed.
Northwestern in 1911. The W.A.S. Foster home, later the first Brooktrails Lodge, is the first recognizable building on left, half hidden in trees. Next to it is the old cookhouse, abandoned when Mrs. Foster complained of its proximity to her home. Two-story building at far right is the “new” cookhouse where single millworkers ate. Large building still standing, now a cabin at Brooktrails Lodge. Homes in the background were for married workers and their families.
Northwestern Redwood Company Mill in 1911. Millpond, shown in Northwestern picture, is visible at upper right. Stacked wood at upper left was used to fire huge steam boilers in the plant. Eventually so much power was generated that the surplus went to provide electricity for Willits. Housing for single workers is shown on hillside behind the mill. Originals of both photographs were provided by William Bittenbender of Ukiah.
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In the 1930’s, it became a dude ranch, known as the Diamond D. It was purchased in the 1940’s by Eddie and Marie Anderson, at which time the Fosters' home became known as the first Lodge. The Andersons produced superb meals and the reputation of the Brooktrails Lodge spread throughout Northern California. In 1955, the original Lodge burned down and the Andersons rebuilt the current Lodge on the same site. In 1960, the Andersons sold the property to Firco, who began developing it as a vacation destination. In the mid 1960’s, Brooktrails Co., Ltd. promoted the area as a vacation and resort destination where Hollywood celebrities such as Van Heflin and Peter Lawford were frequent guests.
In the 1970’s the twenty unit motel was built to accommodate the growing numbers of vacationers. The cabins were often occupied by families seeking extended retreats and reunions. At one time, there was an Olympic sized swimming pool, Summer lake, horse stables and a tennis court, all since removed. The property changed hands many times over the subsequent years, but was always maintained as a destination resort.
In the 1980’s people were known to fly into the municipal airport (two miles away) for a week-long golfing excursion, complemented by a stay at the Lodge. In the late 1980’s, through an unfortunate turn of events, the property fell into twenty years of mismanagement and disrepair, compounded by a Redwood tree falling through the uninsured twenty unit Motel. There it sat for five years during El Nino rains.
In 1999, a man with a dream took over ownership of the dilapidated “diamond in the rough” and brought it back to life. Dr. Rob Gitlin envisioned a vibrant center where people could come together for joyous family and community events, and that's what we offer you today.
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