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1775-
The first
recorded white visitor for a stopover and rest was Father Garces. 1830- New Mexican horse traders
opened up the Old Spanish Trail, formerly a major Native trade route. They
stopped at Yaga for water, home to 70 people at the time. 1845- General John C. Fremont
recorded an April stop at nearby Resting Springs. 1851-52- California Natives signed
18 treaties with the federal government. They were never ratified but placed
under a Congressional order of secrecy until 1905, the year Chief Tecopa died.
It is unknown whether the Tecopa Treaty was one. However, oral tradition kept the ‘traditional use’ agreement firmly alive for
about 150 years. 1863- The Ruby Valley Treaty of Peace and Friendship, between the U.S. and representatives of tribes of the Western Shoshone Nation, is ratified by Congress and signed by President Grant. It gives right of way across lands but does not cede territory. Tecopa lies within its boundaries. 1860’s on- Gold, silver, lead and
later talc, gypsum, iron and more brought a population that has fluctuated from
the thousands to the hundreds and in between. 1872- By then, the mining camp had
been named Tecopa by J.B. Osbourne for the Paiute leader, Tecopet or Tecopa. He
is the Pakwinavi, or spokesman, for Paiute villages in the region, an extraordinary man who helped keep the peace
even when his own son was killed. These were dangerous years of intense immigration by miners,
and led to wholesale
slaughter elsewhere in California and Nevada. One story states that his famous
top hat (see photo above) was given in lieu of the $200 he asked for the use of his name. 1881- A surveyor establishing Inyo County (when it split off from Kern County) surprised everyone by finding the town of Tecopa to be inside the line by a matter of feet, and it was reassigned from San Bernardino County. 1905- Chief Tecopa passes on. He is buried in the Pahrump Chief Tecopa Cemetery. 1907-
The Tonapah and Tidewater
(T&T) Railroad finally made it through the Amargosa Canyon, and somehow
attained the rights to the springs for water supply. Late 1920’s-
For $10, Jim Francis,
owner of the Snake Room Bar, and Harry Rosenberg obtained the right from J.B.
Johnson, T&T President, to build the first public bathhouse for community
use at the hot springs. 1930- On June 4th,President Herbert Hoover
signed an Executive Order withdrawing Tecopa Hot Springs
from private use for all time to protect access to the hot spring. 1961- Inyo County signed a 20 year lease, renewed in 1981, “for a campground, community center, and public bath houses and related facilities”. 1974- Hurlbut-Rook Community Center
was built, with much labor and materials donated by local people. Earl Hurlbut
was the first County Director of Tecopa Hot Springs, and County Supervisor from
1928 to 1952. Carl Rook was a long-time Road Department supervisor. Throughout this entire time, until November 1, 2004, the Tecopa Hot Springs have been faithfully used in accordance to the agreement made with Chief Tecopa:
2004- Against the strongly voiced opposition of the local community, Inyo County sub-leased the Hot Springs to a private corporation, California Land Management. Unfortunately, community predictions came true immediately: the park is virtually abandoned, CLM has violated the Treaty in most ways possible and grossly polluted the waters. The local population has dwindled and the economy has been strongly impacted. However, desert dwellers are tough and resourceful, and litigation efforts continue, so who knows what will happen next? Meanwhile, you can enjoy the famous Tecopa waters at several local spas. Many other enjoyable activities are available nearby.
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