Hospitality Inn: the old hospital in Dorris, California
Hospitality Inn Bed & Breakfast Twenty years ago Hosiptality Inn became the first Bed and Breakfast in Siskiyou County. The owners have been renovating ever since, retaining the flavor of the era. The structure was built in during the turn of the century.
The original owners in the early 1900's built the two-story house, the largest in the small town of Dorris, for their growing family. After the children grew up and left home, Mrs. Evans opened her home to guests as a boarding house for the mill workers and box factory employees of the then bustling town. Dorris at that time is known to have had 16 bars, 8 houses of ill repute, and the infamous Red Barn dance hall. With the population surge in Dorris during the 20's, a doctor arrived in town looking for a "large" building in which to start his practice. It was the Evans' house that was chosen and renovated to suit the medical needs of the thriving town that remained in service through the 60's.
The old hospital building was seven years vacant after Dr. Drader, the last of the eight resident physicians, passed away in early 1970. It has been told that the good Doctor's ashes were spread in the backyard, which would explain why the flowerbeds are unsurpassable. Still today at the B&B, frequent visitors stop in to see the place of their birth. They are thrilled to find the "maternity ward" still intact with a viewing window, and enjoy taking pictures of their legacy to share back home with family.
The building has seven bedrooms, two baths, and a full basement. Still to be seen is the original heating system that ducts central heating from burning railroad ties, a prevalent source of heating material when the railroad was the main transportation. The pharmaceutical room has been turned into a parlor equipped with the original first motorized GE fridge...still in excellent working order. Remnants of the x-ray room can be seen and the processing tub is still on the premises.
Other objects have been added to compliment the era. An antique pool table is prominent in the basement where the men seem to congregate. A wood cook stove is used for supplement cooking and heating in the winter months and guests can enjoy the evening conversation in the dining room around the warm hearth. Furniture and decor is a blend of old and new for guests to enjoy, reminisce and feel comfortable. If these walls could talk, manuscripts would be produced.
Hospitality Inn is the establishment and home of Jeff and Donna Burcher,
200 So. California St, Dorris, CA 96023 (530) 397-2097 Email: dburcher@yahoo.com.
Please contact our offices if you would like additional location photos or information.
Contact Information
- Telephone : 530/926-3850
- FAX: 530/926-3680
- Postal address: PO Box 1138, Mount Shasta, CA 96067 USA
- Email:
- General Information: info@filmsisq.org
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